Disinfection and Cleaning Strategies for Reopening Commercial Buildings

22 September 2020

Cleaning and Disinfection have never been more important than amid the COVID-19 pandemic. And, with quarantine restrictions beginning to loosen, many businesses that were shuttered during lockdown will start resuming operations. As this happens, the biggest challenge for commercial building owners is being able and ready to return buildings to use swiftly and safely. Reducing the risk of exposure by cleaning and disinfecting is an integral part of reopening commercial buildings as the safety of occupants remains a key priority.

With this rising demand for clean environments, commercial buildings will have to come up with safe and effective cleaning strategies that will assure occupants of their safety even as the threat of the virus continues to linger in our minds. With so much uncertainty surrounding the spread of the coronavirus and how people can protect against it, it’s not worth it to take any risks. You can find professional cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting services at www.excelpestservices.com. Cleaning and disinfecting commercial buildings for reopening will involve developing a plan, implementing the plan, as well as maintaining and revising the plan.

Develop Your Disinfection Plan:

There’s no one-size-fits-all cleaning and disinfection plan as commercial buildings are structured differently and for different purposes. You will need to evaluate your building to determine the surfaces and materials that make up that area. This will guide you in choosing the appropriate cleaning and disinfection method suitable for each.

Implement Your Plan:

Once you have the right cleaning and disinfection plan for your building, it’s time to put it into action. We have mapped out a few key strategies that will help you navigate this issue and ensure optimal cleaning and disinfection service. Without further ado, let’s get started:

Wear appropriate PPE (personal protective equipment):

Whether you are contracting a cleaning service or using in-house janitorial staff, the cleaning crew must wear appropriate PPEs like gloves, masks, goggles, and so on. That’s because they are at a higher risk of being exposed to COVID-19 (given that it can stay on surfaces for days) and the toxicity of cleaning/disinfecting products. Not wearing PPEs also means asymptomatic carriers could spread pathogens to clean areas. It’s also important for the cleaning crew to receive training on the proper use of PPEs, cleaning equipment, and cleaning products to ensure efficiency.

Apply normal routine cleaning on visibly dirty surfaces:

It’s important to clean surfaces and objects with soap and water before disinfecting. And, be sure to clean soft and porous materials according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Determine what you need to disinfect:

While some surfaces and materials are cleaned with just soap and water, others must be disinfected. Scientists have proven that coronavirus can also live on various surfaces for up to a couple of days. People can contract it by touching contaminated surfaces and then touching their eyes, mouth, or nose.

Start by disinfecting high-touch surfaces as they are the main source of spreading pathogens. This includes doorknobs/handles, elevator buttons, restroom facilities, trash can lids, faucet handles, floor surfaces, light switches, tables/countertops/desks, handrails, and so on. Additionally, areas unique to your building may also require disinfecting. For instance, retail occupancy will require disinfecting shopping cart handles and payment touchpads while offices will need to disinfect computer monitors, keyboards, conference tables, etc.

Soft and porous materials in high-traffic areas like carpets, upholstery, and curtains can be germ reservoirs and will need to be disinfected as well.

Use EPA-Approved cleaning/disinfectant products:

Not all cleaning products are suitable for removing pathogens, particularly traces of COVID-19, from building surfaces. It’s important to look at EPA’s suggested products as they are both effective and non-toxic. If EPA-approved disinfectants are not available, you can use a diluted solution of household bleach or 70% Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA).

Use products effectively:

It’s important to follow the directions on the label with regards to the application method (concentration and dilution), contact time, as well as any other precautions to take when applying like good ventilation and appropriate PPE to wear. This will ensure the effective and safe use of cleaning and disinfecting products. Avoid mixing cleaning and disinfection products as this can result in very dangerous fumes that could cause serious injury or even death.

Avoid over-disinfection:

It is possible to over-disinfect surfaces while trying to ensure no pathogens are left behind. And although these products are great at removing pathogens, their overuse can have serious side effects in humans. Disinfectants can pose an immediate risk to some people, including those who are asthmatic or suffer from migraines, allergies, suppressed immune systems, or immune disorders. They may experience symptoms like headaches, nausea, and vomiting, irritability, difficulty breathing, mood swings, memory loss, seizures, etc.

