Contributions in your favor for all the health of occupants in a building includes all types of cleaning methods. As the nation and world continue to battle the COVID-19 pandemic, and other such illnesses, the commercial cleaning industry is battling misconceptions about disinfection and how it works to keep germs at bay. When it comes to cleaning terms and what different cleaning methods are used for, there is a lot of confusion unfortunately. Today, we at Clean Pro NY would like to take the opportunity to clear up the misconceptions commonly associated with misconceptions.
Sanitizing & Disinfecting are Not the Same
Sanitizing a surface makes it “sanitary,” or free from contaminates since your health can be negatively affected from dirt and contaminates. This term is used frequently in the restaurant business to describe surfaces that are safe for food contact. Viruses or fungi are not killed by sanitizing. In order to kill pathogens, like coronavirus, norovirus and influenza, as well as combating the common cold and flu, disinfection is recommended for high-touch areas.
Difference Between Cleaning & Disinfection
Cleaning usually involves soap and water and is done to remove dirt and debris typically. Through disinfecting, you reduce presence of microorganisms including viruses, bacteria, and fungi. Cleaning is necessary to prepare surfaces so disinfectants can do their job, otherwise, disinfectants are not as effective when used without cleaning. Keep in mind, cleaning alone does not kill germs. Cleaning is ideally used alone on low-risk surfaces such as floors and windows.
Disinfectant Contact Time
All disinfectants are labeled with various “dwell times” since the length of time that the chemical must remain wet on a surface to kill germs. Time ranges from seconds to minutes. Depending on how dry the air is, sometimes the disinfectant will evaporate before the recommended dwell time and if that happens, it must be reapplied to ensure it does the job it is intended to do. You should never wipe off or dry a surface that has been treated with disinfectant as well, as it is preferable to let it air dry.
Does Disinfecting High-Touch Areas Protects You from Germs?
The disinfectants can kill the germs living on high-touch surfaces are the germs. All of the bacteria, viruses, and fungi that a particular disinfectant kills are usually listed on the label as a matter in fact. Make certain to check out the fine print on the disinfectant wipes in your closet. Keep in mind that disinfecting does not last forever. No matter how strong your disinfectant is, the surface is no longer germ-free when one person walks by and touches the area that was just disinfected. Even when it is done regularly, disinfection is only part of the solution to keeping your office healthy.
Commercial & Janitorial Cleaning & More in Staten Island, Manhattan and Brooklyn, New York | Greater Marlboro, Manalapan, Old Bridge and Morganville, New Jersey
Routine professional janitorial and commercial cleaning services can help you maintain a workplace that is clean, sanitized, and disinfected. Call the expertise of Clean Pro NY and let our qualified cleaning technicians provide high-quality commercial cleaning and janitorial services on a routine basis.
