Being a business owner or a manager of commercial property means that you are responsible for the design and layout of any officers. The demands for these properties are different to that of residential buildings – from the floor space to the air conditioning and the same can be said for any home comforts that you wish to include. Many offices now have full kitchens were staff can make cups of tea and coffee throughout the day, prepare food for their lunches and enjoy spending their break time. It is these amenities that can help your office staff feel more welcomed into their office space and supported. When designing or renovating your office, it is important to think about the type of material that you are using for your countertops, as some can be easier to clean and upkeep than others. Let’s take a closer look at our list of the best to worst office countertops.
The Difference in Cleaning Product Terms
Cleaning products have always been important to our everyday lives, but our focus on them has increased in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Studies have shown that the main ways to protect yourself from coronavirus, as well as other viruses, is to wash your hands or use sanitizer if there are no handwashing services available and to ensure that all surfaces are cleaned and disinfected. But when shopping for cleaning products, it can become overwhelming, with many on the market claiming to clean your home, while others claim to sanitize or disinfect it. While you may think that these products are the same and can all be used in the same way, they actually have unique properties and should be used for different types of cleaning. To help you out, take a look at our guide to cleaning products from the experts that know.
What is the Difference Between Cleaning, Disinfecting, and Sanitizing?
There are different definitions that cleaning products can use. Below are the definitions, as described by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, who are experts within the field. They describe cleaning as the process that removes dirt and impurities from a surface, but rather than killing them entirely, it just moves them. Sanitizing can kill germs and remove them, which therefore reduces the prevalence of them from any surface. It does not remove or destroy all germs but reduces them to a level that is deemed safe by experts. Disinfectants kill germs on surfaces.
To understand the difference, think of these three types of products on a spectrum. Cleaning is at one end with lower levels of effectiveness, compared to disinfectant at the other end of the scale that has the strongest properties. Disinfectant is seen to be the most effective as it kills the vast majority of germs, viruses, and bacteria, and that is why it is recommended by cleaning and sanitation experts.
While sanitizing is good when you do not have disinfectants or cannot wash your hands properly, it is important to note that it will not kill everything, and there is still a risk there, although it is smaller. The Environmental Protection Agency studied the effectiveness of both sanitizer and disinfectant and decided that to be classed as a sanitizer, a product must kill 99.9% of germs on hard surfaces. To be classed as the more effective disinfectant, this number increases to 99.999% – making it the highest level of protection available.
Most household and commercial cleaning products will be labeled as either disinfectants or sanitizers, but it is important to note that this is only when they are kept at their original concentrations according to guidelines. Bleach, for example, is a disinfectant but, if it is diluted enough, its effectiveness will drop, and it will become a sanitizer and less effective overall.
So, When Should You Sanitize and When Should You Disinfect?
With different products, all having different claims, it can be difficult to tell which product to use when. It is, however, important to use the correct products to make sure that a home or business is clean and sanitary. Take a look at our definitive guide below to help you out:
–Groceries – Disinfecting or sanitizing is not necessary for food, and in fact, can be dangerous due to the chemicals that many cleaning products contain. Instead, simply clean them with water to remove any dirt on the surface before cooking.
–High-Contact Areas – On surfaces that are high-touch points that many people are likely to come into contact with, it is important that you disinfect these so that any germs or viruses are not passed from person to person. This can include door handles, toilets, and sinks.
-Kitchen Counters and Dining Tables – These larger flat surfaces are often the place where we prepare or eat our food, and therefore, it is best to avoid using strong disinfectants so that these do not contaminate your food. Even when wiped away, disinfectants can leave chemical residue that can harm, so it is recommended that you sanitize instead.
–Cleaning your hands – Disinfectants can cause skin irritation, so although disinfectant wipes seem like an easy option, avoid these. Instead, consider using plain old soap and water or hand sanitizer with a high alcohol content. If washing your hands, use plenty of soap and wash for at least 20 seconds. Hand sanitizer kills pathogens on the skin, reducing the number of germs. Your hand sanitizer should contain at least 60% alcohol to be effective, but an even higher percentage is better.
It is important to note, however, that when choosing to disinfect or sanitize surfaces, they need to be cleaned of spills, crumbs, and debris first in order for the products to be properly effective. Therefore, your cleaning routine should be a two-step process where you first clean and then use a product to reduce germs on the surface.
