Commercial Cleaning for Covid-19.
Every business should have a set of cleaning standards that they work to uphold daily. These standards include sweeping floors, taking out the trash, cleaning bathrooms, etc. When people in the business talk about deep cleaning, they're really referring to disinfecting and cleaning on a much deeper level. Deep cleaning often includes cleaning areas that businesses did not typically clean regularly in the pre-covid era. For example, many companies do not consider cleaning and disinfecting things like cash registers, touch screens, or point of sale systems. Because covid-19 can be passed easily through touch, targeting these areas for extra cleaning is essential. Inquire about office cleaning in Los Angeles to ensure proper cleaning and disinfecting of all of your office surfaces.
Disinfecting is key
To understand the benefits of disinfecting your commercial property, it is vital to first understand the differences between cleaning and sanitizing. Cleaning means removing debris, dust, and dirt from surfaces or materials and then using simple soap and water or mild commercial cleansers to clean them. On the other hand, sanitizing is designed to reduce bacteria on materials or surfaces, and the cleaning agents used will specify the types of bacteria they can reduce. Unfortunately, most sanitizers are only rated against bacteria, making them ineffective at helping to avoid transmission of covid-19.
Reducing the risk of covid-19 requires cleaning with disinfectants that kill or inactivate bacteria and viruses. When battling covid-19 EPA approved disinfectants can inactivate or kill viruses on hard surfaces when used correctly.
When to deep clean for covid-19
There are no structured guidelines in place for when to deep clean to protect from covid-19. However, cleaning processes and procedures over and above normal janitorial operations are described as deep cleaning. Planning and timing are critical for businesses planning deep cleaning services because they can be expensive and time-consuming. In addition, customers, visitors, and employee traffic can limit the ability to deep clean during regular business hours. So it's essential to consider having deep cleaning done after business hours or closing your business while it is completed.
Deep cleaning isn't required for every surface every day. And sometimes, it's simply not practical to expect deep cleaning to happen constantly. This impracticality makes it essential for business owners to create a plan for cleaning procedures and provide documentation that can be critically important in an infection incident.
Always clean your business when employees or visitors are sick, especially when you know that someone tested positive for covid-19, to avoid transmission to others within the area. Unfortunately, this fact may mean having to close down your business for disinfecting after close contact with the potentially deadly virus.
Where to begin?
Business owners need to realize that the covid-19 virus often remains on different surfaces for different lengths of time. This makes it necessary to start your deep cleaning process by cleaning and disinfecting all surfaces within your business. Doing this correctly will require cleaning your walls from floor to ceiling and focusing on high-touch areas like doorknobs and underneath furniture.
Though these areas will not need disinfecting daily, starting your deep cleaning services by disinfecting every surface possible will make the maintenance much more manageable.
Tools and products
Deep cleaning an office area to avoid transmission of covid-19 can be made much easier with disinfectants approved for appropriate cleaning applications. Always be sure that the disinfectants used are safe for the surfaces you are trying to disinfect. Remember to keep plenty of paper towels or cloth rags on hand. Paper towels work well because they are disposable and less likely to contaminate surfaces. Rags and cloths are reusable and tend to be less expensive in the long run, but you should not use cloth cleaners for multiple jobs. When trying to avoid contraction of covid-19, they should be treated just like paper towels as single-use items. For example, if you wipe a counter using a disinfectant and a cloth, you should not use that cloth again until it is appropriately laundered to avoid cross-contamination risks.
Quick tips for covid-19 deep cleaning
- Hand washing is critical before cleaning, every time you switch tasks, and when you are finished.
- Use protective gloves that are appropriate for the cleaning materials used for the process.
- Never mix chemicals without guidance from manufacturers, as improper mixing can cause exposure to potentially toxic fumes.
- Always clearly mark reusable spray bottles that have diluted cleaning chemicals inside.
- Ensure proper ventilation when using chemicals to avoid inhaling fumes.
- Only use cleaning products under manufacturer guidelines and avoid using them more than recommended.
- Only use EPA-approved disinfectants for covid-19 cleaning.
- Immediately dispose of paper towels and rags used when cleaning for covid-19.
Cleaning and disinfecting specific surface types
- Soft surfaces like drapes, rugs, and carpets should be cleaned using a product that contains cleaners appropriate for use on these surfaces. If you can launder them, use the warmest possible water setting and ensure that items are dried thoroughly. Use proper disinfectants to disinfect all soft surfaces, then vacuum as usual.
- Launder items like towels, clothing, and linens using the warmest available water setting, and always dry items completely. Wear gloves and a mask when handling dirty laundry that may have been exposed to covid-19. Use disinfectants to clean hampers and laundry baskets according to guidance for the surface they're made of. Finally, always wash your hands after handling dirty laundry.
- For electronics, consider using cleanable covers that make cleaning and disinfecting easier. Be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions and recommendations for cleaning these devices. Use proper disinfectants based on manufacturers' recommendations.
- Outdoor areas require you to clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces made of metal and plastic, such as play structures, railings, grab bars, and door handles.