Offices are full of germs, as anybody who has shared an elevator with a chronic cougher knows. However, the good news is that you can play a role in limiting the transmission of viruses and preventing yourself and others from being ill. This article includes an office cleaning checklist to help you keep your office clean and disinfected, whether it's at home or in a corporate building.
Cleaning and disinfecting aren't they the same thing?
That's not the case. Commercial Cleaning in Birmingham, according to the Centers for Disease Control, is the process of removing dirt and contaminants from surfaces, including pathogens. Cleaning kills some bacteria but not all of them. A dirty table, for example, will no longer appear dirty after being cleaned with warm, soapy water. Some bacteria will be removed, but many will remain.
Disinfection, on the other hand, employs chemicals to destroy germs on surfaces but does not always clean them.
If you use a disinfectant spray on a table after your child has played with playdough, the playdough will remain on the table unless you clean it off.
You only do half the work if you merely clean or disinfect. Cleaning and disinfecting surfaces are required to adequately clean a workplace and eliminate surfaces of bacteria. Keep in mind the differences between a general disinfectant, an antiseptic, an antibacterial product, and a sanitizer when selecting chemicals for disinfection. Unlike a disinfectant, which is applied to surfaces, an antiseptic is applied to body tissues. You've seen an antiseptic in action if you've ever seen a doctor apply an orange-tinted liquid to their arms and hands before surgery. As the name implies, an antibacterial product destroys bacteria. Antibacterial products, on the other hand, do not always destroy viruses like influenza or COVID-19.
Finally, a sanitizer reduces the number of bacteria, viruses, and other germs on surfaces but does not eliminate them as well as a disinfectant. Sanitizers are not as effective as disinfectants at reducing the number of germs and so lowering the total exposure to a virus. A disinfectant is required for a full-fledged attack on viruses such as COVID-19 or cold and flu viruses.
The definitive guide to disinfecting and thorough cleaning your workplace
I'm not sure which disinfectant to use. Several disinfectants are excellent at killing bacteria. Check the product's EPA registration number to guarantee that the cleaning product you choose is effective against the germs you want to eliminate. These are a few of the most often used disinfectants.
● Alcohol
Alcohol is used in many cleaning products, including disinfecting wipes. Alcohol-based products can eliminate viruses, germs, and fungi, and they don't discolor or corrode most surfaces, including screens.
Alcohol kills viruses quickly, sometimes in as little as 30 seconds. Alcohol-based cleaning agents, on the other hand, take a long time to kill non-enveloped viruses like norovirus. (The COVID-19 and influenza viruses have been encapsulated, which is good news.) These products are also devoid of any cleaning or detergent qualities. While alcohol is acceptable for most surfaces, it dries quickly. Repeated use of alcohol-based cleaning agents on rubber surfaces (such as staplers or other office tools) can cause the surfaces to harden or crack.
● Bleach
Bleach is an extremely powerful disinfectant. It is effective against viruses, bacteria, and fungi. It's also one of the most cost-effective cleaning methods. Only 5 teaspoons of bleach per gallon of water are required. (However, make sure you use all of the bleach combinations.) After 24 hours of mixing, it degrades quickly and isn't as efficient against germs.) It kills some viruses in roughly five minutes, though not as quickly as alcohol.
● Ammonia
Ammonia, which can be found in products like window cleaner, evaporates quickly, making it an excellent cleaning agent for streak-free dirt removal. It's a popular disinfectant for bacteria like E. Coli, but it's ineffective against viruses.
Your cleaning schedule for the office
It's time to clean your office once you've selected which disinfectant is ideal for your needs. Follow the steps below.
● Make sure the area is well ventilated
Close off the space, open the windows, and use ventilating fans if you know someone in your office has been sick with a respiratory ailment, such as COVID-19. Increased airflow will aid in the removal of infectious respiratory droplets. If at all possible, wait at least 24 hours after the sick person has left the room before cleaning.
● Surfaces should be cleaned and then disinfected
Cleaning with soap and water first, then disinfectant is recommended by the CDC. You can disinfect a surface by washing it with soap and water. When disinfecting a dirty surface, the disinfectant consumes the dirt and oil before killing the germs. When disinfecting a clean surface, the disinfectant can effectively kill bacteria.
● From top to bottom, everything is spotless.
Start at the top and work your way down to prevent recleaning places you've already cleaned. When you clean and disinfect the tables before cleaning the ceiling fan, the dust from the fan will fall on your freshly polished surfaces.
Similarly, vacuuming and washing floors should be done last so that you can pick up any dust or debris that has landed on the floor while you're cleaning.
When it comes to vacuuming and cleaning the floors, don't forget to move the furniture. You'll leave concealed regions of dust, Filth, and germs if you vacuum or mop around the furniture.
● Pay special attention to surfaces with a lot of touches
There are hot areas in every office that receive more touch than others. The obvious germ-gathering places are your keyboard, phone, and mouse. Other locations, such as light switches, doorknobs, toilet flushers, the sides of workstations, conference room tables, and community refrigerator handles, may go unnoticed.
Keep your office tidy now that it's clean! Encourage everyone in your office to wash their hands regularly and thoroughly, particularly after using the restroom, eating, or touching shared office equipment. You can assist yourself and your coworkers to stay healthy by keeping your workspace and hands clean.