The Take Away
Finding the right cleaning products for your home can be confusing, but we hope our guide can help you with this. If in doubt, leave it to the professionals and contact a commercial cleaning service today for all your cleaning needs. Professional cleaning services will have a knowledge of the products on the market and will know how to use them for the maximum level of protection against germs and bacteria. Keeping your home clean has never been more important, so seek help and advice today.
Christmas Office Party Clean Ups
It’s that time of year again when we can begin to let our hair down and enjoy the festive season. Christmas parties in the workplace are often a way of employers thanking their employees for the hard work throughout the year and are a place for employees to celebrate Christmas together. However, if throwing a Christmas party in your office space, it can turn into a nightmare – with food and drink spillages and clutter due to some lively Christmas dancing! Therefore, it is important to understand how to clean before and after it to ensure that the space is left clean and sanitary, ready for you to return to work after your time off.
Preparation – Before The Party
Before the Christmas Office Party begins, it is important to effectively prepare, as this can help limit the mess that you are left within the aftermath. Firstly, ensure that you put our extra waste bins that party-goers can put their empty bottles or cups into. Ideally, locating these rubbish bins close to where food and refreshments are, and dotted around the room near where people will be socializing. This will reduce the amount that will have to be cleaned up from the surfaces the next day.
Secondly, think about ways that you can cover the surfaces of your office, where there is likely to be food and spillages, as this will also make the clean up easier. The best material to cover the surfaces with are ones that can either be cleaned or disposed of after use. Cover all surfaces that you can, including tables and desk space as this will protect the office furniture underneath. After the party, you can simply wipe the table cover clean or fold it and bin it – it couldn’t be easier. What is even better is that many disposable tablecloths come with Christmas designs that will help decorate your office for the party.
Finally, as well as protecting your surfaces, you may also want to consider your flooring. Adding rugs or disposable mats on the floor around food and drinks tables, as well as high traffic areas will ensure that the floor underneath is protected from spillages. This is particularly important if your office has carpets rather than flooring that can be wiped clean. Once the party is over, these can simply be removed and cleaned if necessary.
During the Party
While it is important to enjoy your office Christmas party, if you are responsible for cleaning after it, you could spend some time binning any rubbish as it collects. This will not take much time, but you will thank yourself for it later. Any large spills should also be cleaned up quickly so that they do not stain.
The Clean Up – After The Party
Once the party is over, it is time to begin the final clean up – ensuring that your office returns back to normal. At this stage, without all the people there, the mess may seem overwhelming but if you take it step by step, it can be tidied. Before you start using any cleaning products, it is important to get rid of all rubbish on surfaces, dispose of it, or wash plates and crockery. Carry a bin bag with you as you move around the space in a logical way to ensure you clear all the waste. After this step has been completed, the space will already look much tidier and will be ready to clean.
After the office space has been tidied, the next stage of cleaning an office space is to focus on any spillages, whether this is some dropped food or a knocked over glass. Soak up any excess liquid before treating the stain itself with specialist cleaning products for the best results. Tough stains may require more than one application of cleaning products to remove them entirely. It is vital to ensure that stains are properly removed so that there is no lingering smell, which is especially important when dealing with food stains as mold can develop.
After all the stains have been removed, it is important to wipe down all the surfaces, including desks, tables, and chairs. This is especially important during the pandemic to ensure that everything is clean and sanitized. Ensure that all high contact points are wiped as this is where germs are most likely to be transmitted. Even if all stains have been removed and surfaces do not look dirty, it is important to use disinfectant products to sanitize the area. If you prepared before the party and used table clothes, after disposing of these, it is still recommended that you give all surfaces a quick wipe over.
All surfaces include the flooring too, which will need to be vacuumed or mopped, removing any dirt or sticky residue.
Consider Hiring a Commercial Cleaning Service
If all this cleaning seems a little too much for one person or your usual office cleaning team to handle, consider hiring a professional cleaning service for a one-off deep office clean the day after your office Christmas party. This takes the stress and hassle out of your hands and ensures that the office environment is cleaned to a high standard, ready for the return of workers in the New Year. One-off cleaning jobs can work within a budget and may end up saving you money as you will not need to buy any cleaning products. Professional cleaning companies will already have the equipment and heavy-duty cleaning supplies available and the knowledge to know how to get rid of any stubborn spills or stains. If you are considering using a commercial cleaner, contact us today for information and
advice.
