Disinfection and Cleaning Strategies for Reopening Commercial Buildings

Published on: 22 September 2020 Last Updated on: 30 October 2024

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:

Content Rally

Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.

View all posts

The Ultimate Commercial Cleaning Checklist: Everything You For A Spotless Workspace

Maintaining a clean and organized workplace is a must for your well-being and productivity. However, it is no secret that office cleaning is a daunting task. There are so many things you need to consider, not to mention different areas and surfaces require different cleaning methods. Often, different methods require different cleaning equipment and cleaning supplies. In this entry, we will share with you the best practices and processes that the best commercial cleaning services use in their office cleaning service. Here's a commercial cleaning checklist to keep your workplace spotlessly clean. The basics of office cleaning services Before diving into the checklist, it is important that you understand the basic processes of commercial cleaning and how commercial cleaning companies deliver these practices. Most of these things are pretty self-explanatory. However, there is a reason why professional cleaners from commercial cleaning companies are efficient in their job – they know how to do things right. Knowing these practices will help you understand how to do them right too. Dusting Dirt, dust, and allergen particles accumulate quickly. If not removed from the business premises, these particles can get mixed into the indoor air and cause various health problems such as allergies, respiratory problems, headaches, etc. Commercial cleaning plans for office cleaning often include exhaustive dusting of all surfaces. This includes desks, shelves, electronics, windowsills, etc. A good commercial cleaning company uses microfiber cloth and a feather duster to remove dust effectively and safely. Vacuuming Vacuuming is the most efficient way to keep workplaces clean. It removes dirt, dust, and various outdoor debris from carpets, mats, rugs, etc. The advantage of hiring cleaning services is that a commercial cleaning company has access to industrial-grade and powerful vacuum cleaning machines that can truly and efficiently remove dirt, dust, and various debris. Nevertheless, when vacuuming your workplace, include cleaning the hard-to-reach areas, such as under the desks, tables, and chairs. Since they are hard to reach, these spots often trap foreign debris. Mopping Mopping is the best way to keep hard floors clean and shiny. It removes dirt, dust, and grime buildup from the floor. However, there is more to mopping than simply sliding the mop head back and forth on the surface of the floor. When mopping the floor, use a cleaning solution that is recommended for the type of floor you have. To ensure that all areas are covered, you need to mop in a back-and-forth motion. Trash removal and disposal No building maintenance will ever be complete without taking the trash out. When removing trash from your commercial premises, make sure to replace the bin liners as well. And when replacing the liner, make sure you clean the interior of the trash bin. Commercial cleaning services often include weekly disinfection of the trash bin. This is incredibly important in preventing bacteria buildup and odour in your trash bin. Disinfecting surfaces Another crucial aspect of commercial cleaning is surface disinfection. Disinfecting surfaces helps prevent the spread of disease-causing germs and bacteria in the workplace. When disinfecting your workplace, make sure you use a disinfectant spray or antibacterial wipes to clean surfaces. This includes desks, chairs, tables, countertops, light switches, office appliances buttons, and doorknobs. Commercial cleaning services often include disinfection and sanitation of surfaces in their cleaning service. Also, commercial cleaners, in particular, pay close attention to high-touch areas and surfaces, which are often breeding grounds for bacteria. These surfaces include hand railings, elevator buttons, light switches, and more. Bathroom cleaning Bathrooms are often the dirties and smelliest areas for commercial spaces. With that said, it is not surprising that they have become breeding grounds for bacteria and germs. When cleaning bathrooms, make sure you clean and disinfect high-touch spots and items such as faucets, sinks, toilets, and even mirrors. Commercial cleaners often include towel replacement, hand soap refill, and bathroom supplies restocking to ensure your office bathrooms are clean and convenient to use. Breakroom cleaning The breakroom is where employees often gather to chit-chat, eat their food, drink their beverages, and rest. For this reason, breakrooms can become breeding grounds for bacteria and germs. Thus, when taking care of your breakrooms, make sure you include the appliances, countertops, sink, tables, and chairs. Glass window