It’s been almost a year since we first heard the term “COVID-19”. Our expectations that the buildings we work in or visit have been properly cleaned and disinfected have never been higher.  With a heightened awareness and concern across every sector and customer type, cleaning a commercial, retail, institutional or manufacturing facility is now elevated to new heights.

As a reminder for us all, here is a list of what you may want to check up on, or add, to make sure these important activities are now part of your cleaning routine.

COVID cleaning for high touch, high usage surfaces

When setting up commercial cleaning services, ask: what are the high touch, high usage areas in our facility?

High touch, high usage areas need more frequent and more rigorous cleaning. This means that it is important that your commercial cleaning company understands usage patterns within the building and how they could change over time. Monitor activity for a week and you may be surprised by what you find. A storage closet may not be high use during the winter, but by spring, it could be a place that sees a steady stream of activity.

In general, high touch surfaces include doorknobs, handrails, elevator buttons, light switches, cabinet handles, faucet handles, tables, countertops and electronics.

A partial checklist could include:

  • Clean doors, furniture and other objects in entryways and exits
  • Frequently wipe down elevator buttons, light switches and light switch plate covers
  • Pay extra attention to surfaces people grab such as door handles, cabinet knobs, sink faucets and stair rails
  • Continually wipe down shared touch screens, tv remotes, cash registers, ATM touchpads, tablets, computer screens, keyboards, phones, and other electronics with alcohol-based wipes
  • Don’t forget the tables, chairs (especially armrests), desks in conference rooms, breakrooms, waiting areas and lobbies
  • Wipe down controls for temperature controls, blinds, audio visual equipment, automatic door openers, etc.

In facilities where children or youth visit, high touch surfaces may also include toys and play/sports equipment. These likely require disinfectants approved for high-touch areas such as are listed on the Health Canada list for COVID-19 Hard Surface Disinfectants.

COVID cleaning for shared areas

Shared areas, such as kitchens and bathrooms have the same “high touch” priority. Shared areas should be cleaned and disinfected more often in addition to when they are visibly dirty. Again, property managers should monitor their facility to ensure they have adequately identified shared areas.

Shared areas in addition to kitchen areas and bathrooms may include:

  • Hall or entrance ways where staff check in or store clothing/equipment
  • Areas around a vending machine or the back door where staff gather to talk during a break
  • Waiting rooms, areas in front of a reception wicket
  • Change rooms, bike storage areas
  • Drinking fountains, water coolers

COVID cleaning for shared equipment

Shared devices are another source of shared germs. These includes POS, computers, printers, PDAs, copiers and phones that are designated for communal use. They may be in an open office area, waiting rooms, retail or touch-down spaces. If fitness centres and dance studios are open, these are the places where people have access to the same props and equipment.

COVID cleaning for personal electronic equipment

Even when equipment isn’t shared, it still needs to be cleaned properly.

For electronics in use such as tablets, touch screens, keyboards, remote controls, and ATM machines, first, remove visible contamination, and then request cleaning according the manufacturer’s guidelines. If no guidance is available, consider the use of alcohol-based wipes or sprays containing at least 70% alcohol to disinfect touch screens. Dry surfaces thoroughly to avoid pooling of liquids.

COVID cleaning for soft, porous surfaces

Surfaces that are covered in soft material can’t be properly wiped down with soap and water.  Germs can certainly thrive in these such places, particularly because most are located in public areas and are “shared”. Soft, porous surfaces that are easily identified include: sofas, certain kinds of chairs, curtains, carpets, etc. All visible dirty surfaces should be cleaned first (vacuumed) to remove dust and soils – and then cleaned and disinfected according to the manufacturer’s instructions as the method will depend on the material.

  • Products used should be EPA-approved for use against the virus that causes COVID-19 and that are suitable for porous surfaces.
  • For materials that can’t be laundered or washed, request methods such as dry steaming, electrostatic spraying or ultraviolet distinction.

Cleaning staff should also be on the look-out for materials that cannot be cleaned and therefore, remove them from the area. These could include newspapers, magazines, stuffed toys, etc.

You also may want to ask your commercial cleaning and facility maintenance partner about finishes or material such as flooring that hinder pathogen development. There are also cleaning solutions and chemicals that prevent pathogens from developing on flooring and they are becoming more common. Some are as effective for as long as 30 days after application.

COVID cleaning for larger, complex spaces

Cleaning large spaces can be a challenge, especially if these spaces include a variety of surfaces that are difficult to clean and/or disinfect. Take a manufacturing facility, for example. Staff are responsible for cleaning and disinfecting multiple kinds of machines and equipment all within a limited time. This is when cleaning technologies such as electrostatic spraying is a much better choice in terms of efficacy and cost.

Effective electrostatic sprayers can cover a large area in minutes, so school classrooms, public restrooms, cafeterias, kitchens, equipment rooms, offices, waiting rooms, etc.

Some facilities choose to use electrostatic sprayers as a substitute for manual cleaning and disinfecting methods. Depending on the facility, a property manager may also ask for electrostatic cleaning as an additional step to augment standard cleaning and ensure comprehensive surface coverage. Following up with ATP testing is helpful to understand efficacy of the disinfecting process.

COVID cleaning products for cleaning and disinfecting

Finally, check with your commercial cleaning company to make sure they are using COVID-19 cleaning products approved by Health Canada for use against the virus. Ask to confirm that all staff are trained in terms of the manufacturer’s instructions for all cleaning and disinfection products for concentration, application method and contact time, etc.

Your commercial cleaning company should have not issue with providing updated information on the kind of cleaning protocols in place, and how these apply to the cleaning program they’ve customized for you specific facility. Contact us for a quote.