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.

Creating an efficient and productive work culture extends beyond the day-to-day operations of your business.  While communication, teamwork, and morale are all critical elements of successful businesses, business owners should never underestimate the impact of the physical environment in which their people work.  The notion that a tidy space is a healthy space is nothing new – many of us can relate to how much better we feel when our homes are clean and clutter-free.  The same is true of your office environment.  Given the amount of time we spend at work, it should come as no surprise that most people want to work in a clean office.  So, let’s look at some of the main reasons you should invest in professional office cleaning services.

Focus

Professional office cleaners ensure your workspaces and shared spaces such as break rooms, kitchens, and bathrooms are clean and hygienic so that your staff can focus on the work that makes your business successful.  Moreover, evidence suggests that a clean and orderly workplace improves productivity and efficiency likely because employees are not distracted by managing janitorial tasks in addition to their core workload.

Cost

Some businesses rely on their staff to provide regular cleaning.  As mentioned, this can be quite the distraction in an employee’s day.  Additionally, it’s unlikely that your office staff are trained and experienced in cleaning practices so over the long run it can actually cost you more to not hire professional cleaners.  Indeed, professionals are efficient and focused on cleaning tasks so they get done quickly and effectively.  Plus, nothing gets overlooked.

Health

A well-cleaned office is one that promotes the health and well-being of all the people using it.  From staff to clients, everybody benefits from regular, professional cleaning services when it comes to occupational health and safety.  Particularly in the context of a pandemic, it’s vitally important to rid your office of microorganisms that can contribute to illness.  And remember, sick days impact productivity at least insofar as they reduce work hours.  Keeping a hygienic office keeps staff healthy so they can come to work more regularly.

Aesthetic

As much as we think that the quality of the work we do should speak for itself, humans are prone to judging quality based on aesthetic.  A disorderly, cluttered, or messy office space is going to give the impression that your operations do not run smoothly.  Making a good impression on potential clients or even employees is vital to the success of your business.  You want clean floors and windows, orderly recycling stations, dust-free surfaces, and fresh clean air to greet visitors to your workplace.  Working with a professional cleaning company helps your business succeed if only by creating a good impression for guests and visitors.

Floor Cleaning During COVID

There are so many cleaning practices to consider in preventing the spread of COVID-19.  In homes and offices, regular floor cleaning and disinfecting helps to maintain a safer environment.  So, what do you need to know about floor cleaning during COVID?

Cleaning, Sanitizing, and Disinfecting

Many people aren’t aware, but cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting are actually very different processes.  In a nutshell, cleaning is a process that removes germs and dirt from floor surfaces and involves using soap or detergent to physically remove these impurities.  On the other hand, sanitizing reduces the number of germs on floors to a safe level as determined by public health agencies – sanitizing may be achieved through both cleaning and disinfecting procedures.  Disinfecting is a process that involves using chemical cleaning agents to kill germs on floors but may not actually remove dirt or other impurities.

Ultimately, this means that to keep your business or home safest during the coronavirus pandemic, you should incorporate practices that both clean and disinfect your floors.  More regular cleaning combined with scheduled disinfection helps to keep households and business healthy.  Also, for the best results, always clean floors before disinfecting them.  Choose a cleaner that is also recommended by the Centre for Disease Control for killing COVID-19.  Some disinfectants are specifically rated for killing viruses including COVID-19.  When handling disinfectants, you will also need to follow manufacturer’s instructions – wear gloves, protective goggles, and allow adequate ventilation.  Never mix disinfectants with each other or other cleaners such as bleach or ammonia.

So then, what are some tips for cleaning and disinfecting different flooring surfaces?  Let’s take a closer look.

• Hardwood, Laminate, and Vinyl Floors
  A microfiber mop is highly effective for cleaning smooth flooring surfaces.  First vacuum or sweep flooring to remove larger dirt, dust, and debris and then mop the floor with the type of mop recommended for your flooring.  Cleaning with store-bought floor-cleaners or a mixture of apple cider vinegar and warm water will effectively clean these floor surfaces.When you’re ready to disinfect your hardwood, laminate, or vinyl floors, you want to use a disinfectant product that is recommended for your type of flooring.  Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions – many will have specific instructions for how long the disinfectant must remain in contact with the surface or drying recommendations.  For the most part, disinfectants on these smooth floor surfaces will be applied with a mop to prevent damage from moisture.

• Carpets and Rugs
  Regular vacuuming is the most important step in cleaning carpets and rugs.  High traffic areas should be vacuumed at least twice a week, and daily vacuuming would be ideal.  Move your vacuum slowly to allow for better removal of dirt and debris.  Regularly dusting surfaces in carpeted rooms can also help to keep carpets clean.Routine carpet vacuuming is likely sufficient for preventing the spread of germs in your home or business – even COVID-19.  Steam cleaning carpets with soap and water is recommended for disinfecting.