cleaning Often, business owners neglect their windows, thinking they cannot clean surfaces they can’t reach. This is particularly true for tall building establishments. Professional commercial cleaners, however, have access to the right cleaning equipment and materials you need for a thorough and efficient window cleaning. They have tall ladders, power washers, longer hoses, and the right safety equipment and gears for a thorough clean. Floor care Floors, whatever type of flooring material it uses, must be swept daily to remove dirt and debris. Moreover, make sure you use the right floor cleaner that is recommended for the type of flooring material your business premises has. Carpet and upholstery cleaning Carpets and rugs are basically dirt traps. Aside from completing the look of a certain room, carpets function as dirt traps to minimize and even stop dirt and dust from entering the premises. While regular vacuuming can help, most office vacuums are not strong enough to rid carpets of deep-seated stains and bacteria. This is why commercial cleaning services invest in high-quality equipment so they can tackle difficult cleaning jobs like deep carpet cleaning. And like carpets and rugs, upholstered furniture is dirt, dust, and allergen traps too. Regular vacuuming of upholstery removes foreign debris. However, to ensure your carpets are actually clean, fresh, and disinfected, you can ask professional cleaners to take care of them. Most commercial cleaning service companies would suggest deep cleaning for carpets and furniture upholstery once or twice a year. Air vent cleaning Another incredibly important process for comprehensive commercial cleaning services includes air vent cleaning. Air vents accumulate allergens, dust, and foreign debris over time. When there is too much buildup of these particles in your air vent system, your indoor air quality will drop, leading to health issues such as respiratory problems such as asthma attacks. The Ultimate Commercial Cleaning Checklist for Your Workplace Daily Tasks: Desk and Surfaces Wipe down your desk and other surfaces daily with a disinfectant spray or wipe to remove any dirt, dust, or germs. Trash Empty your trash can daily, and ensure all rubbish is disposed of correctly. Floors Sweep or vacuum your floors daily to remove any dirt or debris. Kitchen/Breakroom Clean and sanitize all surfaces, including countertops, sinks, and appliances, daily. Weekly Tasks: Dusting Dust all surfaces, including shelves, pictures, and light fixtures. Glass and Mirrors Clean all glass surfaces, including windows and mirrors, to remove any fingerprints or smudges. Upholstery Vacuum all upholstery, including chairs and couches, to remove any dirt or debris. Disinfecting Disinfect all high-touch areas, including doorknobs, light switches, and handles. Floors Mop or steam-clean your floors weekly to remove any stains or buildup. Monthly Tasks: Windows Clean your windows inside and out to let in more natural light and improve the appearance of your workspace. Carpets Have your carpets cleaned by professionals to remove any deep-seated stains and odours. Deep Cleaning Perform a deep clean and complete disinfection of your entire workspace, including hard-to-reach areas and appliances. Office Equipment Clean and sanitize all office equipment, including computers, printers, and phones. Restrooms Thoroughly clean and sanitize your restroom, including the toilet, sink, and floors. Seasonal Tasks: Outdoor Maintenance If you have an outdoor space, clean and maintain it seasonally to keep it looking its best. HVAC Maintenance Have your HVAC system inspected and cleaned seasonally to ensure proper airflow and reduce allergens. Furniture Maintenance Have any upholstered furniture professionally cleaned seasonally to extend its lifespan? The Takeaway As you can see, office cleaning is not a one-time thing. It is a continuous never-ending process. You can save yourself from all these troubles and opt for professional office cleaning instead. Cleanworks cleaning services is one of the few professional commercial cleaning companies that actually deliver the highest quality professional service. They have been in the industry of professional commercial cleaning for more than two decades, thus they have the track record to say they have “been there, done that”. Cleanworks cleaning services have a fully trained, extensively experienced, and completely equipped cleaning team to handle all sorts of cleaning. Their office cleaners are fully insured and up-to-date with the latest local cleaning requirements and COVID cleaning guidelines. Call Cleanworks commercial cleaning services now and get free quotes for your commercial cleaning needs. Their professional staff will be more than willing to help you. Read Also: Why Is A Janitorial Service For Commercial Establishments? 10 Pro Tips To Minimize Commercial Door Repair & Maintenance Cost The Hidden Damages In Workspaces: 5 Steps To Reduce The Risk Of Workplace Injuries!

