As we enter our first pandemic-free summer, businesses have taken an increased interest in wellness as many employees return to the office – for these companies, many ask “how long do germs live on surfaces?”

There isn’t a single, easy answer to this question. Bacteria, microbes, and viruses each carry their own levels of transmissibility. Some viruses only last a couple of hours on a surface, while others can last weeks.

While person-to-person contact remains the largest factor in virus transmission, many illnesses spread through touching infected surfaces. How long do germs live on surfaces, and what options are available for managing illness in different settings?

How Long Does the Common Cold Live on Surfaces?

Given recent headlines, the common cold may seem a relatively mild threat compared to other illnesses. Yet colds are a virus, and like many illnesses can be transmitted through aerosol transmission or by touching surfaces. It can be a nuisance to customers, as well as having a measurable impact on your business.

According to the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, each employee in a business who experiences a cold loses an average of 8.7 work hours. Calculate that against the level of contagion in an office, and you could be losing thousands of hours of productive work between on-site productivity loss and absenteeism. The true economic cost of productivity lost due to the common cold is estimated to be somewhere around $25 billion per year.

While the common cold may seem inconsequential, it can have a measurable impact on your bottom line. Depending on where droplets fall, they can be active from anywhere between a few hours and a day. The average lifetime of the cold virus is extended on hard surfaces like stainless steel, making door handles and elevator buttons ground zero for this illness.

How Long Does the Flu Live on Surfaces?

Influenza, or the flu virus, is the bane of human resource departments across the country. Not only is this illness extremely contagious, but it can also keep employees out of the office for an entire week if not managed carefully. The CDC recommends that anyone with a confirmed case of the flu should stay at home for at least 4-5 days after the onset of symptoms. Even with more relaxed work-from-home policies now widely available, the flu can knock an office on its feet if not properly managed.

Not only is the flu transmissible through droplets – it has a long lifetime on hard surfaces. While common knowledge places the viability of the virus on hard surfaces anywhere between one and two days, a 2016 study confirmed that influenza can remain active for an entire week on stainless steel.

Managing this illness in the office is a struggle that often requires a multi-pronged approach. Beyond extended surface cleaning efforts,

How Long Does the Norovirus Live on Surfaces?

While the norovirus is often referred to as the “stomach flu”, it has no relation to influenza whatsoever. More, it only takes a small amount of particulate matter to contract the illness.

Unlike the common cold or the flu, norovirus has a much longer lifespan on surfaces, making it extremely transmissible. It is also notoriously difficult to kill the virus, with a greater resistance to hand sanitizer. It is a constant threat to the cruise line industry, which can result in quarantining passengers, compounding frustration on top of the illness.

Aside from its resistance to common sanitizers, the norovirus can also last on surfaces for two weeks. The extreme symptoms of the virus, compounded with its resilience, make it not only dangerous but damaging to the bottom line of businesses everywhere.

How Long Do Germs Live on Surfaces? With Antimicrobial Treatment, Only Seconds

Most businesses have two options for managing the lifetime of bacteria, viruses, and microbes on surfaces. One option is boosting wellness initiatives and awareness. In-office vaccinations, posting handwashing messaging in bathrooms, and announcements in the office are three steps that a company can take to ensure the well-being of their employees.

This option, while beneficial to the overall health of your business, is limited in its efficacy. A second approach should focus on enhanced cleaning methods. This doesn’t just mean cleaning your office more regularly, but utilizing antimicrobial barriers to kill viruses as soon as they make contact with a surface.

At Clean Technologies, we offer antimicrobial treatment services to every kind of business. With a simple and swift application, our treatment is effective against bacteria and viruses on the molecular level, ensuring surfaces stay cleaner for longer. We use the same products used in surgical settings – while our treatment is hard on bacteria, it is harmless to customers and employees alike.

How can you ensure the health of your business? Contact us today for more information about our services!