Floors and restrooms are obvious cleaning priorities, but some of the dirtiest spots in a facility are the ones people touch every day without a second thought. Door handles, shared equipment and forgotten floor corners can all collect dirt, grime and germs.

A study found that nearly 1 in 10 door handles across the public and healthcare settings studied had microbial contamination. Knowing where to focus your cleaning efforts can help cleaning teams maintain a more thorough, consistent clean.

Here are some of the most overlooked areas to add to your cleaning routine.

1. Door Handles and Light Switches

These surfaces are touched repeatedly by all those who come through your facility. Wipe down handles, light switches and door locks as part of routine cleaning but ensure to pay special attention to entrances and shared spaces and use an appropriate disinfectant when needed. Don’t forget the edges of doors and the areas around handles.

2. Underneath Furniture and Around Baseboards

Foot traffic carries in dirt and debris, while dust and grime settle along walls, beneath furniture and in corners that standard floor cleaning can miss.

Sweep or dust before wet cleaning to remove loose soil. Work along edges and beneath movable furniture and increase cleaning frequency in entrances and busy walkways. ABCO offers a range of dry mopping solutions to fit your facility’s needs. Our Premium Launderable Loop End and Helper Cut-End Dust Mops can provide maximum surface contact and are durable to withstand professional use.

3. Break Room Touchpoints

Refrigerator handles, microwave buttons, coffee machine controls and shared tables collect fingerprints, food residue and grease from repeated use. Wipe down appliance handles and shared surfaces daily, and clean spills off the floor as soon as they happen. Use a degreasing cleaner where needed to remove stubborn residue and keep food-contact surface cleaning tools separate from your general cleaning tools.

The Super-Sorb Mop offers high absorbency, absorbing up to 400% of its weight in liquid, to help manage spills and everyday floor maintenance. It’s designed to maintain its liquid absorption efficiency even after multiple washes and heavy use.

4. Restroom Fixtures and Dispensers

Faucet handles, flush controls, stall latches and dispenser exteriors receive frequent contact but may be missed when cleaning focuses primarily on toilets and sinks.

Clean fixtures to remove soap residue, water spots and grime before disinfecting where appropriate. Use separate tools for toilets and other restroom surfaces to help prevent cross-contamination. For floor care, our color-coded Dual Cavity Mop Bucket helps reduce soils redepositing on freshly cleaned floors while supporting area-specific cleaning procedures.

5. Trash Receptacles and Surrounding Floors

Leaks, overflowing bins and food residue can leave grime around receptacle lids, handles and bases. Debris also tends to collect underneath bins. Ensure to empty receptacles before they overflow, wipe down lids and handles and clean the interior when needed. Move bins to sweep and mop underneath them rather than cleaning only the visible floor around the base.

We offer a range of waste management solutions to fit different facility needs, from our Tight Space Waste Receptacles for compact areas to our 32- and 44-gallon Round Waste Receptacles for spaces that require larger capacity waste bins.

6. Entryways and Doorway Thresholds

Shoes bring in soil, grit and moisture that can spread throughout the building. Mats help capture debris, but they can become a source of buildup when neglected.

Vacuum or clean mats regularly, sweep the areas around and under the mat and remove accumulated dirt from the corners. Address wet floors promptly to help reduce slip hazards. Our Natura Lobby Dustpan and Large Natura Broom Head provide practical tools for collecting loose debris before it travels farther into the facility.

Don’t Overlook the Details

A thorough cleaning program goes beyond what is visibly dirty. By adding high-touch surfaces, hidden corners and shared spaces to cleaning checklists, facility teams can catch buildup before it becomes a larger problem. We offer cleaning tools designed to help professionals manage everyday messes, from floor care to waste collection. With the right equipment and a consistent routine, teams can keep facilities cleaner, safer and welcoming.