5 Tips for Cleaning and Disinfecting your Business for Reopening (COVID-19)
As States and cities begin to open up again from the Stay at Home Orders due to the spread of COVID-19, businesses will need to update the way they approach cleaning their facilities going forward. In an effort to keep the virus at bay in the months to come, businesses will need to take a look at what changes they might need to make when opening up again and we’re here to help our customers with that process. We’re sharing tips that will allow our customers to use this information as a guide for when they reopen their doors to the public.
1. Know the Difference between Sanitize and Disinfect
It’s important to note the difference between sanitizing a surface and disinfecting it. Sanitizing means that you’re reducing the amount of bacteria on a surface while disinfecting it means that you’re actually destroying both the bacteria and viruses that might be present there.
Products that are sold as disinfectants are approved by the EPA to kill both viruses and bacteria on hard surfaces. During this season of COVID-19, businesses should be disinfecting all hard surfaces in their spaces several times a day to kill any virus or bacteria that might be found on those surfaces.
It’s also important to know the contact time of a disinfectant product, which means how long the material must remain wet on a surface in order to effectively kill any virus or bacteria on that surface. Disinfectant products can have a contact time of anywhere from 30 seconds to 10 minutes in order to be effective so be sure to read the product label to understand what the contact time is for the product you’re using specifically.*
We offer a long list of Disinfectant products at WCP Solutions that businesses can use to keep their spaces clean and safe.
2. Cleaning Frequency Should be More than We’re Used To
As we get used to cleaning our businesses more often to keep the spread of COVID-19 down, it’s very important to make sure that the touch surfaces throughout our spaces are cleaned very frequently and more than we’re normally used to doing. Door handles, light switches, keyboards, and anything that is touched multiple times a day should be cleaned regularly going forward.
As we’re cleaning these surfaces, it’s important to know which types of cleaners should be used to remove any bacteria or viruses that might build up on those regularly touched items. With options available for both ready-to-use cleaners and concentrates that you’ll mix with water, both options serve different purposes. Ready-to-use cleaners are purchased already blended by a company in advance, which offers assurance that you can trust the solution prepared by a reputable company. Concentrate formulas, on the other hand, require mixing on-site by adding water but are still a safe way to clean and disinfect. Concentrate formulas will save you a little more money as you’re buying the product in bulk.
Another thing to keep in mind as you’re doing more regular, deep cleaning in your facility is the difference between using cleaning cloths versus disposable wipes. If using cloths, they need to be cleaned very frequently and rotated out as you work your way through a space. Don’t use the same cloth over and over as you wipe areas down, as bacteria and viruses on the cloth will get moved throughout the space instead of cleaning it. Disposable wipes are the best option for smaller spaces, allowing the user to clean thoroughly and then dispose of the wipes when done. The more accessible and easy to use, the more cleaning will happen, which will result in cleaner and safer surfaces throughout your business.
3. PPE Should be Available for Use when Disinfecting Spaces
Personal protective equipment might be needed for whoever is going to be cleaning your space during this season of COVID-19. Allowing the cleaning staff to protect themselves with PPE allows them to be in a safer environment around the cleaning chemicals. Things like gloves, masks, or protective eyewear might be required in order to make sure your staff is being protected as well. Be sure to read the product labels on the chemicals you’ll be using for instruction on how to best protect the people who will be using it.
4. Promote Hand Hygiene Among Your Staff
The CDC has said that hand hygiene is among the most important steps in reducing COVID-19 from being spread. It’s important now as your business opens up that you use this opportunity to promote hand hygiene among your staff even more than usual. Use signage to help promote and remind staff to be washing their hands several times during a shift and allow them access and time to do so thoroughly.
We’ve put together what you need to know about handwashing in general and how it can help to stop the spread of COVID-19. Remember to wash your hands for a minimum of 20 seconds and keep hands wet for at least 15 seconds when using hand sanitizer.
5. Avoid Touching your Eyes, Nose, Ears, and Mouth with Unwashed Hands
Perhaps the most important tip of them all is to avoid touching your eyes, nose, ears, or mouth with unwashed hands during this time. As hard as it is, touching your face often can add to the danger of you or your staff getting infected.
We’re here to help you transition into reopening during COVID-19!
View our WCP COVID Product Guide for the week of May 25
For customers interested in chatting with someone at WCP about which disinfectant and PPE options might be the best choice for your business, reach out to your local WCP account manager or customer service team. We’re happy to offer suggestions for the right application for your needs. Give us a call today (877) 398-3030.
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