Cross-contamination is a serious concern in offices, hospitality venues, hospitals, and food preparation areas. It can lead to the spread of harmful viruses and bacteria, putting staff and customers at risk.

To maintain high hygiene standards and comply with UK regulations, here are some essential cleaning tips to help you reduce the risk of cross-contamination.

Use colour-coded cleaning equipment

Adopt a colour-coded cleaning system to designate different tools for your different areas. These could be red for toilets, blue for general low-risk areas, green for kitchens, and yellow for clinical areas.

This prevents bacteria from transferring between the zones, and is a standard practice across the UK cleaning industry. Even your refrigerator’s interior should be thoroughly cleaned once a month.

Always start in the cleanest areas and move towards the dirtiest

Clean the desks before the floors, or the kitchen surfaces before the bins. This ensures dirt and bacteria are not spread from high-risk to low-risk areas during the cleaning process.

Change the cloths and mops regularly

Reusable cloths, mops and sponges should be changed frequently, ideally after each use in high-risk areas. Wash the cloths at high temperatures, or use disposable wipes for particularly sensitive spaces like food prep areas.

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Disinfect high-touch points thoroughly

Focus on high-touch surfaces such as door handles, light switches, lift buttons, and shared electronics. These areas are common sources of cross-contamination in offices and should be disinfected multiple times a day using suitable cleaning solutions.

Train your staff on hygiene practices

All cleaning personnel should receive regular training on hygiene standards. This helps to maintain accountability across cleaning teams.

Store all cleaning materials safely

Keep your mops, cloths, and chemicals separate by area. For example, never store kitchen cleaning products with toilet cleaners. Use clearly labelled storage units and keep hazardous substances locked away.

By following these tips, businesses can reduce the risk of cross-contamination, protecting both staff and visitors.