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.

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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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9 Feng Shui Tips for a Calmer Kitchen

Everybody wants a little more health and prosperity in their lives. Kitchen feng shui is one of the ways to do it and it isn't as difficult as you might think. In feng shui, the kitchen symbolizes wealth and prosperity. As the place where your food is prepared, it also symbolizes nourishing and sustaining life. Try incorporating these 9 kitchen feng shui tips into your home. With good Chi energy flowing, things just might take a turn for the better. 1. Location : If your house is already built, you can't do much about the location of your kitchen. But if you're building a new home or planning to remodel, keep these location-related kitchen feng shui tips in mind. If you're remodeling in anticipation of a sale, read this blog for more ideas. The best location for the kitchen is not the same in every home. Feng shui principles consider the age of the home and the direction (on the compass) that the house is facing. They even consider astrological elements at the time of the home's construction. Because of this complexity, choosing the right location can be very difficult. It is best to ask for the recommendation of a reputable feng shui practitioner. 2. Colors : Feng shui has something to say about the color scheme that you choose for your kitchen. You want your kitchen to have a warm, inviting feel and good energy to it. An easy way to accomplish that is to pick the right colors. Yellow is an excellent kitchen feng shui color as it is thought to be good for digestion. Choose a shade anywhere from soft butter to vibrant squash. Many people like the freshness of a white kitchen. You can do it, but make sure you balance it with something warm, like warm wood tones. Earth tones make great, soothing kitchen colors as well. For an energetic pop, try combining earth tones with a gentle sky blue. It's easy to overdo the blue, though so take care. In an existing kitchen, it's easy to repaint the walls. And something as simple as adding your own tile splashback (in the right color, of course) can really change how the room looks. 3. Balance the Elements : The materials that you use when building your kitchen are important. In most kitchens, 4 of the 5 Chinese elements will appear naturally. These are: Fire Earth Metal Water Wood The stove brings fire and granite or tile countertops bring the earth. Many appliances are made of metal and there's water running from the sink. If you have real wood cabinets, you've got all 5. If you don't, it's as simple as bringing in a potted plant to balance them all. 4. Keep Things Working : The golden rule of feng shui is to ensure that Chi energy is flowing well. This is the universal life force and it is the power behind feng shui. In order to keep the energy flowing well in your kitchen, keep things working. If you have a leaky faucet, fix it. Check to make sure cabinet doors swing open properly. You should even take it so far as to throw out chipped bowls or cracked dishes. Plus, make sure your knives are sharpened. Taking care of your things helps good energy flow and helps you take care of yourself. 5. Keep it Clean : Along the same vein, you should keep your kitchen clean. There are several important tasks you should do every day. Keep the counters cleared off and clean. Only store appliances you use every day on the counter. We'll talk more about this in a minute, but your stove is important in feng shui, so keep it spotless. Wash the sink often and keep the fridge clean. On occasion, you'll need to do a deep clean. Pull everything out of your cabinets and clean out the back corners. You may even want to put down new shelf liners if necessary. 6. Keep it Orderly and Organized : As you put everything back, organize it. Put similar things together. For example, put sweet spices together on one side of the cupboard and savory on the other. Adjust the shelves to make the most of your storage space. Put taller items together in a tall space and fill a short space with little items. If you don't already have them, add some space savers. Lazy susans, stacking shelves and tray racks are all helpful items. Toss out items that you don't use any more. What is the point of cluttering up your cupboards with unnecessary stuff? 7. Fill It Up with Healthy Food : Promote health and wellness by filling your kitchen with healthy food. Organic, fresh fruits and vegetables are excellent choices. Not only is the nutrition good for you, but also they bring healthy healing vibrations from the earth. This type of energy is very good for your body. 8. Add Some Life : Bring life into your kitchen by setting out something living. This helps to bring positive energy into the mix. A petite potted plant, a vase of fresh blooms, or a bowl of fruit all work nicely. 9. Use a Mirror Over the Stove : In feng shui, the stove is a very strong symbol. Not only does it represent fire, but is a very powerful symbol of wealth. Treat your stove with respect by keeping it clean. Promote the flow of Chi energy by using all of your burners. To further magnify the effect, hang a mirror over your stove. This is a great way to effectively "double" your store's presence in the kitchen. Proper Kitchen Feng Shui : Proper kitchen feng shui is an important element in feng shui for your home as a whole. Thankfully, just following these simple tips will help Chi energy to flow more freely, enriching your home and your life. Try a few and let us know how it works out in the comments. We'd love to hear from you! Don't forget to check out our home and garden section for more great tips! Read Also : 10 Unique Kitchen Hacks To Save Your Time In Kitchen And Cooking 4 Tips For Choosing A Good Kitchen Tap Installing A Kitchen Tile Splashback – The Basics