Outdoor areas require normal routine cleaning:

Many outdoor surfaces will not be touched; as such, disinfecting them is a waste of supplies. However, some areas like bars and restaurants will require disinfecting. Pools and other water play areas must also be well-maintained, for example disinfecting with chlorine or bromine.

What about an unoccupied building?

Properties that have not been occupied for over 7 days will do with normal routine cleaning, meaning there’s no need for disinfecting. That’s because the coronavirus cannot survive on surfaces for longer than this time. But once you reopen, you will have to develop and implement a disinfection plan to keep everyone safe.

Work in zones:

It’s important to separate areas in the building by how likely they are to contain pathogens. Then start with low-risk zones moving into high-risk areas to help avoid cross-contamination.

Maintain and Revise the Plan:

Once you reopen, it’s important to maintain the above disinfection strategies to minimize the risk of contracting COVID-19 and other pathogens. This should be done in conjunction with other safe practices like social distancing, wearing masks, frequent hand washing, and more. Be sure to revise and update your cleaning and disinfection plan based on the current circumstances (level of COVID-19 exposure in your building) and updated guidance by the local and federal governments.

Read also:

Ariana Smith

I enjoy writing and I write quality guest posts on topics of my interest and passion. I have been doing this since my college days. My special interests are in health, fitness, food and following the latest trends in these areas. I am an editor at Content Rally.

View all posts

Home Decoration At Its Best: 7 Key Ideas To Recreate Your Home

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Mix And Match Furniture Mixing and matching furniture is a great way to add character and personality to your home's interior. Don't be afraid to mix. Styles Colors Texture Be efficient in creating a unique and eclectic look with these elements for furniture. For instance, you can pair a modern sofa with vintage chairs or add a rustic coffee table to a contemporary living room. By mixing and matching furniture, you can create a space that reflects your personal style. Home Decorating Essentials With Personal Mementos Home decorating is not only about adding new elements to your living space but also incorporating a personal touch. Consider mementos that make your house feel like a home! With the combination of essential personal touches at home, you can create a space that is both beautiful and meaningful. Consider adding family photos, sentimental items, and cherished heirlooms to your home decor. You can display them on shelves, hang them on walls, or incorporate them into your overall design scheme. Read Also: Ideas for Modern Flooring Designs for Home Improvement Plans 5 Interior House Painting Tips

11 Gorgeous Accent Chairs For Small Spaces

If you want a chair that’s ideally suited to your small living space, here’s some artistic inspiration. The idea of placing an accent chair in a small space is the same as the idea of placing an artwork in a small space. It gives you both a focal point and a feature to discuss with guests who come and visit that space. An accent chair can be many things. It could sport a bold pattern or color, or it could be an odd shape or size. Let's look at the 11 best accent chair ideas for your small space. 11 Gorgeous Accent Chair Ideas For Small Spaces These eleven ideas for beautiful accent chairs should set you on the right design path. 1 - Be bold When it comes to making an impression, one single bright bold color can be all it takes, especially in a small space. Be bold, pick your color and choose a chair to accent it. 2 - Opt for floral You can choose to add a floral pattern to your chair, which will be reflected around other features of the room. Imagine highlighting your floral chair with flowers on the table, for example. 3 – Armrests Do you want a chair with or without armrests? When you place armrests on a chair it can reinforce a compact space. A chair without armrests, on the other hand, is more open and better suited to these compact rooms. 4 – Color blocking you don't have to stick to one color of the chair. You could have two chairs which are contrasting colors. 5 - Add extras You don’t want to put doilies over the armrests like your Gran might have but switching up your cushion choice can really change the impact the chair has on the space. Do you want it to be round, patterned, fluffy, or square? Moderndigsfurniture.com has some great accouterments. 6 - Consider wood Wooden chairs may not be the most comfortable chairs, but they can be excellent in small spaces. Their simple design makes them easy to use throughout the house, but also means that they go with most spaces. 7 - Consider metal If you have a contemporary and or a small room that you want to use an accent chair to highlight, then we strongly suggest that you consider a metal chair. Metalwork doesn't just belong outside. 8 - Go, designer You can always tell a high-end artistic product. If you go for a designer chair, it will stand out no matter where you place it. 9 - Think about dark colors Dark colors placed in the dining room can create a feeling of intimacy and atmosphere. If you have a small room that's bright white, adding one black chair will be quite striking. 10 - Explore patterns The days of the wicker chair may be over, but a rattan pattern will still look good. What about stripes? Have you considered checking? Explore the world of patterns before you buy your chair. 11 - Think nontraditional The 90s might be over, but the bean bags stuck around. There are few chairs more comfortable in life than the oversized beanbag. Read Also: Everything you need to know about glamming your home with curtains Should You Get A Dining Bench Best House Renovations For 2021

