Keeping a tidy workplace can be a challenge; add seasonal elements to the mix, and it can be near-impossible to keep the appearance orderly.
At ROC Commercial Cleaning, we understand the day-to-day demands that come with keeping a workplace clean, and winter can add even more to the list. Knowing the right methods and putting consistent practices in place can make all the difference as temperatures drop and foot traffic increases.
Why Winter Cleanliness Matters for Businesses
As winter rolls in, we all know that germs, snow, ice and shorter days can really take a toll on our health and productivity. For customer-facing businesses, making a strong first impression becomes even more crucial during these colder months. In places like the Twin Cities, we face unique challenges like ice melt, salt, moisture, slush and debris that lead to messes in an active workplace that can be near impossible to control. Staying proactive about these issues can help keep everyone happier, healthier and safer.
Find Out More On The Importance of Regular Commercial Cleaning
Daily Cleaning Priorities for Winter
During the winter months, it’s essential to prioritize cleanliness in your businesses, facilities and workplaces to promote a safe and welcoming environment for everyone. The colder temperatures often lead to more activity taking place indoors, and certain areas require extra attention to maintain hygiene and comfort.
Here are the key focus areas that our team shouldn’t skip during daily cleaning routines this season.
- Entryways
- Restrooms
- High-touch surfaces
- Breakrooms & kitchens
- Floors (carpeting and hard surfaces)
Related: Seasonal Cleaning Services to Keep Your Business at Its Best
Preventative Measures To Supplement Winter Cleaning Needs
Use Quality Entrance Mats
One of the best ways to keep the winter elements out of your workplace and off your floors is to use high-quality floor mats at every entrance. Invest in high-quality, 3-stage entrance mats to trap dirt, slush, snow and moisture. This makes a significant difference in keeping and helps maintain a cleaner environment, and reduces wear on the flooring.
Stopping Dirt at the Door with Entrance Mats
Increase Hand Sanitizer Access
If you don’t already have several hand sanitizing stations throughout your workplace, now is the time; providing easy access will promote hygiene and encourage regular hand sanitizing among employees and visitors, ultimately decreasing the spread of germs.
The Most Common Germ Hotspots in Office Buildings
Improve the Air Quality
During the winter season, workplaces can become stuffy since windows and doors remain closed. If dust and buildup are not regularly removed, it can have a negative effect on the air quality in your building. To improve the air quality in your work environment, consider adding air purifiers, ensuring that HVAC filters are changed on time, and scheduling regular commercial cleaning for floors, trim, baseboards, air vents, fans, shelving, and other high surfaces. These steps can significantly enhance the air quality in your workplace.
What is Your Flooring Doing to the Office Air Quality?
Schedule Periodic Deep Cleans
Schedule regular deep cleaning sessions to combat the accumulation of dirt and debris, especially during the winter months. This proactive approach will help maintain overall cleanliness and prevent buildup that may require more work, even repairs, or the replacement of floors, furniture, and more.
Encourage Employee Etiquette
Encourage employees to do their part to keep a tidy, healthy work environment, such as wiping their shoes and sanitizing their desks regularly. Building a culture of care and cleanliness that contributes to a healthier workplace should be a priority for businesses of all kinds.
Floor Care Strategies for Snow, Salt, and Slush
Proper cleaning of the flooring in your workplace is essential year-round, but during the winter months, it is even more of a priority. Without proper and frequent cleaning and upkeep, floors become a sloppy and slippery mess, not only an eyesore but a risk to employees, customers and visitors and can lead to long-term damage to floors.
In the chart below, we highlight common winter floor issues and the recommended actions for each.
Floor Care Recommendations for Winter
| Floor Type | Winter Problem | Recommended Action |
| Carpet | Salt, debris + moisture | Frequent vacuuming, moisture extraction + carpet cleaning |
| Stone Tile | Salt + white film | Daily mopping with neutralizing cleaners |
| Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) | Slippery surfaces | Daily mopping + floor mats |
| Concrete | Debris + staining | Routine scrubbing + proper sealants |
These are general recommendations based on floor type, and while they can help guide your winter cleaning efforts, every workplace is unique. Hiring a reliable professional commercial cleaning company ensures that your floors are assessed properly, and the best methods are used to maintain them. With a tailored approach, you can keep floors in your workplace clean, safe, and welcoming for employees, clients, and visitors throughout the winter season.
Keeping Office Floors Dry and Safe This Winter
Germ Control & Disinfection Techniques
The winter season is known for snowflakes and holiday cheer, but it is also known for stuffy noses, lingering coughs, and colds and flus that spread throughout the workplace with no end in sight. Although you can’t entirely prevent illness from spreading through your organization, there are precautionary measures you can take to help reduce its extent and frequency.
Hiring a commercial cleaning company if you do not have one, or increasing the frequency of your existing professional cleaning services, can help ensure that proper cleaning measures are being implemented. From increased cleaning of high-touch areas like light switches, door knobs, and sink faucets to the use of EPA-approved disinfectants, this helps keep germs in check and your employees protected. Encourage your staff to keep workstations clean, wipe down keyboards and shared equipment, and even posting signs as reminders to clean surfaces and wash hands more often to help them be more mindful during this season.
Learn How Commercial Cleaning Can Reduce the Spread of Illness
Keeping A Clean Breakroom
Throughout the winter months, there are often more get-togethers, and the workplace is no exception. Holiday parties, potlucks and more can lead to messes, stains, crumbs, and clutter this time of year. The breakroom is often an area that is impacted the most.
Here are some spots in your breakroom that deserve a good cleaning:
- Clean coffee stations, fridges, and microwaves.
- Daily trash removal (food waste increases sickness and odors).
- Wipe shared tables + appliances with disinfectant wipes.
Get More Tips for Keeping a Clean Break Room
Partnering With a Commercial Cleaning Company
The best way to ensure your workplace stays clean this winter is by partnering with a trusted commercial cleaning company like ROC Commercial Cleaning.
Find Out: How To Choose The Right Commercial Cleaning Company
Located in Oakdale, MN and serving Minneapolis, St. Paul, and the surrounding Twin Cities metro area, we’re fully equipped to handle everything Midwest winters bring. Our professional crews are prepared for winter-specific cleaning needs, and we offer flexible, scalable schedules to support heavy-traffic seasons.
We know what it takes to keep a workplace clean year-round, and winter adds its own mix of dirt, moisture, and germs. When you partner with ROC, we’ll build a thoughtful and affordable plan that keeps your workplace welcoming and clean all season long.
ROC Commercial Cleaning is your trusted Minneapolis commercial cleaning company. We provide janitor services for office buildings, medical and veterinary clinics, industrial buildings, and more. We also provide floor stripping and waxing, construction cleanup, and office disinfection services. ROC Commercial Cleaning is an experienced and reputable Minnesota corporate cleaning service provider – no job is too big or too small!
