Winter conditions alter how respiratory viruses, such as influenza and common cold viruses, spread within buildings. Cleaning practices, products, and decision-making must adapt accordingly. Strengthening infection prevention and maintaining indoor environmental health requires winter-specific cleaning shifts as people spend more time indoors with reduced ventilation and longer viral persistence on surfaces in colder, drier air. In the United States, flu season typically starts in the fall and extends through winter. While influenza viruses spread year-round, we see many more people get sick from October through May. Unfortunately, many cleaning programs remain unchanged throughout the year. A “one-size-fits-all” program that doesn’t account for seasonal shifts increases the risk for infectious disease transmission. Adapting a cleaning strategy Respiratory viruses spread through close interactions among people, contact with contaminated surfaces and hands, and airborne transmission. Cold, dry air allows viruses to persist, travel further, and remain viable on surfaces for longer periods. Cleaning for health in winter is not simply about cleaning more often. It is about cleaning differently and using science to guide changes in products, practices, processes, and decision-making across the entire cleaning chain. When facility managers treat winter cleaning as a targeted public health intervention rather than routine maintenance, buildings can play a measurable role in reducing viral transmission and protecting both occupants and front-line workers. Winter brings operational challenges. Facilities often reduce fresh air intake to conserve energy. Cleaning staff usually face increased workloads due to prolonged indoor occupancy, illness among building occupants, or weather disruptions. Colder temperatures often affect chemical application and performance. To meet these challenges, facility managers must intentionally design winter cleaning programs and demand a focus on health outcomes. Shifting from appearance to health A surface that appears clean can still harbor infectious viruses capable of spreading illness. Shifting from cleaning for appearance to cleaning for health requires coordination across the chain so that products, protocols, training, and expectations are aligned with infection prevention goals. Winter cleaning programs should prioritize: High-touch, high-occupancy surfaces, such as hotel lobbies, handrails, restrooms, and common equipment. Frequency and timing based on risk patterns, not arbitrary schedules. Measured effectiveness, not assumptions of cleanliness. Selecting products The choice of cleaning and disinfecting chemistry becomes more critical in winter when seasonal respiratory viral loads and occupancy patterns shift. Facility managers and building service contractors need to ensure the products they choose: Are supported by evidence demonstrating efficacy against enveloped viruses, such as influenza, in real-world conditions. Include clear, science-based instructions on dwell time, dilution, and application methods. Remain stable and effective when stored or applied in cooler environments. Balance antimicrobial performance with worker and occupant safety. Facilities and cleaning companies must not overuse more potent chemicals in winter without understanding exposure risks. Stronger chemicals do not necessarily equate better performance. Effective winter cleaning is about using the right chemistry correctly, especially when increased frequency is needed. Rethinking processes To interrupt viral transmission, cleaning staff must redesign processes to reflect actual human behavior and occupancy during winter. This includes rethinking where, when, and how often cleaning occurs.• Use a floor plan to map and analyze occupant movement to target high-risk areas. Increase cleaning frequency for identified high-touch surfaces. Build cleaning schedules based on activity patterns rather than time schedules alone. Separate cleaning and disinfection tasks, ensuring teams apply disinfectants to already clean surfaces for maximum effectiveness. Choosing consistency over speed In winter, consistency becomes more important than speed. Disinfectants require a specific dwell or contact time—the period a surface must remain wet with the disinfectant—to work. Yet, rushed application is one of the most common failures in real-world cleaning. To ensure proper disinfectant application, cleaning teams should reinforce the use of: Application tools that support even coverage rather than over-spraying. Verification tools, such as fluorescent markers and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) testing, to confirm cleaning quality. Routine verification processes that confirm tools (microfiber cloths and mops, dispensers, dilutors) are clean and functioning correctly. Mechanization and automation, such as touch-free dispensing systems, can improve consistency while reducing cross-contamination risks when implemented correctly. Protecting the workforce Cleaning staff face higher workloads and increased exposure to pathogens during winter. Facility managers must adapt training to explain: Why cleaning practices need to change in winter Why cleaning staff must take on the role of infection prevention professionals. When the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) is required. How to recognize symptoms of respiratory illness. Protecting cleaning workers is inseparable from protecting building occupants. A workforce that feels informed, valued, and protected is more likely to deliver consistent, high-quality cleaning outcomes. Enhancing indoor air quality Beyond surfaces, the air we breathe plays a significant role in respiratory virus transmission. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, no single air strategy is sufficient on its own. Effective prevention depends on a multi-layered approach that complements surface cleaning and hygiene practices. Increase outside air ventilation to the maximum extent practical to help dilute the concentration of virus-laden aerosols in indoor spaces. Adjust airflow patterns to avoid direct air movement between people and exhaust air from smaller spaces like restrooms. Filter recirculated air through high-efficiency filters, such as MERV-13 or the highest MERV rating a building’s ventilation system can accommodate, to remove airborne particles. Place portable air cleaners in areas that are hard to ventilate with outside air or that have high occupancy. Utilize upper-room ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) to reduce airborne virus transmission further. While not a replacement for ventilation or filtration, UVGI can be an effective supplement in high-risk areas. Set ventilation and filtration goals. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends five air changes per hour when using outdoor air ventilation alone or five equivalent air changes per hour when using a combination of ventilation from outdoor air, filtration, and other air treatment. Cleaning for public health Flu and cold season is predictable. Cleaning programs that remain static during winter miss a critical opportunity to reduce risk, protect people, and demonstrate the actual value of professional cleaning. When all sectors of the cleaning industry work together with a shared
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the top global public health threats, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Scientists estimated that bacterial AMR was responsible for 1.27 million global deaths in 2019 and will cause 10 million deaths by 2050. The superbugs cleaning professionals combat in healthcare settings are a result of AMR, which occurs when germs, including bacteria, fungi, and viruses, develop the ability to defeat the antibiotics/drugs designed to kill them. All organisms, including people, have survival instincts and biological mechanisms to fight back, explained Joanna Mills, a registered nurse and system director of infection prevention at John Muir Health, Walnut Creek, California. She added that AMR is not a new occurrence. Alexander Fleming, who discovered penicillin in 1928, warned that “microbes are educated to resist penicillin.” Infection control progress Since the rise of superbugs, infection control practices have become more evidence-based, standardized, and proactive. “We’ve seen stronger emphasis on hand hygiene, environmental cleaning, and antimicrobial stewardship programs, along with enhanced surveillance and rapid diagnostic testing,” said Rodney E. Rohde, a Regents’ professor and associate director of the Translation Health Research Center at Texas State University System, San Marcos. “Education and cross-disciplinary collaboration—especially between infection prevention, laboratory science, and environmental services—have also improved. Together, these efforts create a more resilient infection prevention culture that helps contain resistant pathogens and protect patients and staff alike.” Improvements in disinfection and sterilization of high-risk environments, such as surgical suites and intensive care units, in addition to isolation standards, also continue to evolve. “I believe that pursuing the research needed to establish a validated and effective cleaning and disinfection methodology will open the door to discover and develop strategies to make significant improvements in prevention and patient outcomes,” Mills said. As the industry studies how to clean surfaces effectively, it has established best practices for cleaning and disinfection in healthcare and learned that personal protective equipment (PPE) can keep staff safe and prevent them from transmitting organisms to other patients, explained Sarah Wilkerson, system executive director of infection prevention at Providence St. Joseph Health, Everette, Washington. The industry also uses broader surveillance techniques to look for these organisms. “We’re trying to identify them early, so that we can put in place targeted interventions that can help prevent the spread that could potentially turn into an outbreak,” Wilkerson said. Healthcare setting improvements Healthcare professionals face significant challenges when dealing with superbugs, including limited treatment options, diagnostic delays, staff shortages, and the constant pressure to maintain strict infection control amid heavy workloads, Rohde said. Misinformation and inconsistent compliance can also undermine prevention efforts. Fortunately, new tools to address these challenges include rapid diagnostic technologies, antimicrobial stewardship programs, and multidisciplinary teams. “By integrating science, communication, and collaboration, we’re steadily improving our ability to detect, manage, and prevent resistant infections in healthcare environments,” Rohde said. “In the medical laboratory setting, we all need to work together to raise awareness surrounding current antimicrobial susceptibility testing breakpoints. These are challenges for clinical and medical laboratories to update their testing methods to keep up with new drug resistance patterns, and face hurdles like regulatory clearance and manufacturer delays.” Mills believes the biggest challenges in superbug prevention stem from three factors patients are exposed to before they arrive at acute care hospitals: the environment they came from, including skilled nursing facilities; the treatment they received, including antibiotics; and the healthcare practices of their care team, such as isolation and disinfection. Unfortunately, standards and requirements are not consistent. “The pandemic illustrated these issues and exacerbated the resistance patterns and emerging urgent and serious organism threats,” Mills said. Superbugs also can spread easily on surfaces, such as equipment. “While we know that it can be challenging to clean and disinfect some of the healthcare surfaces, we now know we need to be looking at the different types of surfaces and what is recommended to clean those effectively,” Wilkerson said. Collaboration between environmental services (EVS), nursing, engineering, supply chain, and infection prevention also is necessary to consider the environment, identify which surfaces need cleaning, and determine how teams can clean most effectively without using multiple products. Managers also must delineate each team’s role. “It can be really confusing to teams, because it can be a shared responsibility to clean