5 New Tech Gadgets To Keep Your Workplace Clean
Offices and workspaces can be a breeding ground for bacteria and germs. If one person gets sick, many people get sick, which makes hygiene vitally important. Over the past year, the world has changed dramatically due to the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, and due to this, cleanliness has never been more significant. Keeping your office workspace clean is a great start, as this is the place where you spend the most time and touch the most surfaces.
Cleaning technology has developed rapidly over the last few years and has come a long way from simple cleaning solutions and microfiber cloths. There are many new tech gadgets that can be used to keep your workspace clean, so let’s take a look at five of the best tech gadgets and how they work.
Philips Air Purifier
As a workspace has so many people coming and going, air filtration may be necessary in order to remove bacteria and viruses from the air. Usually, smaller desk-sized air filtration units are too small and lack the power necessary to properly filter the air within a room, meaning that the air could still be contaminated. A larger air purifier is therefore recommended. The size should be dependent on a number of different factors such as how many people share the space, the shape of the room and its relative temperature and humidity level.
Investing in an air purifier not only keeps the office clean by removing impurities from the air, but it will also positively impact your health as you are less likely to become sick, and your office will contain less dust in the air which can negatively impact your lungs. Studies have shown that air purifiers can help filter out around 99% of the particles from the air, leaving it cleaner and clearer. The Philips Air Purifiers are highly recommended in their field. The Philips Series 2000i Connected Air Purifier, for example, works with Alexa, making it really high-tech, and it comes in a variety of size options depending on the size of your office space. The machine scans the air up to 1000 times per second to help detect any contaminants in the air and measures the air quality index. It makes almost zero noise and is energy efficient, saving you money on electricity bills compared to other brands.
Meco Keyboard Cleaner
There is nothing worse than dropping crumbs over your keyboard, which limits your ability to type and can make a terrible crunching sound. The Meco Keyboard Cleaner is a great way to clean your keyboard, ensuring that no dust or debris is trapped inside it. Traditionally, most keyboard cleaners simply try and blow any crumbs or dirt away, meaning that they end up somewhere else on your desk. On the other hand, the Meco cleaning has a mini vacuum that absorbs all of the dirt, removing it from your workspace. Therefore, it can be used for so much more than just cleaning your keyboard and can be used on all parts of your desk. It contains a washable and reusable sponge filter, meaning that you don’t need to keep replacing it, saving you money in the long run. Additionally, it comes with a rechargeable battery that lasts up to four hours plenty of time to ensure that your workspace is clean and sanitary.
Targus’ UVC LED Disinfectant Light
Now, more than ever, it is important to disinfect all the surfaces that we are working on regularly. In the wake of the pandemic, there has been an increased focus on this, and Targus’ UVC LED Disinfectant light is the perfect solution. Released next March, the high-tech light has been proven to reduce pathogens with its UV-C light. This light is powerful enough to disinfect surfaces, air and water. UV-C light is so effective that it has been used for decades and has been found to reduce the risk of spreading infections. All viruses and bacteria have been testing with UV-C light and respond to it, this includes coronavirus. The sleek and fashionable light is described as having ‘state of the art UV-C LED technology and works automatically for a no-touch solution to bacteria and viruses. When the light is activated, the UV technology breaks down the DNA of the bacteria within the disinfection area, destroying it from the inside out. Targus has invented this product with safety in mind, including by adding an automatic shut off feature to the light. This means that if the technology detects any movement within the cleaning area, it will shut off the UV light. The light will be shut off for around five minutes before it attempts to restart to begin disinfecting the area once again. This is the perfect gadget to leave on a workspace to ensure it is properly cleaning, and will not harbour bacteria or viruses that are likely to cause you to feel ill.
