Tips for Avoiding Germs as you Shop

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Thousands of people in our area will flock to area shopping centers and malls over the next few days to buy last-minute Christmas gifts. These crowds will bring germs that could make you sick heading into the busiest two weeks of the holiday season. The flu, COVID, and RSV are all spreading throughout south Florida.

Stratus Building Solutions, a commercial cleaning company with a location right here in the West Palm Beach area, is offering tips to help you stay as healthy as possible this year.

Though it may sound obvious, experts are quick to remind us all of the importance of basic hygiene.

“Wash your hands frequently and use quality hand sanitizer,” said Rob McKeown, owner of Stratus Building Solutions of West Palm Beach. “Wash your hands again and again and use disinfectant wipes on carts.”

McKeown’s team cleans multiple facilities in the area including large office buildings and shopping centers.

“We use sanitizing spray on hard surfaces and microfiber clothes to clean and wipe as they greatly reduce bacteria and germs from spreading,” McKeown said.

Check out the list Stratus Building Solutions provided detailing some of the germiest spots in shopping centers. This may inspire you to finish your online shopping earlier next year!

Germiest Shopping Center Spots:

• Self-Checkout Touch Screen Many people have made self-checkout a habit during the pandemic to avoid someone else handling the items you are buying, but the touchscreens can be some of the germiest surfaces in the entire store. Keep the hand sanitizer handy!
• Electronic stores. Shopping for the latest I-phone or tablet? Be ready for a germ fest! Electronic stores feature rows of products you can handle and test before buying. The electronics are touched by thousands of people each day and are among the germiest items in any mall.
• Toy Stores. Like electronic stores, many toy stores have displays that are touched and played with all day. It may be best to avoid testing the PlayStation 5 or picking up a pot from the adorable kitchen set.
• Food Court Tables. Taking a break? Make sure to use your wipes to sanitize the food court table before eating. These tables are filled with germs even if you just watched a mall employee wipe it down.
• Coffee Shop counter. Need a boost while shopping? Never set the lid of your coffee on the counter as you add cream and sugar.
• Escalator rails and Elevator Buttons We often grab on to an escalator handrail without thinking about how many hands have touched it or how often it’s sanitized. The same goes for elevator buttons.
• Door handles. Thousands of people touch door handles during the holiday shopping season and sometimes they aren’t cleaned properly. Use the latex gloves or a wipe to help avoid gripping multiple door handles during the day.

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