Most people do not necessarily know what the right products and the best techniques are to achieve optimum disinfection. It is also a common mistake to confuse disinfecting with cleaning when they are two completely different concepts.
Meanwhile, if there is something essential the COVID-19 pandemic taught us; it is the relevance and importance of cleaning, disinfecting, and other tidying up methods to get rid of microorganisms harmful to our health, to ensure that the various surfaces and common areas in homes and workplaces are fit for usage.
Let's quickly look at the difference between disinfection and cleaning, then dive into our subject matter with the best home or workplace disinfection practices.
What Is Disinfecting?
Disinfecting is using a disinfectant product on surfaces or spaces to kill the disease-producing microorganisms, such as germs and bacteria, present there.
Cleaning, on the other hand, is simply removing dust and dirt from surfaces using different methods like sweeping, dusting, mopping, or wiping using a damp clean cloth and some type of detergent. By doing this you do not kill germs and bacteria, you only reduce their presence. According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the US), damp methods of cleaning are preferred because they are less likely to leave virus droplets in the air.
Our new reality is that many more people are responsible for cleaning and disinfecting surfaces today, which means an increased need for education. The cleaning and disinfection world has its own lexicon and there are many nuances.
The difference between cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting is one example:
- Cleaning removes dust, debris, and dirt from a surface by scrubbing, washing, and rinsing; it is a necessary first step for all surfaces.
- Sanitizing reduces the bacteria (but not viruses) identified on the product’s label on surfaces and in laundry
- Disinfecting, when properly performed, destroys or inactivates bacteria and viruses identified on the product’s label (like E-coli or influenza virus) on hard, nonporous surfaces.
Given that we can identify the different tidying processes and know their various roles, let us dive into getting more information for a good tidy-up routine.
How to properly disinfect your home or workplace
Homes are the places where we spend most of our time, especially over the past year. Therefore, maintaining high-touch surfaces free of germs and bacteria is key to controlling the spread of viruses and keeping the family healthy.
The same holds true for a workplace, the space that is shared with employees, coworkers, and clients. Guaranteeing that every person that visits the workplace remains safe and does not endanger themselves, or their families, once they return home, is a prior responsibility.
Hence, to confirm that disinfection is properly done, then these steps should be followed:
- Wearing disposable gloves to disinfect and discard them afterward or, wear reusable gloves that are dedicated exclusively for disinfecting.
- Make arrangements for good ventilation before starting the disinfection process.
- Cleaning d all visibly dirty surfaces using soap and water.
- Use a reliable disinfectant from the ones listed on the Environmental Protection Agency, well-known ones or recommended such as "Eau-de-javel"
- Follow the directives on the product’s label, including the recommendation of keeping surfaces wet with the disinfectant for a specific amount of time to get the best results.
Following these simple guidelines is the most effective way to know if you are disinfecting your home and workplace properly. Added to this, it is important to know what and where to disinfect, and with what frequency. There is no one-sized fit-all answer to this because high-touch surfaces are not the same everywhere.
For instance, at home, you should disinfect surfaces like doorknobs, light switches, countertops, tables, remote controls, toilets, faucets, laundry hampers, electronics, and all cabinet handles.
At your workplace, you should focus on access buttons, phones, keyboards, desks, customer service counters, cash registers, and handrails, ensuring they are properly disinfected.
What to use so as to ensure proper disinfection:
Today there are several alternatives for disinfecting surfaces properly and safely that go beyond traditional spraying and wiping.
Such is the case of disinfectant fogging machines, an innovative type of device that stands out from the rest for being able to turn disinfectant solutions into a fine mist, or “fog”, that penetrates hard-to-reach areas, accessing every nook and cranny.
It should be mentioned that the particles spread by foggers remain suspended in the air for a while, killing airborne viruses, bacteria, and even odors. This means that disinfectant fogging machines offer full coverage disinfection in the least amount of time and with less product than other methods, making it an efficient and cost-effective solution for disinfecting workplaces and public spaces, as well as homes.
In terms of devices, we have and provide you with disinfected sprayers, fumigators and atomizers. As for disinfectant solutions, there are fog or spray disinfectants with electrolyzed water technology (HOCI) that are much more effective than bleach and completely safe for residential and professional use. Or, completely filling an area with gaseous pesticides – or fumigants – to smother or poison the pests inside.
So fear not dear reader, because now you know that disinfecting properly doesn't have to be a daunting task. Proper sanitizing involves choosing the right products available on the market and applying the best techniques to keep your home or workplace safe and healthy for you and your loved ones.
If you have any other questions about how we may be able to help you, do not hesitate to contact us for our cleaning services, be it in your home or your office place.