the healthcare environment,” Wilkerson explained. As hospitals acquire pieces of equipment, furniture, buildings, etc., teams need to select surfaces that can be cleaned and disinfected easily. “We know that some of the older buildings have a real challenge with being able to keep those clean just because the surfaces degrade over time,” Wilkerson said. “It’s a great opportunity as we’re bringing in new products to be thinking about how to ease our way in the future.” Best practices adaptation Professional organizations have developed and published cleaning and disinfection standards specific to patient populations and specialty services. Still, the specific practices related to the general medical surgical areas are lacking, complicated by the recommendations of manufacturers of medical devices, hospital furniture, and construction materials, Mills explained. “Often, the instructions for use (IFU) related to cleaning and disinfection are insufficient and/or not defined, and the cleaning practices are deferred to hospital standards,” she said. The best cleaning practices for reducing superbugs start with consistency and adherence to evidence-based protocols. This includes routine, thorough cleaning of frequently touched and shared surfaces, proper use of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registered disinfectants effective against resistant organisms, and proper contact times. Staff training, hand hygiene, and clear communication between a multidisciplinary team is essential. Regular audits, monitoring, and feedback also ensure compliance. “Ultimately, a culture of shared responsibility—where everyone understands their role in infection prevention—is key to minimizing the spread of superbugs in healthcare settings,” Rohde said. Wilkerson also believes it is important to have rigorous environmental cleaning practices for patients with known AMR organisms. For example, place them on transmission-based precautions or in isolation, meaning that staff entering that room might need to wear a gown and gloves. Hand hygiene protocols also help ensure staff properly disinfect their
What has the cleaning industry learned as it transitioned from the first pandemic year to the second? In this episode of BioTalk, a GBACtv production, learn the details about what went well and what didn't in 2021, and what we as an industry need to know right now. Infection prevention experts Patty Olinger, the executive director of the Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC), a division of ISSA, and Dr. Paul Meechan, the former head of safety with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and who now serves on the GBAC scientific advisory board, discuss these topics with ISSA Media Director Jeff Cross. This webcast also digs into the science and the layered support when it comes to cleaning, disinfection, and air purification, and how the omicron variant shouldn’t be considered just another type of “cold”. Olinger and Meechan also discuss the possibility of the end of the pandemic. This webcast is brought to you by our sponsor Breezy.
On Tuesday, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker announced the state is joining the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN), a coordinated international network dedicated to monitoring and responding to global disease outbreaks. This move makes Illinois the second state to join the network, following California’s announcement last month. As a result of President Trump’s withdrawal of the United States from the WHO, Illinois will now be directly connected to global alerts, expert public health networks, and international response capabilities essential to protecting Illinois residents from emerging disease threats. “By withdrawing from the World Health Organization, Donald Trump has undermined science and weakened our nation’s ability to detect and respond to global health threats. I refuse to sit idly by and let that happen,” said Governor Pritzker. "By joining the World Health Organization’s coordinated network, GOARN, we are ensuring that our public health leaders–and the public–have the information, expertise, and partnerships they need to protect the people of our state. Across our state and alongside valued partners around the world, Illinois will continue to put science, preparedness, and people first.” The outbreak response network, GOARN, is a WHO-coordinated, worldwide partnership of hundreds of public health institutions, national governments, academic centers, laboratories, and response organizations focused on rapidly detecting and responding to emerging public health threats. Membership in this network strengthens Illinois’ preparedness for future pandemics and emerging threats. It also complements the Illinois Department of Public Health’s (IDPH) ongoing coordination with U.S. public-health partners, fortifying response efforts at home while gaining access to global expertise and real-time outbreak intelligence. By joining the network, Illinois will benefit from WHO membership resources, including: Direct access to global early-warning alerts and outbreak intelligence. Opportunities for technical collaboration and surge support during major public health events. Participation in international training, exercises, and best-practice exchanges. Stronger coordination between state-level public health systems and global response efforts. Illinois already brings state resources, experience, and other advantages to GOARN: Strong epidemiologic and laboratory capacity, including expanded genomic sequencing and wastewater surveillance built during COVID-19. Rapid deployment expertise supporting outbreak investigations, infection prevention, and risk communication. Experience sharing data, expertise, and lessons learned with local, state, federal, academic, and international partners. As CMM previously reported, in October 2025, Governor Pritzker joined the Governors Public Health Alliance, a coalition of 15 governors committed to countering the Trump Administration's dismantling of America’s public health infrastructure. Following President Trump’s withdrawal from WHO, the Alliance announced a new coordinated effort with Boston University’s Center on Emerging Infectious