Moving house? Here’s the ultimate checklist

In your excitement to complete a house move and rush to undertake all of the clearly necessary responsibilities, like packing boxes and hiring moving vans, you could overlook too many crucial "little things". You might not notice that you have overlooked them until an inopportune moment... For this reason, we have compiled a thorough checklist of small but vital tasks to which you ought to pay diligent attention before you become accustomed to your new life in your new residence. Ask the previous owner the following questions... As ensuring a good supply of gas and electricity is crucial to running a home, you shouldn't neglect to ask someone where exactly you can find the gas and electricity meters. The person selling the house is an obvious person to ask - and they could also help you locate the thermostat and main stopcock. It's also wise to ask them what day the bins are collected and which company is responsible for your home's energy and broadband. Otherwise, you won't know who to turn to if an issue arises with any. Get the Royal Mail to redirect your post Of course, moving into a property also means leaving one - and, with someone else taking up residence there, there's an urgency to redirecting post to prevent it falling into their hands. Naturally, you should manually approach the organizations that regularly mail you and ask them to change your address details on their file. However, in the potentially long wait for those changes to be made, you could have Royal Mail temporarily redirect the post to your new address. Thoroughly clean the home before moving into it Sadly, as MoneySavingExpert.com attests, your new home could be disconcertingly dirty when you first enter it. Even a new build will look scattered with plaster chips and dust, while a pre-owned home will have grubby cupboards and fingerprints left by moving men taking items down the stairs. If some blotches in the home appear to have resulted from a roof leak, Google "roofing repair companies near me" to get that opening patched before it worsens. Register to vote and seek a new GP You will need to make a few registrations after moving. If you are switching between parliamentary constituencies, you must register to vote in the new one - it doesn't happen automatically. You should also prioritize registering with a new local GP; if you hold off registering until you need treatment, you could face a delay in receiving it, Which? cautions. Don't forget to do these things after moving Once the move is complete, you could still be left with a few loose ends. For example, if the new home's cost outweighed £125,000 or - if this is your first property purchase - £300,000, there will be a stamp duty bill to pay within 30 days of the move. You ought to also get the locks changed - or perhaps even the doors and windows fully replaced with strong uPVC alternatives - for bolstered security. Read Also : Moving Home Checklist: What You Need To Know How To Sell Your House Fast?! Five Must-Know Tips To Move Your Property! 5 Awesome Advantages Of Buying A Smaller House

How To Choose The Best Vacuum Cleaner?

If you are planning to buy the right vacuum cleaner, it is quite possible that you could have a tough job at hand. This is because of various models and makes which are available in the marketplace. This makes the job tough, and without the right knowledge and information, quite often we end up making the wrong choice. Hence, in this article, we will talk about the various important points to be kept in mind when it comes to buying these vacuum cleaners. We are sure it will throw some light on those who are not fully about such details. With so many models like Shark IONFlex IF205 and other models being available in the market, your job does not become any easier. We are sure that the details which we have mentioned below could be helpful for those who are struggling to make up their minds when being in the market to buy their loved vacuum cleaners. Understand The Types Of Vacuum Cleaners: While choosing the right vacuum cleaner for your home, you must have a decent idea about the types of vacuum cleaners. Though there are secondary vacuum cleaners including car vacuums, handheld vacuums, dry/wet vacuums; there are actually only two major categories that you could choose from. These include canisters and uprights. Upright Vs. Canisters: Upright vacuum cleaners have traditionally been liked by most users in Great Britain and the USA. However, in other parts of the world and in Europe, canisters are considered a better choice. Uprights also come with a revolving brush roll, and this provides the required agitation for thorough cleaning. Further, they also have a motor that is suitable for giving the right suction power. A few come with two motors, one provides suction and the other one to drive the brush. Hence whether you are buying Shark IF205 or some other models, you have to keep these points in mind. However, canisters are considered more versatile when compared to upright ones. They are known for their excellent performance, especially on smooth floors and carpets. Further, when it comes to cleaning surfaces above the floors, they are often considered the best. They also come with some cleaning tools and accessories (including wand and hose). This makes them more maneuverable when compared to upright. They can easily get into tight spaces and furniture which perhaps upright makes and models will not be able to reach. Bagless Or Bag – Which To Choose: There is another major difference when it comes to choosing vacuum cleaners. It is to decide between bagless ones or vacuum cleaners with bags. This again is a matter of personal preference. However, if you have family members suffering from asthma or allergies and if you are keen on the quality of indoor air, it would be better to go in for a bagged vacuum cleaner, though it might cost a bit more. This does not mean that bagless vacuum cleaners are bad. The good brands and models perform extremely well, but as mentioned above, those suffering from breathing and skin allergies often preferred bagged variants. Points To Consider When Choosing Vacuum Cleaners: Now that we have some basic idea about canister, upright, bagged and bagless vacuum cleaners, here are some points to be considered when it comes to choosing the right vacuum cleaners. The area to be covered and the surfaces to be cleaned. These are two important points to be taken into account when you decide to buy the right vacuum cleaner. If the area to be cleaned is quite big, then it would be better to go in for a canister vacuum with a large cord and wand. This will help you to reach the entire area with ease, and you can also easily move around the vacuum cleaner. Ease of use is another important point to be taken into account when it comes to buying the right vacuum cleaner. You should not struggle with the vacuum cleaner and must be able to do the job easily. The filter is another important thing to be considered when you are buying a vacuum cleaner. It should ideally have a HEPA filter which will ensure removal of even the tiniest of dust particles and microorganisms. Finally, the price, of course, is a parameter, but when negotiating price, the quality of the vacuum cleaner must not be overlooked. Read Also: Benefits Of Having A Cordless Vacuum Cleaner At Home Best-Corded Vacuum Cleaner Robot Vacuum: Why You Should Buy

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:

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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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9 Feng Shui Tips for a Calmer Kitchen

Moving house? Here’s the ultimate checklist

How To Choose The Best Vacuum Cleaner?

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:

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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

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