Proper cleaning and disinfecting of surfaces in businesses is a crucial step in preventing the spread of the coronavirus. Business owners, who are probably not cleaning and disinfection experts, may have questions about which products will protect the health and safety of their staff and customers. Not all cleaning supplies are created equally, so here’s what you should look for to select cleaning chemicals that kill COVID-19.
Cleaning Chemicals for Routine Cleaning
For routine cleaning, everyone should start with good old-fashioned soap and water to remove dirt and soil from surfaces. Cleaning will remove most germs from a surface but will not destroy some harmful germs and viruses that may remain, including the coronavirus.
Once a surface is clean, a disinfectant can be applied to the surface to destroy harmful germs, bacteria, and viruses that are still hanging around. If these products are applied to a dirty surface, they won’t work at maximum efficiency, so a combination of cleaning and disinfecting is best for fighting the spread of coronavirus. Now that your routine cleaning is out of the way, it’s time to get down to business with cleaning chemicals for disinfection.
Cleaning Chemicals for Disinfecting
Disinfecting cleaning chemicals are powerful products to stop the spread of the coronavirus in your business. When choosing products for your business, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has created an approved list of products, referred to as List N. These products have been proven to kill the coronavirus when used according to label directions.
There are more than 500 products currently on List N. Visit www.epa.gov/ListN to check whether a product, including disinfecting wipes, that claims to kill the coronavirus is actually on the list. You may want to buy commercial cleaning supplies from a professional cleaning company. Enviro-Master Services sells the same products that our Health and Safety Technicians use every day to protect the businesses we serve. We can also offer recommendations to use these products safely and effectively.
Contact time is an important factor in the disinfection process. Read label directions to understand how long a product should be left on a surface to achieve maximum effectiveness. Do not mix cleaning chemicals, hoping to get a stronger effect. This could cause a dangerous combination of harmful gases.
If you have a business with a high volume of customers, especially children, do not leave cleaning chemicals out when they’re not being used. Store them in a safe place where small hands won’t find them.
If an approved product from List N is not available, diluted household bleach can be used to disinfect approved surfaces. Bleach solutions must remain wet for at least one minute before being removed. Avoid using bleach on wood, fabric, and other surfaces to avoid damage. Whether you’re using a bleach solution or one of the hundreds of other EPA-approved products on the market, protecting surfaces from stains and damage should also be a consideration.
Safe Cleaning Chemicals for Specific Surfaces
When making a cleaning and disinfecting plan for your business, owners and employees should identify the high-traffic areas and devices around the office that are frequently used by employees and customers. These items may include telephones, computer equipment, door handles, light switches, toilets, sinks, etc. These high-touch surfaces will need the most attention to protect employees and customers from the coronavirus while also requiring care to protect the surfaces.
Some cleaning chemicals can be toxic. They can stain, discolor, or corrode surfaces such as plastic, metal, and wood. Read product labels carefully and only use disinfecting products on approved surfaces. Remember to wear gloves and other personal protective equipment that are recommended while handling these products.
Enviro-Master’s Virus Vaporizer™ electrostatic spray service disinfects in one simple step, making it a convenient choice for disinfection. A technician can spray any surface, including desks, food prep areas, restrooms, and more to kill dangerous germs and bacteria, including the coronavirus. The Virus Vaporizer uses a hospital-grade germicide to treat surfaces in schools, gyms, offices, restaurants, daycares, and more.
Products to Clean Hands
From the beginning of the pandemic, health experts have stressed the importance of washing our hands. That’s because our hands can become infected with the virus if we touch an infected surface. We can then become infected if we touch our eyes, mouth, or nose.
Washing our hands with soap and water will kill the virus. Soap works against the coronavirus because it destroys the lipid membrane that surrounds the virus, leading it to fall apart. Hand washing works best when it’s done for at least 20 seconds. Consider posting signs in public restrooms and kitchen areas, reminding employees and customers that this quick and easy process can go a long way to protect them from the coronavirus.
When soap and water is not available, hand sanitizer is also a good option. Health experts recommend using products with 60 percent ethyl alcohol (ethanol) or 70 percent isopropyl alcohol. Your professional cleaning service may have a hand hygiene program to keep your business stocked with soap and hand sanitizer. Consider placing hand sanitizer stations at the entrance of your business and in other high traffic areas to encourage good hand hygiene and avoid the spread of the coronavirus.
Partner With a Commercial Cleaning Service
Reviewing all of the information about the different types of disinfectants and cleaning processes can be time-consuming, especially for business owners who have a million other things they need to focus on for their business. Partner with a commercial cleaning service like Enviro-Master and let the professionals create a plan to protect the health and safety of your business. Complete the form below to get in touch with us today for a free quote.
