The worldwide outbreak of COVID-19 and the new restraint of the virus have alarmed the cleaning industry and facility owners and require them to be extra cautious.
For the public interest, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is regularly updating and issuing the latest guidelines for cleaning and disinfecting as per the latest findings.
As the scientists are discovering facts about the virus, CDC has released the latest updates recently for the premises in community settings.
This article highlights some of the key points of the guidelines issued to minimize the risk of viral spread.
Cleaning and disinfecting
While the possibilities of the spread reduce with regular washing of hands or using sanitizers, it is critical to clean and disinfect the surfaces to prevent it.
CDC advises the building cleaners and commercial service providers to follow the standard practices and the applicable guidelines as a minimum standard of disinfecting and cleaning.
If there is a sick person or COVID patient, get the facility cleaned and disinfected within 24 hours.
CDC recommends disinfecting the indoor spaces, kids’ playing areas, homes, and schools if there are COVID suspects in the past 24 hours.
When there is no person suspected or confirmed suffering from COVID-19, CDC suggests routine cleaning using detergents or soaps to eliminate germs from the surfaces.
Cleaning agents are effective in removing or weakening germs and virus particles. Therefore, cleaning once a day is crucial to keep the facility clean.
Disinfectants promise to kill the disease-causing bacteria and viruses.
The commercial cleaning services are advised to use EPA-approved disinfectants. EPA is the Environment Protection Agency of the US that makes sure that the products are safe for the environment and human health.
The need to disinfect premises frequently is more when there is an increased risk of contamination through surface contact.
Disinfecting is a must when there are shared spaces in offices or residential apartments.
CDC Guidelines for planning the routine cleaning:
Decide the surfaces to be cleaned regularly
CDC suggests that regular cleaning for high-contact areas should be on priority for reducing the risk of infection through surfaces. High contact surfaces are touched frequently by people, such as doorknobs, switches, workspaces, railings, counters, tables, etc.
Determining the cleaning frequency
Make sure that you clean high contact surfaces a minimum once a day. However, high-traffic areas such as lobbies, elevators, staircases need more frequent cleaning.
If an area is occupied by the younger ones who do not wash hands or wear masks, it should be cleaned more often.
Deciding on whether the space needs disinfecting or not
While cleaning will do most of the work, if there are threats for pathogens or cross-contamination, you may choose to disinfect the space in addition to cleaning for more safety.
Resources and equipment required for cleaning
CDC suggests using a PPE kit (Personal Protective Equipment) and appropriate cleaning agents and disinfectants.
Precautions to be taken by the commercial cleaning services
Proper training to staff regarding the use of equipment and products
Wear gloves
Wash your hands using soap or use an alcohol-based sanitizer
Clean the surfaces before disinfecting
Use EPA-authorized disinfectants
Make sure of proper ventilation while disinfecting
Adequate consideration for people suffering from breathing issues
Follow the directions given on the product label for the direction of use and necessary precautions
Wrapping up
Following these guidelines require expertise, equipment, and proper knowledge of the products. Therefore, it is advisable to hire reputed commercial cleaning company who can deliver quality services. Also, discuss with them the latest CDC guidelines and wisely choose your cleaning service providers.