Widespread concern over the COVID-19 pandemic has been a call for all business owners to re-evaluate their disinfection procedures.  In the past, restaurants, healthcare facilities, spas, and other personal service businesses were among the few who had specific sanitizing and disinfecting procedures in place to protect the health and safety of their customers and employees.  Today, all businesses – from office-based industries to warehouse-based companies and everything in between are focused on disinfecting.  So then, what are disinfecting services and what do you need to know as a business owner?  Take a closer look at our disinfecting services FAQ.

What is disinfection?

Disinfecting services are those cleaning protocols that kill, destroy, and deactivate microbes and viruses.  In order for a cleaning procedure to be considered “disinfecting,” you must use a disinfectant which is antimicrobial agent used on surfaces to deactivate microscopic organisms.  Depending on the type of facility you operate, infection control procedures will vary but it’s best to use a disinfectant that is approved by local or national health organizations.

How should soiled surfaces be disinfected?

Whenever you can see that surfaces are soiled, they must be cleaned before applying disinfectant.  You can either use the disinfectant to remove visible dirt, dust, oil, or other contaminants first and then disinfect again, or you can use a standard cleaning solution to remove contaminants and then disinfect the surface when it’s clean.

Are disinfecting and sanitizing the same services?

No, sanitization does not always eliminate all harmful microorganisms from surfaces.  The process usually uses gentler cleaners, whereas disinfectants are used to destroy all microorganisms and viruses.  Generally speaking, surfaces and materials should be sanitized before they are disinfected.

How often should surfaces be disinfected?

The answer to this question is specific to the surface, really.  For example, a shared workspace should be cleaned and disinfected between users.  Many hospital-grade disinfectants are applied to a surface and once they are completely dry, the surface is disinfected.  This can usually take between 1 and 3 minutes, depending on the disinfectant.  Door knobs and other frequently touched surfaces should likewise be disinfected multiple times in a day.  For areas with less traffic, once or twice daily cleaning and disinfecting is usually sufficient.  Moreover, if there has been coronavirus exposure at your business, you should disinfect your entire facility.

Do all disinfectants deactivate the coronavirus?

Always check with your cleaning professional or the Health Canada website to find a list of approved disinfectants for the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the virus that is associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.  Novel viruses may not respond in the same way to all disinfectants which is why health organizations take care to test various disinfectants for their efficacy against the coronavirus.

Should I use a professional cleaner for disinfecting services?

In order to ensure proper and thorough disinfecting services, it is always advisable to work with professional cleaners who have the skill, knowledge, and experience to keep your facility safe for your clients and employees.