With the pandemic ongoing across the country, businesses, schools, and other non-essential buildings are cautiously opening back up in areas where restrictions allow it. One of the priorities for premises managers, business owners and others is to ensure that the built environment people are returning to is as safe as possible. Whilst you can’t eliminate the risk of infection entirely, you can take several steps to reduce its likelihood. Here we look at how deep cleaning, regular cleaning, and a range of other measures can help make your workplace, school, or other premises as safe as possible.
Two-stage cleaning process
As far as scientists know, Covid-19 can be passed via air-borne droplets, aerosol transmission or through indirect contact (such as through transfer on a surface). The most effective type of cleaning to prevent surface transmission involves a two-stage process – in the first instance, surfaces are thoroughly cleaned to remove as much organic (including viral) waste as possible. Stage two of the cleaning process involves the application of a suitable disinfectant to kill any remaining contaminants. If you’re looking to achieve deep cleaning, both parts of the process need to be carried out.
Frequent cleaning
The more frequently a surface is cleaned, the less time there is for biological contaminants to build up. We recommend regularly cleaning door handles, light switches, tap handles and surfaces. For optimal results, use the two-step (mechanical cleaning followed by disinfection) process.
Frequent handwashing
Everyone in the interior environment should be encouraged to practice good infection control practices. Regular handwashing with soap and water (or alcohol wipes/ hand sanitiser if hand washing facilities aren’t readily available or practical) is one of the most helpful ways to reduce the level of surface contaminants.
Use an appropriate disinfectant
We recommend using an antiviral disinfectant. Manufacturers will state on their products whether their disinfectant is antiviral. If in doubt, use chlorine bleach. It’s a well-known, easily accessed antiviral that will kill Covid-19 particles.
Thorough cleaning is essential
To keep the build-up of viral matter as low as possible, it’s vital to deep clean the interior space. This involves using a two-stage cleaning process on every part of a room periodically. In a clinical setting, this may be when a patient is moved or discharged. In an industrial or retail location, this may be when the premises are closed to the public or shut down for standard cleaning.
Deep cleaning involves cleaning every centimetre of the interior, including blinds, furniture, fittings, skirting boards, floors, surfaces, doors and anything else in the room that could be contaminated. By cleaning more thoroughly than usual, it’s possible to ensure that contaminant levels come nowhere near those needed to infect someone successfully.
Need our help?
If you’re concerned about hygiene on your premises and could use some expert outside assistance, the team at Boab Services are here to help. With more than twenty years of experience in cleaning properties across NSW, we’re proud to help our clients through this challenging time with high-grade cleaning that helps keep workplaces, schools, clinics and more as clean and infection-free as possible.
Contact us today to find out more.
