How Prepare Your Office Winter

Cooler weather is upon us and most of the US has had the heat on
for a few weeks now. Along with spending more time warm and indoors with
windows sealed, late November through December is a high travel time which
exposes all of our customers and employees to new germs; which allows
businesses and offices to become incubators for these pathogens to spread.
Taking few key steps during the next few months can keep your business
healthy and make sure you and your employees can remain productive in this
already hectic time of the year!

1. Open a window. Any chance you get,
weather of course permitting – optimally 55 degrees or above, take the
opportunity to open up a few windows across the office for 15-20 minutes.
Circulating fresh air throughout the building will help rid of any airborne
pathogens or toxins that may be lingering. It also helps your heater intake
take in fresher air (once the windows are closed of course) which help
circulate it throughout the building and ventilation. Indoor air is known to
have significantly more toxins than outdoor, even in cities, so opening the
window can help heal your immune system along with preventing the spread of
illness.

2. Put down a rug.
Colder weather usually brings wetter weather. Putting down a
heavy duty rug in all entrances can not only prevent slipping accidents, but
also the spread of mud, debris and water across business flooring which can
contain molds and germs which affect air quality. Also, if your business
caters to young children like a toy store or daycare school, there is no
doubt they are willing to pick up anything off the floor, so it is best to
make sure it preventative measures are taken!

3. Up your
janitorial services. In warmer, drier weather you may be ok
cutting back on the number of janitorial services your business gets per
week, mostly thanks to healthier customers and employees based on increased
outdoor activity. Unfortunately, it is not the same case in cooler
temperatures. As mentioned above, increased travel and limited outdoor
exposure/fresh air allows offices and businesses to become incubators for
germs. Upping your services by 50% is recommended (example once to twice a
week), but if that is not possible – assigning an opening/closing task to
wipe down all handles (doors, cabinets, sinks…) can help limit the risk of
the spread of germs. (Don’t have a janitorial service yet or looking to up
your current, visit our Contact page for all of our
locations and schedule a free quote today!)

4. Change your
filters. Many of us fail to remember to change our HVAC
filters in our homes, so it is no doubt we also fail to do so in our
businesses. Making it a routine every time the seasons change (at least
winter and summer) to change your filters will help improve the air quality
and circulation no matter what the temperature.