COVID-19 cleaning services are now fully integrated into all facility maintenance schedules.

Keeping your workplace and facility safe for employees is of the utmost importance. Make sure your cleaning provider is adhering to approved cleaning and disinfecting protocols. Read on to find out what the best practices are and what to consider when looking to hire a COVID-19 cleaning service.

Many find it challenging to differentiate between a well-rounded company and one that hides under the umbrella of ‘maintenance company.’ Keep reading so you can find out more about how to hire the best facility maintenance company for your goals and needs.

The ups and downs of COVID-19 are still upon us, even as some normalcy returns to workplaces. Since we are continuing to deal with waves and variants, this presents a heightened case for comprehensive COVID-19 cleaning services. It’s safe to say the expectation and demand for properly sanitized public areas and workspaces is not changing any time soon. We all want to feel safe, and we realize that cleanliness and sanitization correlates with less infections.

The industrial cleaning industry continues to deal with a massive demand for fully integrated COVID-19 cleaning services and protocols. When it comes to choosing COVID-19 cleaning services for your workplace or facility, learn about the proper standards that providers should be following.

Not all industrial cleaning services are created equal

As experts in their field, industrial cleaning and facility maintenance companies are continuing to set standards for the industry and throughout the pandemic. But not all companies provide the same services, so it’s important to know your needs and whether the provider you choose can meet your goals. One thing we know for sure is that your customers and employees will continue to increase their demand for clean workspaces, so it’s best to take your time and choose a provider that checks all your boxes.

Basic Level Cleaning – Why It’s Not Enough

Routine cleaning and disinfection services have been re-vamped during the pandemic to meet the demands of COVID-19 and prevent infections. We are still learning about the virus and how it can survive on surfaces, even after a thorough cleaning.

Basic cleaning that removes dirt and debris is still important to reduce the risk of infection from surface contact – but is it enough? The short answer is no, because without the next step – disinfection – the virus can still survive for some time on surfaces. COVID-19 cleaning services must go beyond these basics and be far more proactive. Going through the motions just won’t cut it anymore. This will become even more pressing during flu season, when there may be an increase in germs or a rise in COVID-19 variants.

Being proactive means thinking critically about where a problem may arise and what the response should be. If COVID-19 has taught us anything, it’s that responding to something after the fact is often an uphill battle. A little preparedness can go a long way.

Understanding Cleaning Products and Their Properties Is Important

Understanding Cleaning Products and Their Properties Is Important
Your provider should be using an approved formula (usually a bleach solution) that lists COVID-19 on the product label. The method of application is just as important and should not be overlooked. A disinfectant needs anywhere from 3 to 10 minutes (or more) to be activated. It all depends on the type of chemical being used. This period of time is often referred to as ‘dwell time’, ‘contact time’ or ‘wet time’. The dwell time for hand sanitizer may be 15 seconds while a more powerful chemical may take up to half an hour to work it’s magic.

Your cleaning service provider and its employees should follow these most basic rules regarding protocol and understand the chemical properties of the products they are using. It is their job to be thorough, otherwise infections will continue to occur in your facility or workplace. Even if a surface is not visibly dirty, it’s still important to ask whether the correct products were applied, especially in shared spaces.

Targeted Levels of Cleaning – Tier 1, 2 and 3

Different levels of commercial cleaning are available depending on your facility needs.

Tier 1 – Basic Cleaning
Surface cleaning to remove dirt, germs and viruses
Common and high contact areas such as doors, restrooms, desks
Trash removal and recycling

Tier 2 – Cleaning & Disinfection
Chemical usage to kills germs and viruses on surfaces
All surfaces with potential for contact

Tier 3 – Enhanced Cleaning
Decontamination of entire facility, from floor to ceiling

Tier 1 cleaning is the basic cleaning that must be done regularly in any facility. This includes vacuuming, dusting, and mopping of the floors; it also includes emptying trash cans and cleaning restrooms. Tier 2 cleaning goes beyond the basic cleaning to disinfect all surfaces with potential for contact. This includes scrubbing floors, walls or any other surfaces that may need special attention; it also includes spraying disinfectant on objects such as door handles, railings and desks. Tier 3 is necessary in places where there are known contaminants, such as chemical spills or known pathogens/viruses. These tiers of cleaning services include decontaminating the area with chemicals, special equipment and protective gear which can be expensive to maintain on a regular basis.

Enhanced Cleaning Protocols to Tackle Covid-19

Industrial cleaning has taken big steps to adjust its deep cleaning protocols to include COVID-19 transmission prevention. This includes cleaning hard surfaces with a CDC approved disinfectant and creating specific disinfection and decontamination protocols for high touch areas, such as doorknobs, railings, and desks. If working in a facility, this can extend to any equipment that workers come in touch with. As we all know, enhanced hand washing has been at the forefront of COVID-19 prevention and includes using antimicrobial soap or hand sanitizer to prevent the spread of these unwanted pathogens.

Cleaning and Disinfection – What Different Levels of Service Include

Cleaning on its own does not kill viruses, it simply decreases the amount of germs and bacteria on a surface. Enhanced cleaning adds the disinfecting properties to your service which kills viruses, killing 99.99% of all germs and bacteria when the appropriate dwell time is given for disinfectants to activate. Clients can choose from several different levels of service and it’s important to understand the degree of cleaning involved. When requesting higher or more advanced services, it’s important to ask the right questions and understand what is being offered. A business that calls themselves a facility maintenance company may try to hide behind this vague term and deliver sub-par services.

Cleaning Only services – refers to dirt and impurity removal, without disinfection.

Disinfection Only services – refers to the application of chemicals to kill germs and bacteria on surfaces.

Cleaning and Disinfection services – refers to first cleaning and then disinfecting surfaces. This is the most effective way to maintain clean surfaces and elevate hygiene standards in your workplace. When done consistently with additional cleaning, and while following manufacturer’s instructions this method will do a great job and should be a key part of your cleaning service.

Elevated Cleaning Standards with TEAM GROUP

TEAM Group offers professional end to end cleaning services related to industrial cleaning and decontamination. A leader in its field, TEAM Group strives to provide you with more than just that clean feeling. We want to work alongside you and provide integrated results-driven solutions as your needs evolve. From offices to complete paint booth maintenance, TEAM Group is equipped to offer customized solutions that include COVID-19 cleaning services.

As frontrunners in the industry way before the need for COVID 19 cleaning services, our qualified staff has diversified during the pandemic to become an even more specialized industrial task force. Our Incident Response TEAM continues to learn about the best cleaning services and responses to COVID outbreaks through experience and collaboration with clients. Safeguarding the health of everyone and offering support as we deal with a hazardous or infectious response is what we do, and we take it very seriously.

Our Incident Response TEAM is trained in HAZWOPER, Pathogens, and Confined Space Entry. You can also choose to hire our staff to provide your team(s) with Decon-19 Training, which focuses on COVID-19 Response cleaning, awareness, and disinfection procedures. We can help protect and disinfect facilities with a confirmed COVID-19 outbreak and can see whether there is a need for more regular, customized cleaning schedule. We want to promote and help provide you with a safe work environment – which is so important in these uncertain times.