Pandemic Flu Cleaning and Disinfection Tips

While research into the COVID-19 virus is ongoing, we know the virus is transmitted through direct contact with respiratory droplets of an infected person (through coughing and sneezing), and touching surfaces contaminated with the virus. The virus may survive depending on the surface type  for a few hours up to several days. The good news? Cleaning and disinfecting areas can kill them. Now, what does this mean for your home?

To give homeowners and business owners a helping hand,  ServiceMaster by PWF, a cleaning, and restoration company in Clay, Duval, St. Johns, and Pinellas Counties, that offers Coronavirus cleaning, sanitation,  and disinfection services,  compiled the latest expert information on what is known about COVID-19 and tips to help keep it out of your home.

What is Coronavirus or COVID19? 

It's a very basic virus. It's very similar to the common cold or flu that we see every year. It is something to be concerned about absolutely. But its also something we can control. 

• Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a new virus that can cause respiratory illness including pneumonia.
• The virus is spread from person-to-person through close contact.
• Ways to reduce your risk of coronavirus is : 
• Cleaning
• Hand washing 
• Social Distancing 
• Before you travel find out if the latest coronavirus advice for the country you're visiting.

Breaking the Chain  of COVID19

When it comes to cleaning, ServiceMaster by PWF wants to break the links that are the weakest. And for us lots of times that’s cleaning. Breaking down basic soils can break the chain of infection. Help prevent things from spreading  and becoming a bigger problem later by doing: 

• Washing your hands frequently
• Covering  your coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your inner elbow
• Disposing of used tissue in the bin immediately
• Practicing social distancing
• Using  personal protective equipment appropriately
• Cleaning frequently touched surfaces

About Mask

Mask protect yourself and others. The  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that anytime we’re in public we practice social distancing and wear a mask to help others from your breath or coughs or sneezes to help break the spread of Coronavirus.

• As confirmed cases of COVID-19 continue to rise, the CDC is recommending that everyone wear a cloth mask when they go out in public.
• Experts say the homemade masks won’t protect someone from getting sick, but they can help prevent the spread of the disease by those with the virus.
• Experts also recommend that everyone continue social distancing and other preventive measures in addition to wearing face coverings.

Gloves: Are you using them correctly?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has stated that COVID-19 transmission through respiratory droplets is more common than through direct contact and it has yet to advise non-healthcare workers to wear gloves when going outside. For those who plan on wearing gloves anyway, here are some dos and don’ts regarding their usage during this pandemic:

 Do's

• Do: Wear gloves while cleaning
• Do: Wash your hands before and after wearing gloves
• Do: Wear gloves when taking care of a sick person

Don't  

• Don’t: Hastily remove your gloves
• Don’t: Choose the wrong gloves
• Don’t: Touch your face while wearing gloves
• Don’t: Forget about your personal hygiene

Practicing personal hygiene and physical distancing is still crucial even if you’re wearing gloves as gloves alone won't keep. 

Tips to Disinfect Your Home

The Coronavirus lockdown has meant many are spending more time than ever in their property. ServiceMaster by PWF, a cleaning expert has revealed how to disinfect your entire home and get rid of germs. As the virus can survive on surfaces of different materials for at least two-three days, potentially contaminated surfaces should be sanitized thoroughly.

Here are five steps to sanitize your living and working area:

1. Prepare your cleaning tools - Wear a surgical mask, disposable gloves, and a bleach solution or appropriate disinfectant with an indication of effectiveness against coronavirus. 
2. Start to clean surfaces - Use disposable cloths or rags to wipe toilet surfaces and frequently touched areas, such as handles, doorknobs, armrests, switches, etc.
3. Wash fabrics - Use a washing machine and detergent to wash fabrics, such as bedsheets, pillow covers, and blankets.
4. Finishing up - Repeat mopping the floor of your residence from one end to another, but avoid going from uncleaned areas to cleaned areas, to avoid dirtying the cleaned area.
5. Ensuring personal hygiene -Shower and change your clothes, then air and ventilate your home. Remember to avoid sharing household items, and wash used items thoroughly with soap and water.

Wiping and Mopping: Are you using the right tools?

Things can get even more disturbing when you realize that most people rarely consider the importance of cleaning their cleaning devices! Like: 

1. Sponges, nearly all mops should be cleaned and sterilized on a regular basis.

• If we fail to do this, we may just be wiping more dirt, grime, and bacteria all over our floors when we go to clean in the future and we may be spreading germs from one area of the house to another when we fail to properly clean our mops.

2. After 3 or 4 uses, and often when the mop starts to smell weird, it’s advised to use a deep soak solution -

• Either made of hot water and bleach, or a combination of hot water, hydrogen peroxide and white vinegar. After allowing your mop head to soak for 15 minutes, it is imperative that you hang the mop head and allow it to air dry completely.

3. Make sure not to let it soak for too long -  as doing so will allow bacteria growth to occur all over again, defeating the purpose of this activity. 

4. The head should be completely replaced when it is heavily stained and shows considerable wear. Properly doing this will cut down on cross-contamination and help you keep a cleaner, healthier home.

Clean, Sanitize, Disinfect: What's the Difference

We looked at what the experts at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had to say on the subject. Keep reading to learn the difference between sanitizing, disinfecting, and sterilizing.

Cleaning-  refers to simply removing dirt and other impurities from a surface, sanitizing, disinfecting, and sterilizing all go far beyond this to eliminate harmful bacteria. 

Sanitizing - refers to lowering the number of germs on a surface to a safe level. This process works either through cleaning, which physically removes germs from surfaces or disinfecting, which kills germs. Sanitizing is generally a little more gentle than disinfecting.

Disinfecting- refers to killing nearly 100 percent of germs on surfaces or objects. This works by using chemicals to kill germs. Disinfecting doesn't necessarily clean dirty surfaces, but it does kill germs, helping to lower the risk of infection.

High Touch Surfaces: Where to Focus cleaning efforts

The goal of ServiceMaster by PWF  is cleaning for health and proper disinfection. Below are several considerations for helping to create a cleaner and healthier facility.

High-touch areas can include: doorknobs, arms of reception area chairs, elevator buttons, stair railings, common area telephones, restroom surfaces, coffee pot handles or dispensers, and water cooler handles. 

Tip No. 1: Consider the Surface Type

By using the proper cleaning solutions and tools. Remember: There is a difference between cleaning and disinfecting. Additionally, many disinfectants target specific bacteria or viruses. To successfully perform your job you’ll need a broad-spectrum disinfectant.

Tip No. 2: Consider the Surface Shape

A tabletop is simple, flat, and easy to clean. However, surfaces like doorknobs have multiple places for dirt and bacteria to hide.

Left undisturbed, on average, bacteria double their numbers every 20 minutes.

Consider this: If you or a building occupant has something as simple as a paper cut and handles any of these surfaces, the bacteria have found a perfect entry point. Additionally, our bodies offer the ready environment for bacteria to grow: heat, darkness, and moisture.

We Are To Help

To help make sure your home or business is as low-risk as possible, for each of the reasons above, we believe that every essential home or business should be regularly conducting professional cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting. When the time comes to have sanitizing work done, we have several recommendations at ServiceMaster by PWF.

And of course, whenever you decide to clean, sanitize, and disinfect,  ServiceMaster by PWF  is here for you and happy to help. Call us at:

(866) 599-0871.