Proactive Steps to Get Ahead of Cold and Flu Season with Cleaning and Sanitizing Products
Cold and flu season is approaching quickly, which can lead to increased time off, reduced productivity, and greater health concerns in the workplace. Fortunately, a few proactive cleaning and sanitizing strategies can help reduce the spread of germs, create a healthier workplace environment, and minimize the risk of employees bringing illnesses home to their families.
Shared workplace environments such as office cubicles, waiting areas, breakrooms, conference rooms, and other common spaces can make it easier for germs to spread. Without regular cleaning and proper disinfection of frequently touched surfaces, bacteria and viruses can quickly circulate throughout the workplace.
In this post, we’ll share practical tips for reducing the spread of germs at work, highlight essential cleaning and sanitizing products, discuss optimal product placement throughout your facility, and recommend workplace health and wellness essentials to keep stocked throughout cold and flu season.
Cold and Flu Season Tips for Reducing the Spread of Germs
Reducing the spread of germs in commercial spaces doesn’t have to be complicated. With the right cleaning and sanitizing products strategically placed throughout your facility, you can create a healthier environment for employees, customers, and visitors.
Below, we’ve highlighted key products to incorporate into your workplace, along with practical tips to help you maximize their effectiveness. These simple solutions can help stop germs in their tracks, so your team can stay focused, productive, and healthy throughout the season.
1. Wipe Down High-Touch Surfaces
Many workplace surfaces are touched throughout the day but often overlooked during routine cleaning. Regularly cleaning these high-touch areas with sanitizing products such as disinfectant wipes, sanitizing sprays, or other cleaning products can help prevent illness transmission.
Encourage facilities teams and employees to regularly sanitize and disinfect commonly touched surfaces such as: 
- Light switches
- Doorknobs and door handles
- Keyboards and computer mice
- Desks and tables
- Countertops
- Phones and headsets
- Elevator and vending machine buttons
- Stair railings and handrails
- Window handles
- Whiteboard markers and erasers
- Remote controls
- Printer, copier, and scanner touchscreens
- Refrigerator, microwave, and other appliance handles and buttons
- Check-in devices
Since these surfaces are frequently shared among employees, visitors, and customers, they can quickly become hotspots for germs if they are not cleaned and disinfected regularly.
2. Place Hand Sanitizer Dispensers in High-Traffic Areas
While handwashing remains one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of germs, hand sanitizer dispensers provide a quick and convenient option when soap and water are not readily available. Strategically placing hand sanitizer stations throughout your facility can encourage employees and visitors to practice good hand hygiene throughout the day.
Consider placing hand sanitizer dispensers in the following areas:
- Breakrooms and dining areas
- Conference and meeting rooms
- Printing and copy stations
- Building entrances and lobbies
- Reception areas
- Waiting room and common seating areas
- Shared workspaces and collaboration zones
Visible and easily accessible sanitizer stations can serve as helpful reminders for employees to sanitize their hands before eating and after coughing, sneezing, or using shared equipment. Be sure to check and refill dispensers regularly to ensure they are always available when needed.
3. Improve the Air Quality by Replacing HVAC Air Filters
Maintaining good indoor air quality is an important part of creating a healthy workplace, especially during cold and flu season. Dirty HVAC filters can collect dust, allergens, bacteria, mold spores, and other airborne particles that may circulate throughout your facility. Poor air quality can contribute to the spread of germs and may aggravate respiratory or breathing issues for employees and visitors.
Replacing HVAC filters on a regular schedule is a simple yet effective way to promote cleaner air and support employee health. As a general practice, consider replacing filters every 1-3 months, depending on your system’s usage and manufacturer recommendations. Regularly inspecting filters and replacing them when needed helps improve ventilation and supports healthy indoor air quality, especially in high-occupancy facilities during cold and flu season.
4. Place Facial Tissues Around the Workplace 
In many workplace environments, employees regularly interact through handshakes, shared workspaces, and commonly used equipment. However, coughing and sneezing remain some of the most common ways germs spread from person to person.
Providing facial tissues throughout your facility encourages employees and visitors to practice proper respiratory hygiene. When individuals cough or sneeze into a tissue and dispose of it immediately, they help prevent germs from spreading onto nearby surfaces or into the air.
Consider adding facial tissues in the following areas:
- Common Areas: Conference rooms, lobbies, reception areas, waiting rooms, common seating spaces, collaboration zones, and restrooms.
- Breakrooms: Dining areas and food preparation stations.
5. Refill Hand Soap and Paper Towel Dispensers for Effective Handwashing Practices 
Ensuring that hand soap and paper towel dispensers are fully stocked is important year-round, but it is especially critical during cold and flu season. Handwashing with soap and water is one of the most effective ways to remove germs from the skin and help prevent the spread of illness.
However, proper hand drying is just as important as handwashing. Without an adequate drying method, the benefits of washing hands can be diminished. Wet hands can easily pick up bacteria and viruses from contaminated surfaces, and drying hands on clothing can transfer germs back onto the skin. Studies have shown that paper towels are among the most effective hand-drying options for reducing bacterial transfer after handwashing.
To help maintain a hygienic environment, ensure your facilities team follows established procedures for refilling hand soap and paper towel dispensers, so they remain fully stocked and ready for use. Here are instructions on how to refill a Kimberly-Clark Professional™ Paper Towel Dispenser.
Keep Teams Happy and Healthy with Cleaning and Sanitizing Products
Preparing for cold and flu season now can help reduce seasonal illness-related disruptions, support employee well-being, and maintain productivity throughout the months ahead. By stocking up on products such as hand sanitizer dispensers, paper towels, disinfectant wipes, and sanitizing sprays, your facility can help maintain a cleaner space and support employee wellness before demand increases.
For best results, always read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for each cleaning and sanitizing product. Proper usage, including application methods, contact times, and recommended spray distances, helps ensure products are used safely and effectively.
Get ahead of cold and flu season by stocking up on cleaning and sanitizing products today to help create a cleaner, healthier workplace for employees and visitors alike.
References
CPC. Taking Steps for Cleaner Air for Respiratory Virus Prevention. Respiratory Illnesses. (https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/prevention/air-quality.html) Accessed September 17, 2026.
Infection Control Today. Not Drying Hands Thoroughly After Washing Hands Could Aid Bacterial Transfer. (https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/not-drying-hands-thoroughly-after-washing-could-aid-bacterial-transfer) Accessed September 17, 2026.
ScienceAlert. These Are The Fastest-Spreading Diseases, According to Science. (https://www.sciencealert.com/these-are-the-fastest-spreading-diseases-according-to-science) Accessed September 17, 2026.
WorthvieW. 5 Ways to Stop the Spread of Germs in Your Workplace. (https://www.worthview.com/5-ways-to-stop-the-spread-of-germs-in-your-workplace/) Accessed September 17, 2026.