Diseases to use information from BEACON—the Biothreats Emergence, Analysis, and Communications Network—for disease tracking and to inform coordinated responses. Additionally, Illinois will continue to convene its Global Health Advisory Committee, which brings together leading experts from world-class Illinois institutions to ensure the state benefits from the best available scientific insight and international health intelligence. Governor Pritzker also signed key legislation that empowers IDPH to offer vaccine guidance through the Immunization Advisory Committee (IAC), reinforcing science-based public health policy and countering misinformation that threatens community health. As CMM previously reported, the American Academy of Pediatrics also published recommendations for immunizations that differ from a schedule recently issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The January/February issue of Cleaning & Maintenance Management is now available in a digital format. The January/February issue takes a close look at infection prevention best practices, from the collaboration required to eliminate superbugs from healthcare settings to the most efficient cleaning techniques to stop the spread of cold and flu viruses. It examines the latest technology to remove pathogens that cause healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and methods of cleaning that are safe for people with chemical sensitivities. Beyond infection prevention, the latest issue of CMM reveals expert tips on marketing your business to millennial and Gen Z customers and showcases a new column geared to the advancement of the Hispanic cleaning community. Here’s a quick look at what you’ll find in this issue: Battling Superbugs in Healthcare Settings: How improved cleaning protocols are winning the fight against antimicrobial resistance A Personal Touch Sells Your Services: BSCs share their tips on marketing to millennials and Gen Z Cleaning for Health in Winter: Modify your cleaning processes to interrupt the spread of cold and flu viruses Building a Bridge for the Hispanic Cleaning Community: ISSA’s new VEO initiative is the brainchild of two women Cleaning for Sensitive Populations: Reducing your chemical footprint makes economic and health sense Healthcare Hygiene and Cleaning Go High Teach Against HAIs: Tech solutions monitor hand hygiene and pinpoint infectious pathogens in hospitals Cross Contamination Is Not Inevitable: Controlling the silent threat in your facility Advance the Cleaning Industry With Transparency: Transparency about products and processes goes beyond marketing to build customer loyalty Check out the table of contents to see all this edition of CMM has to offer, including a Made in the USA product showcase.
Workers in Florida could agree to work for less than the state minimum wage under a bill in a Florida House committee, according to WFSU Public Media. The state bill would allow employees to waive the state minimum wage to participate in work-based learning programs, internships, and pre-apprenticeships. Florida’s minimum wage will increase to US$15 by September. The bill proposes workers could sign a waiver to be paid less, but at least the federal minimum wage of $7.25, for the duration of the programs, which could last 252 days for individuals 18 years or older and 126 days for minors. WFSU reported Milton Republican Representative Nathan Boyles, who owns a solid waste company that employs more than 100 people, said the bill allows employers to offer some pay. At the same time, employees get training, but not the full cost to businesses of the state's minimum wage. The bill prohibits employers from coercing employees to accept the waiver, but no requirement is in place to hire them if they refuse the lower wage or keep them on at the state minimum wage once the 9 months are over. A similar bill was filed and passed by Florida House committees last year but was not brought to the House floor. It comes as Republicans nationally generally oppose minimum wage protections. Meanwhile, last month in Alabama, a bill was introduced to establish a state-mandated minimum wage of $10 per hour. For more than 15 years, the state has had no minimum wage requirement, keeping workers at the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour. The federal minimum wage has remained frozen since 2009, and Alabama senators argue it hasn’t kept up with the cost of living. The Alabama bill also introduces protections for small businesses. Businesses with fewer than 50 employees would be excluded from the requirement. If passed into law, the bill would take effect Jan. 1, 2027. In Utah, a bill was also introduced to raise the state's minimum wage from the federal minimum to $20 an hour. Even though this would be tripling the state’s current minimum wage, senators argue the amount still doesn’t keep up with a livable wage, which is closer to $24. The bill also would require employers to list salary ranges on job applications.
Most people (70%) trust family businesses to do what is right, compared to 58% for publicly traded companies, according to Edelman’s Trust Barometer. However, many family businesses fail to capitalize on this natural advantage to develop trust, according to PwC’s Family Business Survey. While 78% of U.S. family businesses recognize trust as important, “only 52% believe their customers fully trust them.” Since families own most companies worldwide, many of your customers and suppliers are likely family businesses. Leveraging this common ground enables companies to build mutually beneficial relationships rooted in shared values and long-term goals. A recent Harvard Business Review article outlines four main actions to build positive client-business relationships: Lead with your family identity. Embed family-to-family values across your ecosystem. Cultivate multigenerational bonds. Professionalize while preserving “familiness.” A family-to-family strategy leverages the core strengths of family businesses, such as personal reputation, generational thinking, and values-based decision-making. This approach offers three key benefits: mutual commitment at the family level, inherited business relationships, and faster decision-making.