There is an old saying that cleanliness comes after holiness. The notion that the human race has a moral obligation to keep ourselves, our homes and our workplaces clean could not get a more resounding yes than in the current context of Covid-19.
That’s how it is. The “C” word has taken over the world with masks, hand sanitizers, and stay-at-home orders becoming the norm. But how much do we know about the disinfectant cleaning process that could be applied in three different phases; while seeking general reassurance and protection from Covid-19, where there has been a transient case of Covid-19 or where there has been a confirmed case of Covid-19?
Being a professional cleaning company, we break it down for you. Here’s what you need to know about how disinfectant cleaning works, and please don’t try this at home yourself.
There are three main aspects of disinfectant cleaning in the fight against Covid-19.
The first is the type of cleaning agents and disinfectants that are used. Be sure to check and confirm that the cleaning company you have hired uses disinfectant products with the active ingredient Alkylbenzyldimethylammonium Chloride. This helps in the fight against the Covid-19 virus. Bleaching products that must contain the active ingredient sodium hypochlorite can also be used.
Now comes the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Cleaning staff hired to perform disinfectant cleaning receive specialized training. This includes learning how to dress for the occasion with the correct PPE attire. Hair cover, face shield, N95 mask, surgical gown and gloves, and shoe cover are a must when it comes to wearing the proper personal protective equipment.
And then the real work begins. If there has been a confirmed case of Covid-19, the cleaning company must first seal off all areas that the person with the confirmed case of Covid-19 has visited or been in contact with. This is to limit and prevent further exposure and spread to other unsuspecting people.
The next step is to open the windows, if any, to allow ventilation while the cleaning team performs the disinfection.
The cleanup team will fog the area using a specialized ultra-low volume (UVL) fogging machine. The sanitizing chemical is released as a mist or mist that spreads and covers every corner of the site. Once the site is supersaturated with the disinfectant chemical dispersed through the misting or misting method, allow 45 minutes to an hour for the disinfectant droplets to settle on all surfaces.
The cleaning crew then proceeds to mop the floor area with bleach and clean all frequently touched areas such as handrails, doorknobs, armrests, seat backs, tables, keyboards and more. Bleach can also be used to clean walls up to 3 meters high and window blinds.
Once a thorough site cleanup has been carried out, it is equally important to dispose of the cleanup material properly. All cleaning material made of cloth and absorbent material, such as mop heads, cleaning cloths, etc., should be disposed of in a biohazardous bag. The cleanup team should wear a new pair of gloves to secure and double bag the biohazard bag with a tie wrap before proper disposal.
These are the key steps to perform a professional and thorough disinfectant cleaning service, if you or someone you know has been in contact with a transient or confirmed case of Covid-19 and is looking to disinfect the place. That said, it doesn’t hurt to carry out a one-time disinfectant cleaning in your home or office if you’re simply looking for peace of mind.
We hope this blog article has been helpful as we continue the fight against Covid-19 one disinfectant cleaning at a time. Stay well and stay safe everyone!