Tips On How To Hire The Ideal HVAC Contractor

Are you looking to hire the ideal HVAC Contractor for your heating, cooling, and other ventilation needs? Do you know how you will be able to select the best HVAC contractor from a long list of probable ones? Have you tried doing your research by looking at list directories or asking friends and family members for suggestions? Getting the best HVAC contractor for any project can get a bit overwhelming. A simple Google search can throw up hundreds of search results, making the entire selection process even more confusing. Should you look for the one, which is the cheapest, or should you go for someone with a higher price but more experience? Thankfully, we have done all the hard work for you by speaking to some of the leading experts in the industry. We asked them to help us with tips on how to hire the ideal HVAC contractor for home and office purposes. What is an HVAC Contractor? First things first. HVAC stands for Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning. The task of an HVAC contractor is to install, maintain, and service the ventilation facilities in your home or on a commercial property. If it’s a workplace, you do not want the employees to be working in biting cold conditions or terrible heated environments. An HVAC contractor's first task is to look after the heating and cooling parts of your system. They need to check out whether the machinery is helping warm or cool down the room effectively according to your expectations or not. If they spot an issue, they will either repair the same or ask you to get the parts changed. This will simply create inhuman conditions of living, along with decreased levels of productivity. The same goes for home conditions. In addition to creating comfortable conditions of living, proper airflow ensures that diseases, infections, and viruses are also taken care of in a proper fashion. The air we breathe has an effect on our health, our work, and ten other different things inside the human body. In the past few years, many families and offices are employing the best HVAC contractors to ensure that these issues are taken care of. Lately, the demands for HVAC techs have also been increasing by the day. We would suggest you visit this website if you are searching for the best HVAC schools around Indiana as Indiana has many fantastic HVAC schools. List of 5 Tips to Hire the Ideal HVAC Contractor Check for Experience: The first thing you need to do research on is the number of years of experience of an HVAC contractor. This is especially important because the work requires specialization and a certain level of skill. The more experienced the HVAC contractor, the better will be the output. Experience matters a lot as the servicing of such systems does not allow for errors. Look for Certifications: You need to understand that the rising demand for HVAC contractors has made many people get into this field, without being officially licensed. This means that it is important you check for licenses and certifications. If you do not, you can get into a lot of problems later on. HVAC contractors need to get their work and registration permits before they can start to operate. Providing all Three Services: You will be surprised to know that most of the HVAC contractors do not provide all three services- Installation, Maintenance, and Repairs. This means that if there is an issue with your system and you want to get it repaired you will have to seek out someone who specializes in just repairs. If you are an office, you would not have the time to deal with multiple people. Get Estimates in Writing: Maintaining and servicing HVAC systems can get expensive. A small leak can result in ten different problems being thrown up during the inspection process. HVAC contracting firms always look to run up bills, especially in labor hours. Ensure that you are able to get everything in writing before the work starts. This will ensure you are not getting exploited. Take Multiple Quotations at one go: You cannot select the first HVAC contractor, which comes your way. You need to understand that it is only when you are able to talk to and engage with multiple contractors, will you know what you are looking at. Taking multiple quotations can help you compare the prices and see the levels of experience. Go for the one, which is the best balance of price and experience. The Final Word In this article, we have tried to offer tips to help you hire the ideal HVAC contractor. Looking at levels of experience, evaluating options, checking for legal certifications, etc. can help you land on the best and most ideal HVAC contractor for all your air conditioning needs. Read Also: 5 Tips for Marketing Your HVAC Business That Actually Work Things to Consider Before Relocating the Outdoor AC Unit DIY vs Professional Heaters Installation in Fairfax VA Removing Air Conditioner Filters: A Guide AC Repair Austin: Tips on How to Choose an AC Unit

Fix Your Home up This Summer With These Core Hacks

Using this summer as the perfect time to fix up your home is one of the best things you can do, and this is something that you need to make sure you get right as much as possible. There are a lot of things that play a part in this, and you are going to need to make changes that will help you when it comes to making the home better moving forward. There are so many reasons why you might like to improve and fix up your home right now, and this is certainly something you are going to need to consider. Try to do as much as you can to fix up your home moving forward, and there are a lot of things that play a role in this process. Use these ideas to help you fix up the home this summer, and get it looking as great as possible. Modernize Your Driveway You have to do as much as you can to modernize your home because this is an excellent way of being able to make a good impression and develop the home as a strong and impressive asset. Now, one of the best ways of being able to achieve this is going to be to work on modernizing the driveway, and this is something you need to think about right now as much as you can. There are loads of epic ways you can achieve this, and one of the key ones is to make sure you focus on improving your driveway with different styles, materials, and design ideas. Repair the Roof Try to come up with things that are going to help you make your home much safer and more secure in the process. There are a lot of factors that play a part in achieving this, and it is so important that you do as much as you can to repair the roof and fix any damages that have been caused. A leaking roof is something that plays a massive role in damaging your home, and you need to take steps to deal with this right now, either yourself or by bringing in professional roofers to take charge of this for you. Fix up the Interior Fixing up the interior of the home is also something you need to make sure you get right, and there is a lot to consider when you are looking to achieve this as much as possible. So, you need to consider things like the doors and windows, the locks on the home, as well as crawl space repair work that might need doing. Fixing up your interior in the best possible way is one of the best things you can do. There are plenty of things that you can do to help you make the most of your home and get it looking as great as possible right now. Thinking about what you can do to improve the home and fix it up in the most effective way is so important, and that’s what you need to make sure you use these ideas for right now. Read Also: Your own space: decor ideas for your private place to relax 6 Techniques to Improve Your Work-from-Home Career 10 Tips to Pick the Best Table Saw for Home Improvement Projects

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?

Content Rally

Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.

Leave a Reply

Popular

Technologies For Creating A Startup Idea

How to Download Facebook Videos on Android?

7 Rules of Effective Ecommerce Web Design

Why Are Online Transactions Convenient?

Follow Us

Recent

A Detailed Guide On Nai Taiyari.com: Why Is This Becoming A Favorite Of Students Worldwide?

How To Choose The Right Loan For Seasonal Business Expansion?

Why Law Firm Managed IT Services Are No Longer Optional In Today’s Legal Environment?

Is Techlokesh Org A Real Platform Of Information Or A Scam? Read On To Find It Out!

Related

The Ultimate Commercial Cleaning Checklist: Everything You For A Spotless Workspace

Tips On How To Hire The Ideal HVAC Contractor

Fix Your Home up This Summer With These Core Hacks

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?

Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.

Leave a Reply

Popular

Follow Us

Recent

Related