Imagine this: you’re at work one day and get the call from your team that someone in your office has tested positive for COVID-19. Of course, COVID-19 spreads like wildfire. And by the time you’re done with your call, germs have made their way to dozens of office surfaces, ready to infect others.
So what do you do?
You hire a professional cleaning service that is trained in the best practices for disinfecting COVID-19-infected areas. They’ll make sure to deep-clean your space until it’s completely free of germs and microbes so everyone who walks through your doors is safe.
But how do they do it? Keep reading to find out.
Contents
How Experts Deep-Clean an Office Infected with COVID-19
Before a janitorial cleaning company can step in and get started, they must wear personal protective equipment (PPE), such as:
- Gloves
- Surgical masks or N95s
- Gowns or other clothing that covers the skin
The cleaning staff should also have footwear that is easy to wipe down with sanitizer. This will ensure their own safety as well as the safety of those who live and work in the building.
The Tools Come First
Most professionals use electrostatic sprayers to cover large areas and reach surfaces that are hard to access. These handheld devices are battery-powered and produce a fine mist of disinfectant that has been negatively charged. The negative charge of the disinfectant makes it stick to things that are positively charged, like doorknobs, desks, chairs, and so on.
Choosing the Disinfectant
For a surface disinfectant to be effective against the SARS-CoV-2 virus, it must appear on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) approved list of disinfectants that work against it. These are called List N products, and they come in different formulations such as spray, wipes, ready-to-use solutions, concentrates, and more.
The best firms use hospital-grade disinfectants. They are more effective against coronavirus than household products.
The Highest Priority Is to Disinfect Hard Surfaces
One of the most important things to know about COVID-19 is that it can survive on hard surfaces for up to three days. That means cleaners approach these surfaces as if they have live coronavirus on them, even if they don’t.
First, the professionals remove any dust and dirt from the surface before cleaning. Having dirt particles moving around while sanitizing could contribute to the spread of bacteria.
Next, they spray a disinfectant approved by the EPA. Once done, the team would leave an appropriate amount of time after applying these chemicals before wiping up the residue. This gives the active ingredients time to kill the germs properly.
They’ll Also Deep-Clean Soft Surfaces
Researchers found COVID-19 can last about a day on fabric. The good news is that cleaning soft surfaces isn’t difficult for professionals. And they have specialized equipment that will work perfectly: ULV foggers.
ULV foggers distribute a fine mist of sanitizer throughout an entire room or building. This mist can kill viruses on absorbent materials like paper towels and cloths.
Sanitizing the Air Ducts
It’s important that you hire a professional cleaning company to sanitize your air ducts because if you don’t know what you’re doing, you could potentially damage your system by using harsh chemicals on it. And if your system isn’t working properly, then it won’t be able to remove the virus from the air in your office.
A professional cleaning company will spray air ducts with a mist of disinfectant. As a result, you’ll be able to work in a safe environment.
Clean Elevator Buttons With Wipes or Electrostatic Sprayers
The elevator buttons in your office are the germiest part of the entire building. That’s because they’re shared by hundreds of people every day, and only 65% of them use hand sanitizer.
A professional cleaning company will spray elevator buttons to clean them. They’ll also disinfect door handles, light switches, phones, water fountains, and other frequently touched surfaces in the office.
How Long Can the Virus Survive on a Surface?
Coronaviruses can survive on surfaces for up to three days. How long they survive depends on the composition of the material.
Plastic and stainless steel are highly attractive surfaces. Smooth surfaces can also more effectively support coronavirus survival. However, on a porous surface like wood or carpet, the virus will be less viable outside of a person’s body.
In either case, the sooner you disinfect a contaminated surface, the better. Waiting for bacteria to die off can put your business, and your employees, at risk.
How to Choose an Office Cleaning Service during COVID-19
While the steps for choosing a cleaning service are the same, pay special attention to how your chosen service is reacting to the COVID-19 era. Here are some things to keep in mind when picking:
Safety Precautions
Ask what personal protective equipment the company will provide to its employees. The cleaning service should supply a minimum of masks and gloves, but it’s best if they provide gowns, eye protection, and face shields.
Also, make sure that the company trains its workers in social distancing practices and hygiene protocols for deep cleaning an office.
Type of Disinfectant
Cleaning companies often use harmful chemicals during cleaning routines but these products can have unpleasant side effects, especially if people at work suffer from allergies or respiratory diseases. The cleaning company should have a list of the disinfectants they use and be prepared to show you this information when asked. Make sure the people on your team aren’t allergic.
It’s also preferable if they use environmentally friendly products because those are better for both you and your coworkers.
Hire a Team of Professionals to Disinfect Your Facility
When it comes to office cleaning and disinfecting, there’s no room for error in this risky period. And when a business is suffering from a COVID-19 infection, the stakes are even higher.
The best way to avoid the spread of the virus and keep your team safe is to hire a skilled team of professionals to deep-clean the environment.
Pro Cleanings Co. should be your first choice. They’ll work with you to ensure your business is safe before it opens its doors again. Ask for a quote today and start planning for your business’s recovery.