The Lexon Oblio
One other excellent piece of technology that utilizes the disinfectant properties of UV light is the Lexon Oblio. Not only will this gadget clean your workspace, but it will also charge your phone while looking like fashionable desk décor all at the same time. The wireless charging station has a built-in UV sanitizer that will disinfect your phone as it boosts its battery. The product is fast charging, meaning that the battery will go from 0 to 100% in as little as 3 hours. It claims to eliminate 99.9% of germs on your phone within as little as 20 minutes and has laboratory tests to back up its claims. To ensure that your phone is fully sanitized, turn it over halfway through the charging cycle for best results.
Eufy HomeVac H11 Pure
Developed by popular electronics brand Anker, the Eufy HomeVac H11 Pure is perfect for cleaning around your workspace. The product is small in size – around the same length as a wine bottle, but small things come in good packages. This small but mighty robot vacuum has a powerful suction that can clean up all manner of messes and spillages, keeping underneath your desk tidy and organized. It also comes with an attachable extension nozzle, allowing you to reach tight corners or behind electronic equipment. The filter within the Home Vac can be washed easily in a sink, meaning that it can be kept at the office with no need to take it home.
Offices are a bustling working environment where staff often work around 40 hours per week. Therefore, it is important to keep the place clean and tidy- ensuring that the environment is nice to be around and sanitary, particularly when we are still dealing with the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Many companies still rely on the office manager or office employees to keep the environment clean. However, this has its pitfalls. Hiring a professional cleaning company can make a positive impact on the whole office, making a difference in productivity levels and saving time and money… Let’s take a closer look!
While a hard-working office manager may try their best, they will not be comparable to the years of experience that a reputable cleaning company will have. Any staff that work for a cleaning company will have received training, understand the products that they are using and have built up more knowledge through cleaning on the job. This ensures that every part of your office is cleaned properly and efficiently.
Hiring a professional cleaning company frees up time for the office staff who would previously be expected to clean. This gives them more time to concentrate on their work and provides them with a clean environment to focus and be more productive in.
Ultimately, if someone is working in an office in a space that is messy or cluttered, then they are less likely to be productive and complete their best work. According to a survey conducted in London, for example, 9/10 office workers actively felt more productive in a clean and tidy environment.
If you are asking employees to take time to clean the office to an adequate standard, it is to be expected that it will take up a large chunk of their time, meaning that it will cost your business money as they are not working in their role. This time could be utilized more productively to generate a profit for your business instead of cleaning. While hiring a professional cleaning company will have an initial cost, it will save employees time and money in the long run.
Employees that are doing their best to clean offices may not have the appropriate training required to properly disinfect and clean the office environment. Over time, despite their best efforts, bacteria may build-up- which can impact the staff’s health. If staff are unwell, they may take days off, costing the company money in sick pay or temporary staff.
Professional cleaning services will use products that kill harmful germs and bacteria and will keep on top of cleaning to ensure that the environment is always sanitary and hygienic. This is especially important in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, which reminded us how quickly viruses and bacteria can spread.
By not asking office managers and office staff to undertake cleaning responsibilities and instead hiring it out to professional cleaners, staff feel more valued. This further shows staff that you want to invest time in making them feel more comfortable by improving their environment.
In addition to bringing in their skills and experience, a professional cleaning company can also bring industrial cleaning products and equipment that is better than the standard products that appear on supermarket shelves. This ensures that your office is cleaned to the highest of standards and any surface that is shared by multiple people is appropriately disinfected.
Many professional cleaning companies have now also switched to environmentally-friendly products which are not only effective but are kinder to the environment. This helps reduce businesses’ carbon footprint and commitment to the planet.
A working environment that frequently welcomes potential clients or customers should be finished and cleaned to a high standard in order to create a good first impression. Clients will look for companies that take pride in their surroundings, as this shows that they are likely to put the effort into their services. While office staff may be able to keep the office clean, a professional cleaning company will finish it to the highest of standards, impressing those who wish to invest in your business.
Offices often have long working hours and will have different requirements depending on the type of business that they are in. Fitting in time to clean around your work schedule can be difficult for employees. By hiring a cleaning company, they can listen to your needs and work around your schedule, arriving at a time that is most convenient for your company.
Professional cleaners can work with you to understand what the business’ particular needs are before creating a bespoke cleaning contract that suits your needs.
Hiring a professional cleaning company will ensure that your office is kept to a high cleaning standard. One way that this is guaranteed is that there will be a cleaning contract between your company and theirs. If the cleaning standards slip, a contract is in place to rectify the situation.
