Respiratory Virus Season: How Portland Offices Can Stay Healthier
Flu Season Is Here: How to Keep Your Portland Team Healthy and at Work
When flu, COVID and RSV start going around, the hardest part for most offices isn't the cleaning. It's the empty desks. One person goes home sick, then two more, and suddenly a thin team is covering for everyone. The good news is that a few simple habits, done every day, cut down how fast germs move through a building.
When is respiratory virus season in Oregon?
Respiratory viruses usually start climbing in Oregon in the fall and peak over the winter. You can track current activity on the Oregon Health Authority's respiratory virus dashboard and the CDC's national activity levels. When those numbers go up, it's time to step up cleaning at work.
What's the difference between cleaning and disinfecting?
Cleaning removes dirt and most germs with soap or detergent. Disinfecting uses an EPA-registered product to kill what's left. The CDC's facility guidance says to clean first, because dirt left on a surface keeps a disinfectant from doing its job.
Which surfaces matter most?
The ones everybody touches. In most offices that's:
Door handles and push plates
Light switches and elevator buttons
Restroom faucets, fixtures and flush handles
Break room counters, fridge and microwave handles, the coffee maker
Shared keyboards, phones and conference tables
Stair rails and the front counter
How often should they be cleaned?
Every day in busy areas, and more often when people are getting sick. The CDC recommends cleaning high-traffic spaces more frequently and adding disinfection where someone has clearly been ill. In Portland's wet months, the entryway matters too. Rain tracked in on shoes spreads grime across the floor, so keep the mats and entry floors on the daily list.
Five habits for a healthier office this season
Walk your space and list the high-touch spots. You'll find more than you expect.
Clean, then disinfect. Dirt first, then disinfect where it counts.
Follow the label. Leave a disinfectant wet for its full contact time, and never mix products.
Let fresh air in. Open a window or turn up ventilation while products are in use.
Keep supplies stocked. Soap, paper towels and hand sanitizer only help if they're there.
Should you fog or spray the whole office?
Wiping high-touch surfaces with the right product is your main defense, and the CDC treats it that way. Fogging can be a helpful extra after an illness goes through a space, but it doesn't replace hands-on cleaning.
When to bring in help
Nobody wants to be the one wiping door handles at 6 PM because the team is already stretched. That's where a cleaning crew earns its keep: every high-touch spot, every night, whether your people are in or out sick.
Myles O'Donnell & Co. has been doing this in Portland since 1949. We're a third-generation family company based in Milwaukie, our staff are background-checked, and we serve the Portland metro area plus Vancouver and Camas.
Here's how it works:
We walk your building with you.
You get a written scope showing what's cleaned daily, weekly and monthly.
You walk into a clean, healthy building every morning.
Want to talk it through? Call 503-653-5760 to set up a walkthrough. If you're comparing companies, start with our guide: 10 Questions Facility Managers Should Ask.
FAQ
Is cleaning enough during flu season, or do offices need to disinfect? Cleaning removes most germs. The CDC recommends adding disinfection in busy areas and anywhere someone has been visibly sick.
What are high-touch surfaces in an office? Door handles, light switches, elevator buttons, restroom fixtures, break room handles and counters, shared keyboards and phones, and stair rails.
Is fogging a good way to disinfect an office? It can help as an extra step, but wiping high-touch surfaces with an EPA-registered product is the main defense.
Who provides commercial cleaning in the Portland area? Myles O'Donnell & Co., a family-owned janitorial company in Milwaukie, Oregon, serving the Portland metro and Vancouver since 1949.