You can never be too clean right?  Well, that depends on how you’re cleaning.  When thinking of disinfecting, we think we should do it as frequently as possible and with a strong, high pH disinfectant like bleach.  This may be appropriate for non-porous surfaces like ceramic or metal, but it should definitely not be used on finished floors.  

This goes for medical clinics as well, most of which use vinyl or laminate floors.  Why?  Because abrasive cleaners and ammonia or chlorine based cleaners strip the finish off flooring.  Floor finish has a neutral pH of ~7.5, which requires a pH neutral disinfectant to effectively clean.  Once this finish is stripped, it can’t be buffed away.  Not only do caustic and abrasive chemicals reduce the glossy finish of flooring, they also increase porosity: forming crevices that increase the harboring and growth of pathogens.  In short, cleaning too frequently with too strong of chemicals actually has the opposite effect of what’s desired.  

Furthermore, steam mopping and excessive wet mopping can have a similar effect.  Steam and excess water can seep into spaces between laminate flooring, causing it to buckle.  On hardwood, too much water will cause expansion which can lead to cracking at the seams, hence creating new homes for pathogens and making your flooring look bad.  Oil-based soap is not recommended for any type of finished floor either.  Although it makes them look shiny, it has a sticky finish that traps dirt and germs.

So we know we can’t use oil-based detergent, too much water, ​ammonia or chlorine-based cleaners, so what CAN we use?  Well, frequent sweeping, dust mopping, and vacuuming is the first step to disinfecting.  The second step is applying a proper dilution of a pH neutral floor cleaner (find one here on the EPA registry).  Some might tell you to dilute vinegar to clean finished floors, but this is not recommended for hardwood.  The best choice is to find a professional-grade, floor-specific cleaner.  The even better choice is to leave your commercial disinfecting to the professionals.  

To our great relief, businesses are starting to reopen after the Coronavirus quarantine.  Our cabin fever and anxiety of the unknown have finally subsided, but we might still feel hesitant to return to work.  We’ve adjusted to working remotely and the commute is not something we have missed.  But commutes are not the only thing to worry about in this post-Covid world.  Things may seem like they are returning to “normal,” but it is best to proceed into the workplace gingerly.  As many office workers know, infectious illnesses spread like wild fire.

Contributing Factors to Germ Spread
The most obvious factor is many people in close quarters breathing each other’s air and touching the same surfaces.  If your company is able to maintain remote work partially, this is a good idea to limit the amount of people in the office.  Think about staggering the use of cubicles.  It may also help to add or extend existing partitions to keep the spread of droplets more isolated.  But air quality and surface material also play a significant role.  For example, air temperature can determine how long those germs are living.  Generally speaking, cold air kills infectious germs whereas warm air incubates them.  This considered it might be advantageous to keep the office on the cooler side, even during the winter (a.k.a. cold and flu season).  Improve ventilation by opening windows during the pleasant months if you are able to do so.  It is suggested to use a commercial-grade self-contained air purification system in lieu of HEPA filters in the HVAC system.  Surface material is another determining factor in how long germs live.  It is not widely known that plastic surfaces harbor germs for significantly longer than metal ones.  It may be a good idea to update your office equipment with metal surfaces in any place this can be done.  For spaces that are almost always exclusively plastic (such as the keyboard and mouse), it is a good practice to disinfect at the beginning and end of the shift. 

Stopping individual spread
Hand hygiene is probably the best and easiest way to prevent the spread of pathogens.  Providing hand sanitizing stations around entrances and other high traffic areas encourages hand hygiene.  We know that germs linger on desks and keyboards, but fridges, fax machines, mugs and door handles are also havens for pathogens.  Stock disinfectant wipes at all desks and common areas to promote use by employees.  Post hand washing how-to’s anywhere there is a sink.  This may seem silly and patronizing, but there is a wrong and right way to wash your hands.  Provide PPE for your staff, including face masks and gloves.  According to the CDC, it is a good practice to swap out PPE every 30 minutes.  Encourage healthy lifestyle among employees, including eating healthy, exercising, reducing stress, getting enough sleep, and yes, even staying home from work when they are sick.  Don't penalize them and offer them sick pay if it is something your company provides.  

Increase Quantity and Quality of cleaning

• Clean and disinfect all surfaces and handles in common areas daily using a disinfecting chemical.   We use ReJuvNal, a pH neutral, ammonium chloride-based cleaner that disinfects and deodorizes.  If your office kitchen has a dishwasher, run any reusable mugs, flat wear and cutlery through it daily. 
• Take out the trash daily and wash out waste baskets.   Garbage cans are an ideal place for pathogens to hang out.  Spray down the outside and inside of them after disposing of the contents.  Make sure to use gloves if available and wash hands thoroughly afterward. 
• Dust the more neglected areas like window ledges and vents.  Dust particles may still carry diseases. 
• Increase the frequency of vacuuming and use a vacuum with a HEPA filter.  This will help promote clean air around the facility. 

 
Takeaway
The post covid-19 era is a strange and daunting time for all of us.  Just remember we can all do our part by avoiding direct contact with others, wearing PPE, practicing good hand hygiene, and most importantly, cleaning and disinfecting our facilities frequently and thoroughly.  Just make sure you use the right chemicals.  

Good afternoon and welcome to Country Club Janitorial​'s blog page.  Here we will talk about a wide range of topics about our business and the commercial cleaning industry; be it disinfection, sanitation, floor care, products, technology or anything between.  We will be posting weekly, so drop us a line in the comments.  We want no question to go unanswered.  you can subscribe to our blog feed and follow us on Facebook.  Enjoy our articles, we look forward to your feedback!