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Analyze the space you’ll have It’s essential to know the total space of your new apartment before you start the downsizing process. Take a look at your new floor plan and figure out how much room in feet and inches are on each wall. That way you’ll know what will fit in your apartment. If the measurements aren’t on the floor plan, ask the leasing office to provide you with the details. But, the floor plan or provided measurements won’t tell you everything. You need to measure the extra spaces as well: Closets Space under the bed (more on this later) Bathroom storage and cabinets Garage storage (if your apartment includes a separate garage) Kitchen storage and cabinets Other spaces where you might add shelving (like the top of the fridge or in a window) When you’re done with that, measure your current furniture and decide which pieces will fit into your place and which ones you won’t need. 2. 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Write down a few goals that inspire you so that when you feel like giving up, you’ll be able to remind yourself of your intentions. 4. Be a master organizer by maximizing space Since you know how much space is in your apartment, as we recommended in #2, you should already have a plan in place as to where everything should go. With the limited storage space in your new digs, it’ll help to store things vertically. Vertically aligning hooks and shelves helps you take advantage of every square inch of space. You might want to use adhesive hooks at first because most are easy to adjust. We’ll be getting into how to simplify your wardrobe next, but for now, keep in mind that multi-use furniture can solve a lot of storage problems. Keep reading because we’re about to reveal some killer ideas. One idea is to maximize space by incorporating storage headboards. These are pieces of furniture such as bookshelves and a hutch that’ll fit over your bed. Incorporating these types of units will make it easier to store a variety of items from family treasures to books and jewelry. For example, incorporating a fitted unit in your closet can make it easier to organize. Beyond that, think of other ways you can make use of storage. Is there any room underneath the bed you’ll be moving into your fancy new apartment? If there isn’t and you need an upgrade, buy a bed that has drawers underneath. Trust us — those drawers will be your best friend when you need to store extra items of clothing such as blankets or sweatshirts. Keep your bed if you like it, and it just so happens that you may be able to squeeze in some bins underneath to use as storage. For example, milk crates work well when you want to store books, tee shirts, and keepsakes. 5. Simplify your wardrobe Seriously, how do you go about simplifying your wardrobe with you have a gazillion t-shirts? If you think your new closet is small, just think about the people who live in tiny homes. Now those are super tiny! Don’t worry; you can do this if they can! Here are some steps to follow that’ll make your wardrobe functional in no time at all. Step 1: Get all of your clothing out (ALL of it!) and put it somewhere you can sort through it. Whether that’s on the floor or on your bed is entirely up to you. Step 2: Next, divide those clothes into three different piles and decide to donate, keep, or store them. Step 3: Ask yourself if the clothing fits you or if it's still in wearable condition. If you haven’t worn jeans, for example, due to a weight gain or loss, donate or store those items. Don’t keep clothing that’s falling apart. That’s just a waste of precious closet space! Step 4: Are you done going through your clothing and separating them into three different piles? Okay good, you’re going to do it again. This time ask yourself if this clothing fits your personality and your current lifestyle. Step 5: Mission complete! Well, almost. Organize the clothes you’re keeping, store what you plan to wear later (such as seasonal clothing), and drop off clothes you’re donating. 6. Sell or donate what you don’t want Now that you know how much space you have, and how to simplify your wardrobe, let's dive into why it's so essential to sell or donate belongings. It's time to stop and figure out which items you can and can't part with. As you know, whether you're moving to a different city or relocating to a separate apartment at the same complex, moving takes a lot of work. You should do everything in your power to simplify the moving process. Eager to make some money to help with moving expenses? One way to do that is by selling belongings and furniture you no longer want. Try Craigslist, eBay, garage sales, Facebook, consignment stores, and more. Before you even start packing, you should sell, donate, or recycle stuff you can live without. This will eliminate packing everything up only to decide later that you didn't need that item of clothing or five extra plates. If you have problems deciding whether you want to keep, sell, or donate an item, take a hard look at everything you own. Think about whether another person would find use out of that item. If the item is useful, you can either donate it or sell it, depending on its value. Who knows, your trash may turn into someone else's treasure. 7. Digitize nonessential media Next let's dive into how you can digitize and save documents, pictures, videos, cassettes, videos, DVDs, and CDs. While it's important to keep hard copies of documents such as your social security card and birth certificate, try to save and scan everything else. Transfer CDs and DVDs to digital files by using free computer programs such as Freemake Video Converter, Movavi, and WinX. Scan documents to your computer or save them as PDF files. After you're done scanning everything, use services like Google Drive, Dropbox, and Microsoft One Drive. Online storage sites are lifesavers when your goal is to digitize media. Think of all of the space you'll free up in your new apartment by getting rid of boxes of videos, paper, and more by going paperless! It'll take some time, but it'll totally be worth it. And boom! Suddenly you'll realize you're there. So, do you think it’s time to move? Even though downsizing may seem daunting, it doesn’t have to be. Moving to a smaller apartment has its perks, such as decluttering your life and organizing your new place with fewer belongings. Simply put, downsizing to a smaller apartment means: Enjoying lower monthly expenses and living costs Not having to clean nearly as much since your place is smaller Living a minimalist lifestyle without meaningless belongings getting in your way Instead of sweating the small stuff, take the moving process step by step. Before you know it, you’ll be enjoying your new digs, relieved that you took the time to eliminate the clutter. Carolina Creek is a great townhouse-style community located about a mile from Eastern Carolina University's campus. The community consists of 2x3 and 3x3 apartments and contains a full amenity suite including a fitness center, pool, business center, and game room. The community is the best value in the Greenville NC student housing market. Read Also: 5 Tips For Designing a Tiny House How To Make Your Home Look Like You Hired An Interior Designer Buying A House Vs Renting An Apartment: Which Is More Affordable?

