FM newsroom – cleaning, hygiene. Even spotless surfaces can harbour invisible threats. In hospitals, care homes, and public buildings, evidence shows that cleaning is not just maintenance—it’s a frontline defence against infection.
The Hidden Risk on High-Touch Surfaces
From door handles to light switches, high-touch points are the silent carriers of infection. According to European Cleaning Journal’s professionals, studies show that a single surface can be touched by up to 40 people in one day, with microbes transferred as far as the fifth person who makes contact. Yet, without mapping these touchpoints, even rigorous cleaning regimes can miss the very spots most likely to spread disease.
Visual cleanliness does not guarantee microbial safety. In fact, research from the PandemicClean.eu project revealed that 35% of surfaces were more contaminated after cleaning—underscoring that method, not just chemicals, determines success.
Cleaning Is a Skilled Profession
The difference between effective and ineffective cleaning often lies in the details: cloth hygiene, the right level of moisture, and proper pressure. Biofilms—protective layers of microbes—cannot be destroyed by disinfectants alone. Without thorough mechanical cleaning, even the strongest products fail.
In one clinical trial at Alexandris University Hospital, enhanced cleaning protocols and staff training were associated with a 40% decrease in healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). The lesson is clear: when cleaning is treated as a skilled practice, health outcomes improve.
Measuring the Invisible
Relying on sight alone to judge cleanliness is dangerously misleading. Tools such as ATP testing and microbial surface sampling allow facility managers to track invisible contaminants and provide evidence-based feedback. A Texas hospital study found that routine disinfection still left harmful microbes behind—proof that oversight and validation are non-negotiable.
Four Essentials for Impactful Cleaning
To shift cleaning from a routine task to a life-saving intervention, facility managers should prioritise four key pillars:
- Cleaning saves lives – targeted cleaning can cut infection rates by up to 40%.
- Training is a wise investment – skilled staff deliver safer, more consistent outcomes.
- Quality education matters – evidence-based teaching improves real-world performance.
- Data and follow-up are vital – monitoring supports accountability and long-term change.
For facility managers, cleaning should be viewed as more than just a maintenance task. It is a skilled, measurable, and impactful profession—one that directly influences the health and safety of building users.