As part of their contract, many cleaners undertake regular training on products and health and safety issues.
Putting the burden of heavy office cleaning on staff members and office managers can be stressful. Staff will feel pressured, and this can have an impact on their mental health and their ability to work productively. Additionally, tension can build between employees if some are doing more cleaning than others or creating more mess than others which does not lead to a positive working environment.
Professional cleaning services take the stress of cleaning responsibilities away from staff, allowing them to focus on their job.
ARE GREEN CLEANING PRODUCTS AS EFFECTIVE?
While we are all looking after our offices, businesses, workplaces and homes to be clean and tidy, it is not simply how it looks that is important. Any surface that is frequently touched or shared, needs to be disinfected in order to stop the spread of harmful bacteria and viruses. This can include high traffic spots such as door handles and bathrooms, or kitchen and desk surfaces. There are two main types of cleaning products that can do this – traditional cleaning products and green cleaning products.
It has been widely documented that traditional cleaning products, while effective as disinfecting, can harm the environment, humans, and animals. Therefore, more and more cleaning companies and individuals are turning to green cleaning products. Not all green cleaning products are created equally, however. It is important to make sure that any green cleaners used are approved by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
Chemical cleaners usually use many different ingredients and come with a number of risks. The chemicals often used include nitrogen, ammonia, phosphorous and other volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These chemicals can be extremely hazardous to the environment and can cause skin irritation and other health issues. While these chemicals come with warnings, accidents do happen, and this can lead to some serious damage. There is, however, no denying that many of these products are extremely effective at disinfecting surfaces- leading to a cleaner workplace.
Eco-friendly products claim to be as effective in deep-cleaning spaces without leaving harmful chemical residue or emitting harmful odours into the atmosphere. Some green cleaners are even more sensitive when cleaning surfaces & furniture, and can therefore preserve the materials for longer. Eco-friendly products often come with a natural scent such as citrus, derived from natural ingredients, rather than artificial chemical scents. Not only is this more pleasant for workers or those who live in the home, but it is also known to be less harmful to those with issues such as asthma, and can make people feel calmer while boosting their productivity levels.
It is a common myth that green cleaning products are not as effective as traditional cleaners. When it comes to disinfectant properties, chemical disinfectants do work quicker, however, natural disinfectants will work just as well if given slightly more time.
Spending a few extra minutes cleaning surfaces with green products can mean reduced exposure to chemicals. In order to verify their effectiveness, green cleaners can look for the EcoLogo or Green Seal Certification, which guarantees the effectiveness of the cleaner, giving you peace of mind. If you are looking for a commercial cleaning company, ensure that they use green products that have one of these certifications.
It is, however, important to note that cleaning sprays and wipes, no matter if they are natural or chemical-based, will not be able to properly disinfect surfaces unless they are already clean. Therefore, make sure that the surfaces are cleaned with soap and water before disinfectants are used in order to kill around 99.999% of germs.
It is another common myth that, as well as supposedly not cleaning as well, green cleaning products do not kill as many germs and bacteria. This is due to the fact that traditionally, when thinking of disinfecting surfaces, most think of harmful, strong chemical cleaners such as bleach. There are, however, other, greener cleaners such as products that include acetic acid that can kill a range of bacteria such as E. Coli, gram-negative bacteria and salmonella. It is important to note that all green cleaning products are not effective when used as disinfectants, just like not all traditional cleaners can do the same job. Green cleaners need to use more efficient, sanitizing ingredients such as lactic or citric acids, which work to effectively sanitize surfaces.
Cleaning experts will be able to give you the rundown of the ingredients that they use for commercial cleaning and chose the best cleaning products with active ingredients to ensure that your business or home is left clean, disinfected, and sanitized.
Health Implications of Traditional vs Green Cleaning Products
Most traditional cleaning products are a mixture of harsh chemicals that can negatively impact the health of both humans and animals, as well as damaging the environment. These cleaners are especially bad for children’s health if they are exposed- as they are unaware of the dangers, and it can affect development. If the room being cleaned is not well-ventilated, harsh chemical cleaning products can impact health, leading to lung or skin issues.
