Top 7 Overlooked Places in the Office That Get Filthy Fast

Even if your office looks clean at first glance, there's a good chance some areas are collecting dust, bacteria, or grime right under your nose. At St. Louis Cleaning Team, we’ve cleaned hundreds of offices across the region—and we see the same trouble spots get missed again and again.

Whether you manage a law firm in Clayton or a small business in South County, these are the seven places most likely to get gross fast (and why you should start cleaning them now).

1. Under and Behind Office Furniture

That sleek reception desk or executive credenza? Dust, crumbs, and even insects love the area behind it. Most standard janitorial services clean around heavy furniture but don’t move it unless instructed.

A periodic executive-suite cleaning can target these areas properly without disrupting equipment or sensitive items.

2. Elevator Buttons and Door Handles

These high-touch points are breeding grounds for germs. And since they're touched by everyone—employees, clients, delivery drivers—they should be disinfected daily.

Many businesses don’t realize how quickly viruses spread via elevator panels and push plates on doors.

3. Office Chairs (Especially Armrests)

People eat, sneeze, and sweat in their office chairs. Yet many cleaning crews only vacuum around them.

The fix: spot cleaning or steam cleaning fabric, and disinfecting hard armrests and seat edges as part of your recurring janitorial service.

4. Break Room Appliance Handles

Microwave doors. Fridge handles. Coffee pot buttons. These are some of the dirtiest places in your entire office.

We include these in every nightly janitorial pass—but it’s often missed by companies doing light in-house cleaning. If your team shares food prep spaces, be extra diligent.

5. Air Vents and Return Covers

Dust buildup on vents affects both air quality and aesthetics. Over time, gray streaks can form on walls around dirty return covers—especially in St. Louis’s allergy-heavy spring and fall months.

Professional commercial cleaning services should include routine vent cleaning in long-term plans.

6. Baseboards and Floor Edges

Vacuuming the main floor area isn’t enough. Dirt often collects along the edges—especially in corners and behind doors.

These areas are easy to overlook but hard to unsee once you notice them.

7. Shared Electronics: Phones, Keyboards, and Remote Controls

Desktops get wiped. But keyboards and phones? Rarely. Studies show they’re some of the germiest items in any workspace.

A good office cleaning plan includes:

• Wiping down shared equipment with electronic-safe disinfectant
• Regular sanitation of meeting room remotes, conference phones, and tablets

A Cleaner Office Is a Healthier One

Cleaning the “obvious” stuff is only half the battle. When hidden dirt and germs build up, your team feels it—through allergies, illness, and general discomfort.

The good news? You don’t have to overhaul everything. A professional team trained in confidential cleaning can quietly and thoroughly handle these trouble areas without disrupting work.

Let’s Clean What Everyone Else Misses

If you're not sure when these areas were cleaned last, it’s probably time. St. Louis Cleaning Team specializes in detail-focused office cleaning for businesses that care about presentation and performance.

Get a free office cleaning estimate today and see how clean your office really can be.