What Are High-Touch Areas, and Why Do They Need Frequent Cleaning?

As New Zealand’s trusted cleaning experts since 1993, we understand that maintaining a healthy workplace goes beyond regular cleaning schedules. 

High-touch areas—surfaces that multiple people contact throughout the day—require special attention to ensure the safety and wellbeing of your staff and visitors. 

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll share our professional insights on identifying, managing, and properly sanitising these crucial areas in your commercial space.

Whether you operate an office in Auckland’s CBD, manage a healthcare facility in Wellington, or run a retail space in Christchurch, understanding high-touch areas is essential for maintaining a healthy, professional environment. 

We’ll explore why these surfaces demand particular attention and how professional cleaning solutions can protect your business and its people.

Understanding High-Touch Areas in Commercial Spaces

What Qualifies as a High-Touch Surface?

High-touch surfaces are any areas in your workplace that experience frequent human contact throughout the day.

 In our three decades of commercial cleaning experience, we’ve identified that these surfaces typically receive hundreds of touches daily, making them potential transmission points for bacteria and viruses.

Common high-touch surfaces in commercial environments include:

• Door handles, push plates, and doorknobs (particularly main entrances and washroom doors)
• Light switches and lift buttons
• Shared equipment interfaces (printers, coffee machines, vending machines)
• Reception counters and point-of-sale terminals
• Communal kitchen surfaces and appliances

The Science Behind Surface Transmission

Understanding how long viruses and bacteria survive on different surfaces helps explain why frequent cleaning of high-touch areas is crucial. 

According to research published in the New Zealand Medical Journal, common respiratory viruses can survive on hard surfaces for up to 72 hours under typical indoor conditions.

Different surface materials present varying levels of risk:

• Stainless steel and plastic surfaces can harbour viable viruses for up to 72 hours
• Cardboard and paper surfaces typically host viruses for up to 24 hours
• Copper and brass surfaces naturally reduce pathogen survival time to about 4 hours

Risk Assessment for Different Business Types

Every business environment presents unique challenges when it comes to high-touch areas. Our experience across various sectors has shown that risk levels and cleaning requirements vary significantly by industry:

Office Environments

• Focus areas include shared workstations, meeting room equipment, and break room facilities
• Special attention to collaborative spaces and hot-desking areas
• Regular sanitisation of communal printing and copying stations

Retail Spaces

• Emphasis on payment terminals and shopping baskets/trolleys
• Regular cleaning of fitting room surfaces and door handles
• Frequent sanitisation of display items that customers frequently handle

Healthcare Facilities

• Stringent protocols for waiting areas and reception surfaces
• Enhanced cleaning frequency for patient room surfaces
• Specialised attention to medical equipment touch points

Professional Cleaning Protocols for High-Touch Areas

At Busy Bees, we apply decades of commercial cleaning expertise to protect your workplace through systematic, thorough cleaning of high-touch surfaces. 

Our proven protocols ensure consistent results while meeting New Zealand’s stringent health and safety standards.

Cleaning Frequency Guidelines

Different areas within your commercial space require varying cleaning frequencies based on usage patterns and risk levels:

Daily Essential Cleaning

• Main entrance door handles and push plates
• Lift buttons and stair railings
• Reception counters and shared workstations
• Washroom surfaces and fixtures
• Kitchen and break room touch points

Multiple Times Per Day

• High-traffic reception areas
• Payment terminals and PIN pads
• Shared equipment interfaces
• Main entrance door handles
• Public washroom fixtures

Weekly Deep Cleaning

• Window handles and blinds controls
• Less-frequently used office equipment
• Storage area touch points
• Secondary entrance handles
• Mechanical room access points

Cleaning Methods and Best Practices

Our expert cleaning teams employ proven methods that ensure thorough sanitisation while protecting surfaces and equipment:

Surface-Appropriate Techniques

• Microfibre technology for effective particle removal
• Two-step clean and sanitise process
• Colour-coded systems to prevent cross-contamination
• Specific protocols for electronic equipment

Professional-Grade Solutions

• EPA-registered disinfectants suitable for commercial use
• Eco-friendly cleaning products that maintain efficacy
• Surface-appropriate sanitisers to prevent damage
• Quick-dry solutions to minimise business disruption

Documentation and Quality Assurance

Professional cleaning of high-touch areas requires systematic documentation and verification:

Tracking and Verification

• Digital cleaning logs for all high-touch areas
• Time-stamped completion records
• Regular supervisory inspections
• Client communication portal for real-time updates

Staff Training and Certification

• Comprehensive health and safety training
• Regular skills updates and assessments
• Chemical handling certification
• Cross-contamination prevention protocols

Our commitment to thorough documentation ensures consistent quality and provides peace of mind for your business. Each clean is verified through our quality assurance system, maintaining the highest standards of hygiene and safety.

