The coronavirus pandemic is, unfortunately, far from over. With more cases each day, there’s never been more of a focus on cleaning and disinfecting surfaces at home and in the office to prevent the spread of virus. While social distancing and wearing a face mask or other protective covering are necessary for staying safe indoors, properly cleaning and sanitizing surfaces can’t be ignored.
The problem with germs is that they are too small to be seen with the naked eye. This is why you need to be thorough with your cleaning — to ensure that you get everything. The process can be overwhelming, so don’t hesitate to search for “coronavirus cleaners near me” and hire Aftertime-Bio to take care of it all for you. Our technicians have the knowledge and experience to see the process through. There’s a lot to keep track of with COVID-19 cleaning, so don’t be afraid to ask for help.
How Long Do Germs Stay on Surfaces?
The Mayo Clinic suggests that droplets containing cold and flu viruses, such as the novel coronavirus, can stay infectious for several hours. How long the germs remain infectious depends on the particular type of germ. It also depends on the surface in question. In general, hard surfaces such as plastic and stainless steel hold onto germs for longer.
Doctors suggest coronavirus and other flu viruses can last for up to 24 hours on hard surfaces. Other viruses, such as clostridium difficile and the norovirus can last for up to weeks at a time on a hard surface. Soft surfaces, such as blankets and couches, don’t hold germs for as long. This is why you should focus on cleaning hard surfaces in particular. COVID 19 cleaning services can be useful for ensuring that all surfaces are sufficiently treated.
Please note that other factors, such as temperature and humidity levels, affect how long viruses may live on surfaces. These are only rough estimates based on average external factors. It’s possible that the virus may persist longer than listed here.
Federal Guidelines for Cleaning Coronavirus
Several government agencies, such as the CDC and EPA, have released coronavirus cleaning guidelines for those who want to tackle the problem by themselves.
The CDC recommends immediately closing areas used by someone exposed to coronavirus. Businesses should then wait as long as possible – preferably 24 hours at the least – to begin disinfecting. Open windows and doors to improve circulation.
Start by removing obvious grime and dirt from surfaces and areas. From there, use disinfectant products to clean shared surfaces that are likely to have germs on them. The cleaning should be done by professionals in the right protection equipment, including gloves, and immediately washing their hands when done. Dispose of cleaning gear to ensure minimal risk of transference.
The EPA maintains and updates a list of disinfectants considered to be effective against coronavirus. The agency recommends that you use these products and follow the directions listed on them, as some products may take longer to be effective than others. Be sure to use the longest time or highest concentration if different concentrations and times are listed on the product.
What Areas to Focus On?
The CDC and EPA encourage cleaning high-touch surfaces including counters, tables, doorknobs, bathroom fixtures, toilets, switches, tablets, phones, and keyboards. Here are other areas to focus on:
Bathrooms
When cleaning bathrooms, be sure to focus on opening knobs for cupboards and drawers. Clean the taps on baths and sinks and the flushing handle for the toilet. Clean the sink and toilet to be safe. If you have any shelves or racks in your bathroom, such as for storing toiletries, they should be cleaned as well.
Kitchens
Focus on cupboards and drawers as with bathrooms. Clean the taps on the sink. Don’t forget about appliances and handles, such as refrigerators, pots, pans, microwaves, and ovens. Don’t forget the shelves and racks while you’re cleaning.
Living Areas
There’s more to clean at home than you might expect. Clean the usual suspects such as tables and doorknobs, but don’t neglect little things that might go unnoticed. Be sure to clean video game controllers, remote controls, landlines, cell phones, and tablets. Also, be sure to clean light switches, stair handrails, and carpets or rugs.
Office Spaces
Office spaces can be particularly difficult to clean. There’s no telling where an infected employee may have touched. Start by cleaning their working area and the area around it. Also, clean any communal areas they may have visited. Pay special attention to surfaces and appliances. Clean keyboards, monitors, and computer mice. Clean big appliances like printers and vending machines. Cleaning is even more important in a retail space or hospitality setting.
You don’t want to jeopardize the health and safety of your customers any more than you would your employees. Pay special attention to sales counters, carpets, and shelving. It can be worth utilizing covid-19 commercial cleaning services to ensure that cleaning is done to the right standard.
Schools
Schools have a huge responsibility to stay clean. Even though children and young adults are less at-risk from the severe side-effects of coronavirus, they can still pass it on to their parents and loved ones. Teachers are also not granted immunity. Make sure to clean desks, boards, equipment, drinking fountains, vending machines, stair handrails, and elevator buttons and controls.
Let Aftertime-Bio Help
As you can see, there’s a lot to clean when it comes to coronavirus. It may feel like too much, even. However, it’s much better to be safe than sorry with this.
The idea of cleaning all this — and more — is no doubt daunting for many. If you are feeling overwhelmed at the thought of all the work you’ll need to do, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Aftertime-Bio is here to help, and we provide professional coronavirus disinfection services. Our team of dedicated coronavirus cleaning experts knows what needs to be done and have the tools to do it. Count on us to clean everything that matters to you to protect your home, school, business, or other building safe from coronavirus.
