Winter brings enough challenges on its own around Gatineau, and flu season doesn’t make things any easier. When colder weather sets in, most of us spend more time indoors, often in shared spaces like offices. With windows shut and people closer together, viruses have an easier time moving from desk to desk.
By January, many workplaces feel the pressure. Sick days start to pile up, and it becomes harder for teams to stay on track. The way we look after our shared spaces has a bigger impact during this part of the year. One way to cut down on germs is to make office cleaning in Gatineau more focused and consistent during flu season.
Let’s walk through the parts of the office that need extra care, some weather-related cleaning challenges to plan for, how to think about cleaning schedules during this time of year, and a few habits that help keep the whole workplace on the healthier side.
Focus Areas That Need More Attention During Flu Season
Flu viruses stick around longer than we’d like, especially when the air is dry and stale. Since windows stay closed for most of the winter, fresh air doesn’t circulate the way it does in spring or summer. That makes it easier for germs to hang around and settle on shared surfaces.
The most important spots to keep clean are the ones people touch the most:
• Door handles and elevator buttons
• Shared desks and chair arms
• Phones, keyboards, and touchscreens
• Kitchen counters, coffee machines, and microwave handles
• Bathroom faucets, paper towel dispensers, and light switches
These areas need cleaning several times throughout the week, not just as part of occasional deep cleans. Using products suited for high-touch areas helps keep germs from spreading. A quick wipe-down here and there makes a difference but can’t replace a regular cleaning schedule.
During flu season, giving these areas more attention helps break the chain of transmission that starts when someone sneezes into their hand, touches a surface, and moves on without knowing they’ve left something behind.
How Winter Weather Adds Cleaning Challenges
Besides the flu itself, winter brings its own mess. Snow gets tracked in early and often. Slush, road salt, and dirt pile up quickly at the front doors and hallways, making it harder to keep floors clean and safe. Wet floors aren’t just messy, they can lead to slips if they aren’t cleaned regularly.
Salt and grit don’t stay at the entrance either. They get kicked into carpets, dug into corners, and often missed during lighter cleanups. Over time, these materials wear down carpet fibres and flooring finishes.
The air inside doesn’t help much. Lower humidity levels dry everything out, including our sinuses, which can make people feel worse when they’re already fighting off colds. Trapped air moves dust around faster, especially when heaters are running for most of the day.
This is a good time of year to clean beyond surfaces. That means:
• Vacuuming carpets more deeply and more often
• Cleaning inside vents and along baseboards
• Tackling overlooked corners that collect dust and grit
Regular deep cleaning helps lessen the buildup and keeps the office feeling fresher, even when the weather outside says otherwise. We use HEPA-filtered vacuums, which trap fine particles and support better indoor air quality, an important factor for offices during flu season.
Cleaning Schedules That Fit Gatineau Workplaces in Winter
Every office needs a slightly different approach, but winter changes the game for everyone. A space that worked fine with weekly cleaning in the fall might feel off by mid-January. Extra foot traffic, harsh outdoor conditions, and flu spread can quickly shift what “enough” really looks like.
When we help businesses think about their winter cleaning schedules, we usually look at a few things:
• Office size and how much is shared space
• Number of people in and out every day
• Type of flooring and how easily it traps dirt
• Whether the space has good airflow or is fully enclosed
Some office layouts, especially open-concept spaces, need more frequent touchups because the same spots get used by more people. Staff kitchens and lounges often need daily cleaning, while meeting rooms and private offices might be fine with less frequent upkeep.
Flu season often lasts through February and into early spring. That means cleaning plans shouldn’t be locked to a single month. Watch for changes. If absences increase or the space feels tired faster, it might be time to shift how often deep cleaning happens.
For companies looking for a safer environment, we offer the option to use plant and citrus-based cleaning products, reducing the use of chemicals but still targeting bacteria and viruses effectively.
Office Habits That Help Cleaning Go Further
Keeping a clean office doesn’t fall on just one group. Everyone can help, and it doesn’t take a big effort. A few shifts in day-to-day habits can help maintain a healthier space between cleanings.
Here are a few habits workplaces can put in place during flu season:
• Add hand sanitizing stations near entrances and shared equipment
• Place reminders near desks and washrooms about coughing into sleeves
• Encourage staff to wipe down shared equipment after using it
• Keep tissues and paper towels visible and stocked
Making these supplies easy to reach reminds everyone to use them. It also helps create a workplace culture where people support each other during cold and flu season instead of spreading more than ideas around.
Communicating clearly about what’s being done helps staff feel safer at work too. Letting people know that extra cleaning is happening makes a difference in how confident they feel using shared spaces.
Flu Season Solutions for Gatineau Workplaces
When the flu moves through a workplace, it doesn’t just affect one person. It slows down whole teams, disrupts routines, and increases the load on those who are still showing up. A clean office helps keep things moving better, not perfectly, but better than if things are left to chance.
Partnering with us lets you build a winter cleaning strategy that fits your workspace and supports the well-being of your staff. With experienced, bonded teams and a commitment to service, offices across Gatineau benefit from reliable cleaning routines, healthier surfaces, and a safer workplace through flu season and beyond.
At The Glebe Clean Inc., we understand how a workplace can be impacted during the winter months, especially as seasonal illnesses become more common. Keeping office areas extra clean during flu season helps teams feel their best and stay productive. When you want to create healthier spaces, our team is ready to help you approach office cleaning in Gatineau with a strategy that fits your needs. Speak with us about a routine that makes sense for your workspace and supports a smooth season ahead.
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