Even smaller household cleaning sprays rather than commercial products can increase the risk of developing asthma, even when used as little as once per week. The harsh chemicals in them can also lead to chemical burns if they come into contact with the skin, or even blindness if they get in a person’s eyes. Skin conditions such as eczema and dermatitis also can be made worse when using everyday traditional cleaning products.
Natural cleaning products, however, have a more natural smell and are less harsh. When they come into contact with the skin, they will not cause chemical burns, and they will not release odors that damage the lungs or exacerbate asthma. Natural ingredients do not have chemicals that will leave a residue on surfaces that can harm animals or children and are as effective in reducing bacteria and viruses.
While green cleaning products take a little while longer to be effective, they will work as well as traditional chemical cleaners in killing bacteria and disinfecting surfaces. They also do not include harmful chemicals that can damage human skin, eyes and lungs, as well as impacting the smell of offices and workplaces. Professional cleaning services that use green cleaners can give you more information on the ingredients in their products and whether they are certified as being effective.
What is an Office Deep Clean?
Deep Office Cleaning has always been around, however, in the past year, you may have been hearing the phrase more and more. With the outbreak of the contagious covid-19 pandemic and the need for more deep-cleaning than ever before, it is important to understand the differences between an office deep clean and your regular cleaning that happens on a daily basis. Why is there a need for deep cleaning, what does it entail, and how often should it be done? Keep reading to find out all you need to know.
How Does an Office Deep Clean Differ from a Regular Office Clean?
To put it simply, deep cleaning is a far more thorough cleaning routine that takes longer to complete but leaves the office fully disinfected. A regular cleaning routine completed on a daily or weekly basis is used to keep the office space tidy and clutter-free. All the main surfaces that are high touch points are wiped down with disinfectant, however, it does not mean that the entire office space is sanitary and germ-free. Usually, a regular office cleaning just involves dusting, hoovering, light disinfecting and changing the bins to keep order within the workspace. However, a deep clean gets into all the hard to reach places to ensure that your office space is the cleanest that it can be. Deep cleans generally happen once or twice a year, unless required more often if an office worker becomes ill. Deep cleaning can take a few days to complete depending on the size of your office, as furniture will need to be moved and intricate cleaning tasks are undertaken. Therefore, it is best to achieve a deep office clean during a period when the office is closed – whether this is during a holiday or if the office is closed to due an event such as a coronavirus outbreak. This gives even the most expert of cleaners the time to leave no stone unturned and free reign to complete all deep cleaning tasks without disrupting or distracting office staff.
What Does an Office Deep Clean Involve?
As previously mentioned, a deep clean is a far more in-depth cleaning routine that includes more than your regular office clean. It looks at office kitchen appliances, under the sinks, pipework, dusting in every corner and the cleaning and shining of office windows, both inside and out. A full deep cleaning service for each office differs slightly on the layout and features of the rooms themselves, however, there are some standard detailed or demanding cleaning tasks that are completed on top of regular cleaning. These can include:
-Carpet cleaning or intensive vacuuming using a HEPA-filter vacuum.
-External and internal deep cleaning of appliances in your office kitchen such as microwaves and fridges.
-Cleaning harder to reach areas such as blinds, windowsills and drapes.
-Detailed and intricate cleaning of features such as light switches, lights and door handles.
-Deep, more intensive clean of toilet spaces and other surfaces in the restrooms.
With the development of the Covid-19 pandemic and the increased risk of transmitting harmful viruses and bacteria, it has never been more important to ensure that workplaces and public settings are kept clean and sanitary. This is even more vital in a healthcare setting where many will be receiving treatment that makes them even more vulnerable.
According to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, it is best practice to clean a healthcare setting before using disinfectant or sterilization products. This is to ensure that any foreign materials such as organic material and soil are removed. To complete the initial clean, use water with detergent to wipe down all surfaces. It is important to do this and remove the foreign material, as if this step was skipped, the material could interfere with the effectiveness of the disinfectant process. When cleaning surfaces manually, it is important to apply friction to the surface and use appropriate fluids to remove the debris. Surgical instruments or tools should also be cleaned before disinfecting by soaking or rinsing them to remove bodily fluids in a medical setting. With these tools, it is important to ensure that they are fully cleaned; therefore, instruments with hinges should be fully open.
