When it comes to protecting the health of your employees and customers, a regular cleaning and disinfecting routine is one of the best ways to do it. While many of us are familiar with typical house cleaning, the process of cleaning and disinfecting a large facility presents unique challenges. To help ensure you are using best practices, read on for a complete routine cleaning checklist for your facility.
Or, let the professionals handle the cleaning for you. At 360clean, our specialized approach to commercial cleaning delivers results that you can always count on. To learn more, contact us today for a free quote.
Make a Plan
The first step of any successful cleaning strategy is to know what needs to be cleaned so you can plan effectively. Once you have determined what you are going to clean, it is time to start planning how you are going to clean it.
What Are You Cleaning?
What type of surface are you cleaning? Is it porous or smooth? How many people walk through this area in a day? For example, if a surface is located in a high-traffic area, you will want to prioritize cleaning it first.
How Often Are You Cleaning?
Once you have determined what needs to be cleaned, it’s time to figure out how often you need to clean that specific area.
If the area is high-traffic, meaning there are many different people in that space throughout the day, you will likely need to clean it more than once per day. You may also need to clean more often if the area is frequented by people who are at high risk, do not wear masks, or are suspected of being sick.
How Often Should You Disinfect?
According to the CDC, regular cleaning should be sufficient for most areas. However, you will want to disinfect in addition to cleaning if the following factors are in play:
- Someone in the facility is suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19
- The area is high-traffic, making it difficult to track how many people occupied it
- The area is frequented by people who do not wear masks
- You have high-risk employees or customers in the area
If you do need to disinfect after cleaning, consult List N created by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for approved disinfectants.
What Equipment Do You Need?
Depending on what you are cleaning, you may need specialized equipment. At the very least, you should ensure that you have an adequate amount of personal protective equipment (PPE) on hand.
PPE includes masks, gloves, and other items specific to the type of chemical being used. Consult the label on each bottle before using it, and make sure you follow all of the instructions.
Carry It Out
Once you have determined what you need to clean and how you are going to clean it, you’re ready to start cleaning.
First, clean all high-touch surfaces at least once per day. This should be enough to remove most viruses from those surfaces. Again, if you have determined certain areas need a little extra care, make sure to disinfect them after cleaning.
Examples of high-touch surfaces include:
- Counters
- Toilets
- Faucets
- Doorknobs
- Light switches
- Handles
- Railings
- Desks
- Elevator buttons and interior controls
- Phones
- Keyboards
Depending on the space being cleaned, there may be additional high-touch items that require attention.
Protect Yourself
If you are going to be using chemical disinfectants, it is imperative that your staff be trained on appropriate usage. Improper use could result in severe illness. Make sure you are wearing gloves and a mask throughout the process and that the room where you are spraying chemicals has proper ventilation.
When you are through cleaning, wash your hands with soap and water. This will remove any excess chemicals, so you don’t accidentally spread them to your face or food. The CDC recommends washing your hands as soon as you remove your gloves to avoid spreading chemicals to unintended areas.
Additional recommendations include washing your hands with soap and water, whether your hands are visibly dirty or not. An alcohol-based hand sanitizer can also be used if soap and water are not available. If you do not have access to soap and water, use sanitizer, then wash with soap and water as soon as possible.
360clean Is Here to Help
Cleaning and disinfecting a facility can be an overwhelming task to take on alone. Rather than doing all the heavy lifting on your own, consider getting help from a professional commercial cleaning company near you. At 360clean, our specialized approach to commercial cleaning promises results that you can count on every time. To learn more, contact us today for a free quote!