Preventing the spread of COVID-19 is not only an important public health goal, it is imperative for avoiding future lockdowns that would threaten operations for retail stores and other businesses.  As such, it is vital that owners and operators of retail outlets take added precautions to keep their customers, their staff, and their businesses safe.  These COVID-19 best practices for retail stores are derived from a variety of sources including Health Canada, but retail owners are always encouraged to carefully review their sanitation practices to ensure they create a safe environment regardless of the nature of their business.

First, it is recommended that retail stores develop a regular sanitation schedule that includes thorough disinfection of high-touch surfaces and public spaces.  Cleaning surfaces with a Health Canada approved disinfectant or detergent that removes visible contaminants is paramount.  In many cases, once visible soil is removed from surfaces it is necessary to disinfect the surface again and allow it to dry completely.  Always follow manufacturer instructions on how to use disinfectants as different solvents may have different application recommendations.  For example, some disinfectant wipes require more contact time or dry more quickly than others – until the surface is completely cleaned and dry, it is not disinfected.

Additionally, it is important to understand the difference between disinfectants and sanitizers.  Disinfectants tend to be more highly concentrated, require more contact time than sanitizers, and may need to be rinsed from surfaces.  To add another layer of complexity, not all disinfectants and sanitizers are approved for use against COVID-19, so retailers are encouraged to verify with their suppliers whether the disinfectants and sanitizers in use are effective in eliminating COVID-19.

There are also different cleaning recommendations for food and non-food contact surfaces.  For food-contact surfaces, retailers must use products that are approved for such surfaces.  Most often these cleaners will be classified as sanitizers.  Non-food contact surfaces should be cleaned with disinfectants.  Regular disinfection of high-contact surfaces including debit/credit point-of-services machines, doorknobs and automatic door switches, bathroom surfaces including flush handles and faucets, fridge doors, etc. is paramount.

Depending on the nature of your retail outlet, you should also consider requiring staff and patrons to wear masks.  If maintaining 2m of physical distance between staff and patrons is not possible, masks provide an extra element of protection.  Plexiglass barriers at cash registers are also becoming commonplace and provide an effective droplet barrier between staff and customers.  Finally, all staff should be required to stay home whenever they are feeling ill.  Self-assessment tools provided by local governments should be reviewed before every work shift and staff that experience COVID-like symptoms must not report to work.

Following these recommendations cannot eliminate the potential for the spread of COVID-19, but they can significantly mitigate the risk. 

In British Columbia, strata housing includes a wide range of housing varieties including condos, townhomes, duplexes, and sometimes even single family homes.  Some of the benefits of strata housing include improved security and shared housing maintenance that make home ownership more affordable and convenient.  As you might expect, strata janitorial services are cleaning services that are managed by the strata committee to ensure that common areas including gyms, elevators, stairwells, hallways, and outdoor spaces are maintained and sanitary.

In a nutshell, strata janitorial services include all the cleaning tasks required to care for common, open spaces of a strata property.  Strata owners benefit greatly from these services which are managed centrally by the strata committee.  In the long run, strata janitorial services improve the health and safety of a facility while also ensuring the property maintains its value today and into the future.  Indeed, without proper janitorial services, common spaces in strata properties can fall into disrepair rather quickly which presents not only as a health and safety issue, but also can hasten property damage and undermine property values.

There are many strata janitorial services provided by professional cleaning companies including floor care, window cleaning, pool cleaning, and lighting maintenance, not to mention general cleaning duties.

• Floor maintenance – from buffing, stripping and sealing floors to regular vacuuming, strata janitors will professional clean and maintain all the common floors in your property. Working with a professional cleaner also ensures the different types of floors are properly cleaned.  Indeed, not all floors can simply be vacuumed or mopped to keep them clean and sanitary.  Strata janitorial service providers know the best treatments and cleaning procedures for different floor types and they have the equipment, cleaners, and skills to handle them all.  That means that even in a property with several different types of floors, your janitor will be able to effectively clean them all.
• Window cleaning – interior and exterior windows require regular cleaning to maintain the appearance of your building. Once again, strata janitors have the equipment and cleaning materials to keep your windows clear and squeaky clean.
• Pool cleaning – if your strata property has a gym or pool facility, strata janitors ensure effective and thorough cleaning of these facilities. Make no mistake, effective pool maintenance requires specialized skills and knowledge so should always be managed by professional cleaners.  Regular testing of the water ensures a safe and sanitary swimming experience for all strata residents.
• Lighting maintenance – strata cleaners are trained to inspect and change emergency lights whenever they require replacement. This is incredibly important for ensuring the safety of your building, common areas, and residents alike.

These are just a few of the tasks that professional strata cleaners can manage so that your home and its property are always clean and well-maintained in common areas.