The Impact of Professional High-Touch Cleaning

Investing in professional cleaning for high-touch areas delivers measurable benefits for your business:

Health and Safety Benefits

• Reduced absenteeism through illness prevention
• Enhanced workplace wellbeing
• Improved indoor air quality
• Protection for staff and visitors

Business Advantages

• Maintained professional appearance
• Enhanced customer confidence
• Protected equipment longevity
• Reduced maintenance costs

Compliance and Risk Management

• Meeting WorkSafe NZ guidelines
• Documentation for audit requirements
• Reduced liability exposure
• Industry-specific compliance

Partnering with Professional Cleaners

Making the right choice for your commercial cleaning needs directly impacts your business’s health, safety, and professional image.

Here’s why partnering with experienced cleaning professionals makes a difference for your high-touch areas.

Benefits of Professional Service

When you work with Busy Bees, you’re choosing a partner that has been delivering excellence across New Zealand since 1993. 

Our professional service provides:

Consistent Quality Assurance

• Documented cleaning protocols for all high-touch surfaces
• Regular quality audits and inspections
• Immediate response to any concerns
• Ongoing staff training and development

Expert Staff and Resources

• Police-checked, professional cleaning teams
• Continuous professional development
• Specialist equipment and techniques
• Emergency response capabilities

Health and Safety Compliance

• Full workplace safety documentation
• Comprehensive insurance coverage
• Chemical handling certification
• Regular safety reviews and updates

Customising Your Cleaning Schedule

Every business has unique needs based on their industry, traffic patterns, and operational hours. 

We develop tailored cleaning programmes that consider:

Risk Assessment Factors

• Foot traffic volumes
• Industry-specific requirements
• Operating hours and peak periods
• Special cleaning requirements

Operational Considerations

• After-hours cleaning options
• Flexible scheduling around your business needs
• Emergency cleaning response
• Special event preparation

FAQs About High-Touch Area Cleaning

How often should high-touch surfaces be cleaned in my business?

The optimal frequency depends on your specific business type and traffic patterns. However, general guidelines include:

• Office Environments
• Shared workstations: 2-3 times daily
• Door handles and lift buttons: Every 2-4 hours
• Reception areas: Hourly during peak times
• Break room surfaces: After each major use period

• Healthcare Settings
• Patient areas: Between each patient
• Common surfaces: Every 2 hours
• Reception: Hourly minimum
• Treatment rooms: After each use

What determines the cost of high-touch cleaning services?

Several factors influence the investment required for effective high-touch cleaning:

• Facility Specifics
• Size of the space
• Number of high-touch points
• Type of surfaces
• Operating hours

• Service Requirements
• Frequency of cleaning
• Level of documentation needed
• Specialised equipment requirements
• Additional sanitisation needs

How can I measure the effectiveness of high-touch cleaning?

We recommend several methods to verify cleaning effectiveness:

• Quantitative Measures
• ATP testing results
• Surface hygiene measurements
• Bacterial count testing
• Indoor air quality readings

• Qualitative Indicators
• Staff feedback
• Reduced illness rates
• Visual inspections
• Client satisfaction surveys

Beyond Clean: Creating Safer Commercial Environments Since 1993

Understanding and properly maintaining high-touch areas is crucial for any commercial space in New Zealand. 

Professional cleaning of these surfaces goes beyond basic hygiene—it’s an investment in your business’s health, safety, and professional image.

At Busy Bees, we bring three decades of commercial cleaning expertise to every surface we clean. 

Our professional teams ensure your high-touch areas receive the attention they need, protecting your staff, customers, and business reputation.