Cleaning can also be undertaken with automatic or mechanical cleaners. One of the most common types of automatic cleaner is an ultrasonic cleaner, that can remove debris from tools by cavitation and implosion from the waves of acoustic energy through a solution to break down the bonds that connect the debris to the surface of the tools. It is important to note that some cleaning fluids often used with ultrasonic cleaners can result in endotoxin contamination, which can lead to inflammatory reactions in patients, so it is best to avoid this. Instead, consider using a neutral or near-neutral PH detergent solution as this is more compatible. Enzymes such as proteases can be added to these solutions, as these can help remove organic material by attacking the proteins in them.
After any cleaning or disinfectant solutions are used, the equipment or tools should be rinsed to reduce any residual chemicals or products on them.
One concerning statistic is that only 34% of surfaces near patients are cleaned in accordance with the standards and policies recommended by healthcare experts. This can lead to an increased risk of infection or transmission of bacteria and virus, leading to patient illness. In order to improve these, it is important to add a monitoring process into your cleaning routine as this can improve the levels of cleaning, doubling the effectiveness. In order to ensure that effective cleaning has taken place, a reprocessing verification test can be employed. Although the CDC does not routinely recommend this, it does ensure that the cleaning process is working.
After all surfaces and tools are appropriately cleaned, the disinfection process can then take place. Disinfection helps reduce the number of micro-organisms on a surface to reduce the risk of transmission to patients. It is recommended that hard surfaces should be disinfected with 1000ppm (0.1%) chlorine releasing agent/hypochlorite solution or chlorine dioxide solution. This solution should be diluted according to the manufacturer’s exact instructions to ensure that the solution will work to its maximum capacity.
Hypochlorite solutions can be corrosive, so they should be rinsed off stainless steel surfaces after the process, while chlorine solutions do not require this final step.
There are three main types of cleaning in a healthcare setting: routine, enhanced, and terminal. Routine cleaning should be completed at least once a day and cover all general surfaces and tools with a detergent and then a disinfectant solution.
On the other hand, enhanced cleaning should be utilized if there if an outbreak or increase in infection levels, for example, during the Covid-19 pandemic. The rate of cleaning should increase to at least twice per day, and it should include all surfaces usually disinfected in a general clean, plus high-touch points such as rails, the arms of chairs, door handles, and push plates.
Terminal cleaning is at the top of the scale; this is where a whole facility or department is cleaned due to an outbreak of infection in close proximity to the area, after the discharge or death of a patient with a known infection or isolation of a patient with a potential infection. At this stage, some facilities may wish to add in additional measures such as vaporized hydrogen peroxide or steam to decontaminate the air as well as surfaces. At this point, all cleaners should wear PPE equipment to protect themselves. This should be discarded after one use and disposed of as clinical waste. Any windows should be opened to aid ventilation, and disposable cloths and mop heads should be used so that they can also be disposed of as clinical waste.
Here at Innovative Cleaning Solutions, we provide top quality cleaning services for many different healthcare facilities. We work in collaboration with our clients, creating a Cleaning Maintenance Plan based on the individual facilities needs. We use our decade of combined experience to ensure that we follow international health standards and specialize in the ‘Cleaning for Health’ methodology. We ensure that our products are both environmentally friendly, non-toxic, and offer high levels of disinfectant. We use a three-step check after our cleaning to ensure that it meets the high standards necessary in a healthcare setting.
First, we use UVA inspection tools to locate any missed areas. Second, we utilize Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to help identify any bacteria left in the area and measure its level of harm. Third, we then resolve these issues, breaking down any bacteria or micro-organisms, ensuring a sanitized environment. If you are looking to keep your healthcare setting clean, safe, and sanitized, contact us today for a free, no obligation quote.
When patients go to a walk-in clinic the last thing they want to worry about is if the clinic is clean. You want to believe that the office is cleaned and sanitized without the worry of harmful micro-organism around you or your children. Because you go into a clinic in hopes to have a cure for your illness, not coming in and leaving with another one. What most clinics miss in their cleaning procedures
Cutting Corners: Most clinics have a set cleaning procedure, however over time it becomes inconsistent. In the case of walk-in clinics it’s always go go go (high paced). The employees have to quickly clean and prepare the room for the next patient, so over time that quick cleaning will turn into poor cleaning habits. Some clinics that are just starting off may not have a proper cleaning service. Many new clinics only know what they have been taught by others in the industry.
