Steps for Cleaning & Disinfecting
Your environmental staff or hired cleaning contractor should be well trained on the proper procedures of cleaning and disinfecting. Routine cleaning and disinfecting plays a big part in keeping everyone safe. Cleaning should be performed per established protocol, followed by disinfection. You should always clean surfaces with an all purpose cleaner, preferably 3rd party Green certified or soap and water to remove visible dirt. This decreases the viral load and helps optimize the efficacy of the disinfectant.
Six Steps for Cleaning and Disinfecting
What should be disinfected
- All cleanable surfaces should be disinfected daily
- High touch points should be cleaned and disinfected multiple times per day especially during a pandemic
Example of high touch points
Restrooms/Bathrooms:
- Doorknobs or handles
- Light switches and cover plates
- Paper towel dispenser knobs or handles
- Faucet handles
- Toilet and urinal flush levers
- Toilet and urinal partitions, doors (including knobs, levers or slides)
- Other items identified locally
Hospital Patient Rooms:
- Bed rails
- Bed frames
- Moveable lamps
- Tray table
- Bedside table
- Door knobs/Handles
- IV poles
- Blood-pressure cuff
- Light switches and cover plates
- Phone
Offices:
- Doorknobs or handles
- Light switches and cover plates
- Desk tops
- Phone receivers
- Keyboard/mouse
- Chairs
Other locations:
- Elevator call and operating buttons
- Stairway handrails, doorknobs, light switches
- Hallway doorknobs, handles, drinking fountain faucets
- Vehicles’ steering wheels, door handles, shift knobs, dashboard controls
Germs can accumulate much faster in these areas due to the amount of times they are touched.
Finally once your facility has been cleaned and disinfected, make sure everyone is following the masking protocol and practicing social distancing.