Cleaning & Disinfecting Your Business for COVID-19

Cleaning & Disinfecting Your Business for COVID-19

As we’ve heard so many times this year, we truly are in unprecedented times. How businesses operate and thrive will be impacted and changed for many years to come.

As businesses are in the process of reopening, it’s important to remember some of the most important tips for preventing the spread of COVID-19.

For some basic virus prevention steps, read our article, “Preventing The Spread Of Viruses Through Regular Facility Cleanings,” but for a more in-depth step-by-step process of what you should do for Coronavirus keep reading.

WORK WITH A REPUTABLE COMMERCIAL CLEANING COMPANY

First and foremost, working with a reputable commercial cleaning company will provide you with the reassurance that you’re set up with a custom cleaning and disinfecting plan that works well with your business.

These custom cleaning and disinfecting plans can include having team members onsite to apply disinfectant throughout the day, electrostatic disinfecting options, routine cleaning options, and more. It’s best to discuss all options with a professional to find what works best for your facility.

SCHEDULE ROUTINE MAINTENANCE CLEANINGS

With your commercial cleaning company, make sure you schedule what’s known as routine maintenance cleanings based on level of use. By having these cleanings scheduled, you’ll save time, money, and the stress of knowing your business is properly cleaned and disinfectant has been properly applied.

CLEANING & DISINFECTING ON YOUR OWN

If cleaning and disinfecting in between your professional cleanings, make sure to wear disposable gloves to clean and disinfect. Clean surfaces using soap and water, then use disinfectant. Click here to see the EPA’s list of approved disinfectants.

PROVIDE EMPLOYEES AND CUSTOMERS WITH FDA-APPROVED HAND SANITIZER

The FDA is updating their website daily with information about Coronavirus and their list of approved and not approved hand sanitizers.

You can take the FDA’s hand sanitizer quiz here to determine if your sanitizers are effective at killing COVID-19.

CLEAN & DISINFECT EQUIPMENT REGULARLY AROUND THE WORKSPACE

If working with a commercial cleaning company (and we highly recommend doing so), they will continually maintain their equipment through regular cleaning, but if you’re also using things throughout your office, these should be cleaned and disinfectant should be applied regularly. This includes tanks, filters, hoses, brushes, brooms, machine parts, and cords, as well as surfaces that are touched around the equipment.

ISSA, the worldwide cleaning industry association, provides an excellent infographic that you can print and hang as a reminder of how to properly clean and disinfect equipment that you may be using in between your cleanings with your commercial cleaning company. If working with a professional cleaning company, these procedures should be completed with their own equipment as well.

Click here to view ISSA’s cleaning & disinfecting equipment infographic.

PROVIDE EMPLOYERS WITH TRAINING AROUND NEW PROCESSES & PROCEDURES

Depending on your type of business, you should provide your employees with specific training for the new regulations and processes that should be put into practice. From best cleaning and disinfecting practices to new processes that your business may have, including the number of people allowed in certain spaces, mask protocols, and more, it’s important that your employees are trained and well prepared. This ensures that your employees and potential customers can feel as comfortable and have as much knowledge as possible.

Examples of training could include:

  • New Cleaning Processes & Procedures
  • Interacting with Customers Under New Guidelines
  • What is PPE, What PPE is Necessary, Proper Disposal

PROVIDE PROPER PPE

Each business is unique in the type of operations and PPE (personal protective equipment) required. In our recent article, “Proper PPE For Your Business,” we explain best practices for PPE, but also ways you can provide training for your employees on PPE.

It’s important to make sure that at the very least, proper masks and hand sanitizer are provided at your business for each employee.

PLEASE NOTE: Some chemicals that are used to disinfect require safety glasses and a mask. It’s important to adhere to each individual chemicals PPE requirements and follow ALL safety guidelines.

Last but certainly not least, if an employee feels sick, make them stay home. This is the best way to ensure there’s no cross-contamination.