Remember to thoroughly clean surfaces to prevent germs.

Cleaning carts are prevalent in any healthcare facility, but are crews really doing the due diligence they should be when it comes to eradicating germs? It can be so easy to catch something while on a visit to the doctor, and while frequently wiping surfaces with cleaning solution can help, there are some areas that can quickly build up bacteria.

According to WebMD, germs can live on toys in the doctor’s office for up to 24 hours. So if there is a sick child playing with a toy, even after the cleaning crew comes through, there is a chance that another child could get hit with the same bug the next day. The news provider reports people need to be aware of the possible places to get germs. Experts report that people can frequently forget that simply touching a surface can lead to the spread of germs.

It can also depend on the kind of bacteria. According to CBS News, the flu can actually live on a surface for 48 hours. Medical offices will want to keep this in mind when trying to come up with a cleaning schedule with their team. The quicker things are disinfected, the lower the risk that germs will spread from patient to patient.