Welcome and thank you for checking out our blog! This post is our ninth in a series of posts that will explore the dirtiest places found in different environments. Environments such as your office, your home, the airport, etc.  Click here to follow us on Facebook or click here to connect with us on LinkedIn to be alerted when those posts become available.

Every day, millions of people use public transportation. Have you ever stopped to think about how clean it is? Yes, common areas such as bathrooms are cleaned, but what about other surfaces? Public transportation’s main goal is to help riders arrive safely and timely. Cleaning is a secondary priority. Below you will find areas that may carry a higher number of germs and some tips for keepings yourself safe and healthy.

Germs:

There are more than 1 million restaurants in the US and about 1/8 of American’s income is spent on food (in restaurants and grocery stores). That means, on a daily basis, restaurants are filled with lots of people and the potential for many germs. Below are some of the germiest surfaces hiding in restaurants and ways to protect yourself:

• High chairs and booster seats
• Lemons (improper storage and handling/cutting)
• Menus (many restaurants do not disinfect)
• Salt and Pepper shakers (many restaurants do not clean on a regular basis)
• Chairs (many restaurants do not clean on a regular basis)
• Condiment bottles (many restaurants do not clean on a regular basis)

What can you do to help?

First and foremost, the biggest thing you can do is wash your hands before eating. Take a seat, look over the menu, order, then wash your hands. You can also carry hand sanitizer with you and using before you touch your food. Doing this, will prevent the transfer/spread of any germs you come into contact with.

Use disinfecting wipes to wipe off surfaces like high chair trays or booster seats. Wipe off any surfaces you may come into contact before or during your meal. Tabletops may be wiped by restaurant staff but they may not be disinfected. Using wipes on the tabletop will also prevent the spread of germs if your hands touch the tabletop.

For restaurant owners/managers: Make sure the company providing you with cleaning services or your employees are taking steps to help you create a healthy environment. Check the scope of work and see how often items are being cleaned. Ask for an increase in disinfecting during cold and flu seasons and make sure they are using proper disinfectants and procedures. Provide gloves for employees to use when handling food or tongs to handle food such as lemons.

 

Octagon Building Care is a leader in commercial cleaning and building solutions for Fort Worth, Arlington, and Dallas. Follow us on Facebook for more great information.