Ways staff may cut cornersHigh touch points: There are many things that we touch and we don’t think much about it. These include things like the doorknobs/handles, light switches, waiting room chairs, books or magazines in the waiting room, etc. Let’s take doorknobs and handles for example, if one person with contaminated hands touches the door handle, the bacteria will double its population every 20 minutes (Craddock). If the door handle is left contaminated the majority of the patients can have the virus on their hands which can lead to the spread of illnesses.
The patient that come into walk-in clinic does not have a booked appointment therefore staff cannot prepare for potential infectious spread of virus. If a clinic has a cleaning service they only clean before the clinic opens or after it has closed for the day. Therefore the clinics staff must be trained to maintain a clean environment during the day.
Cleanliness means more than just a clean work space. A clean workplace can promote infection control- decreasing the chance of disease spreading to staff and patients.
This can be achieved by having hand sanitizer dispensers and face-mask for both staff and patients at the entrance of the clinic and inside the exam rooms.
In today’s world of business it is understood that busy is the word to describe a typical day. Having said this we see that many daily tasks go unfinished or neglected in many clinics. We offer clinics the opportunity to not have to worry about the daily task that go unfinished or neglected as we provide a service that takes the worry of cleanliness away from them and into our hands.
We help getting your facilities ready to start fresh a new day
This information is to bring awareness of the importance of a clean health care facility for both staff and patients.
If you have any further questions about about how to maintain an exceptionally clean clinic? Get in touch with us at [email protected], We will be happy to help.
In today’s resourceful world, plenty of things are going to waste and or damaging the environment that is causing a serious global issues. We are going to show you how to have exceptionally clean office while still having a clean environmental footprint. This article will give you tips and fact about being sustainable in a workplace setting.
Why is it important to recycle properly ?
It is very important to dispose of recyclable properly; due to the fact if you improperly discard of objets it can have negative effects on the environment. This is because harmful chemicals and greenhouse gasses will be release into the air if they end up in a landfill. Recycling is also important because of the fact resources can be reused which in time can reduce the energy needed to create brand new objects, this helps persevere natural resources.(source by http://www.recycling-guide.org.uk/importance.html)
Water use
The most precious resource planet earth has without a doubt is water. Technology in the cleaning industry has evolved towards a more sustainable use of natural resources. The more water the cleaner is not an option in today’s world. Cleaning products as well as cleaning tools are being developed with one thing in mind, to minimize use of water while still being effective.
Bio-cleaning products are good for the environment
The BioPreferred program was signed into law in 2002, expanded in 2008, and expanded once again in 2012, this time by an executive order issued by President Obama. The goals of the program are to increase the purchase of bio-based products and their use in the manufacture of a wide variety of products from furniture to toiletries and cleaning supplies and to diminish the use of petroleum, used for making such items as cleaning chemicals.
Because these products are considered sustainable, many managers of privately owned and operated facilities are now also considering using bio-based cleaning products in place of conventional and green cleaning products.
Bio-based cleaners are derived from agricultural products such as corn, soybeans, and even coconuts. Although they are getting more attention today, the first patent for any bio-based product dates back to 1932. Many of these early products were designed for consumer use. But these products have gotten considerably more attention recently because of the growing influence of green cleaning in the professional cleaning industry and the BioPreferred program mentioned earlier.
Finally, we mentioned earlier that there is a subcategory of bio-cleaners known as bio-enzymatic cleaners. These are formulated with specific enzymes (a type of protein that breaks complex molecules into smaller pieces) and what are termed “good” bacteria that allow them to essentially digest soils. Bio-enzymatic cleaners have shown to be effective cleaning restrooms, locker rooms, and even carpets, and if they are green certified, they’re considered one of the safest cleaning products available.
DR 100- a phosphate free, ph neutral, concentrated cleaner and disinfectant this was made for any surface that is essential to clean and disinfect. Nu-kleen smell- is a concentrated biotechnological all surface restroom cleaner, it leaves a long lasting bacterial flora that will eliminate any foul scent.
Products listed above are manufactured in Canada and used by Innovative Cleaning Solutions. We train all our staff on how to properly use this products to provide the best cleaning service for your organization.