Disinfection and Cleaning Strategies for Reopening Commercial Buildings

Develop Your Disinfection Plan:

Implement Your Plan:

Wear appropriate PPE (personal protective equipment):

Apply normal routine cleaning on visibly dirty surfaces:

Determine what you need to disinfect:

Use EPA-Approved cleaning/disinfectant products:

Use products effectively:

Avoid over-disinfection:

Outdoor areas require normal routine cleaning:

What about an unoccupied building?

Work in zones:

Maintain and Revise the Plan:

How To Save Money On Your Air Conditioning Costs This Summer

How does Junk Removal Work?

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Ariana Smith

I enjoy writing and I write quality guest posts on topics of my interest and passion. I have been doing this since my college days. My special interests are in health, fitness, food and following the latest trends in these areas. I am an editor at Content Rally.

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Home Decoration At Its Best: 7 Key Ideas To Recreate Your Home

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Disinfection and Cleaning Strategies for Reopening Commercial Buildings

Develop Your Disinfection Plan:

Implement Your Plan:

Wear appropriate PPE (personal protective equipment):

Apply normal routine cleaning on visibly dirty surfaces:

Determine what you need to disinfect:

Use EPA-Approved cleaning/disinfectant products:

Use products effectively:

Avoid over-disinfection:

Outdoor areas require normal routine cleaning:

What about an unoccupied building?

Work in zones:

Maintain and Revise the Plan:

Share this Article

How To Save Money On Your Air Conditioning Costs This Summer

How does Junk Removal Work?

Tags

I enjoy writing and I write quality guest posts on topics of my interest and passion. I have been doing this since my college days. My special interests are in health, fitness, food and following the latest trends in these areas. I am an editor at Content Rally.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Popular

Follow Us

Recent

Related