It goes without saying that moving forward, this year’s mass outbreak of SARS-CoV-2, which causes coronavirus, will change the way we live for the foreseeable future– especially when it comes to cleaning and sanitation. The number one priority throughout the nationwide attempt to stop the spread of the virus has been through mask-wearing and intensive cleaning of public facilities like stores, commercial buildings, airplanes, public transportation, etc. It goes without saying, our cleaning routines will never be the same.

This virus showed us the importance of cleaning and disinfecting as two SEPARATE but ESSENTIAL, consecutive practices. “Cleaning” refers to dirt, grime, and other visible impurities from surfaces, carried out by mopping, dusting, vacuuming, and sweeping. However, we have misconstrued cleaning as the act that will keep us safe from the harmful bacteria, which is not the case as that is disinfecting. While cleaning can reduce the number of germs and bacteria on a surface, it only reduces them. To move forward with the most effective sanitation treatments possible, we must follow our cleaning practices with disinfecting practices: using chemicals, solutions with bleach, isopropyl alcohol, and hydrogen peroxide to kill those lingering germs on the surfaces. Disinfecting is what will actually lower the risk of spreading infection, as long as the disinfecting compounds are EPA-registered. Unfortunately, relying on common green household cleaners like vinegar, lemon juice, and baking soda will not prove reliable moving forward in our efforts to continue reducing the spread.

With an emphasis on the types of products in our cleaning efforts moving forward, reading the labels is essential. It is imperative to follow the directions on the label of the disinfectants you use, ensure that you are using them to their utmost efficiency, and be safe. Many of these compounds are potent and require some form of dilution. These labels will also disclose the formulation’s contact or dwell time, which is the amount of time that the applied surface must remain covered for the harmful bacteria to be killed. If the surface dries up before the indicated dwell time, you will have to reapply the disinfectant.

The pandemic also put a greater emphasis on the need to continually disinfect heavily-trafficked areas, after discovering how quickly these harmful germs can spread. Everyone is instructed to frequently disinfect sinks, toilets, tables, floors, counters, doorknobs, toilet flushers, refrigerator and cabinet handles, shower curtains, faucets, remote controls, phones, and computer keyboards. The list is not confined to this one, but you’ll want to really hone in on these items.

While we obviously emphasized cleaning and sanitation prior to the pandemic, as a commercial cleaning business, we want to relay how crucial it is to follow all of these safety procedures for everyone’s best interest. Click here for more information from the CDC on conducting specific forms of household and business cleaning and other valuable tips.

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