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The Difference Between Cleaning and Disinfecting Your Workplace

Cleaning and disinfecting are both important components of a commercial cleaning plan to help prevent the presence of germs and illness. But, they are not the same. Companies and their customers have begun to appreciate the need for disinfecting since the COVID-19 crisis began. Make sure to understand the benefits of each to ensure you are getting both the cleaning and disinfecting services your workplace requires.
 
Cleaning and disinfecting are both crucially important for keeping a workplace healthy by reducing the chance that viruses and bacteria will spread.


What Defines Cleaning?

Cleaning removes germs, dirt, and impurities from surfaces or objects. It uses soap or detergent and water, along with friction, to physically remove dirt and germs from surfaces. The difference between cleaning and disinfecting is typically visible. The cleaning process does not necessarily kill germs, but by removing them, it lowers their numbers.


What Defines Disinfecting?

Disinfecting kills germs, including bacteria and viruses, on surfaces or objects in a direct manner. It works by using chemicals designed to kill germs. Even if a surface is not visibly dirty it can harbor bacteria and viruses since these pathogens are invisible to the naked eye. Disinfecting removes hazardous germs that can’t otherwise be seen.


What is Sanitizing?

You may also hear the term sanitizing in conjunction with these other terms. A surface is considered sanitary when germs have been reduced—through cleaning and disinfecting—to a safe level, as judged by public health standards. The CDC sets standards for safe levels of pathogens on surfaces.


Why Your Workplace Needs Both Cleaning and Sanitizing

The combination of cleaning and sanitizing, when done correctly and using cleaning supplies that meet certain standards, give you the lowest possible risk for transferring viruses and other germs on surfaces. As states loosen restrictions and businesses reopen, they will need to earn the trust of their customers and employees, and offer them the peace of mind that they’re taking all required precautions.
 
There is a way to clean, sanitize and disinfect all within the same process. In addition, certain products are designed to both clean (remove dirt) and disinfect (kill germs).


Cleaning and Sanitizing Methods and Tools

Cleaning and sanitizing are only as effective as the methods and tools used to accomplish them. Improper techniques can miss dangerous pathogens and infect people.
 
Soaps, detergents and disinfectants should all meet federal standards, such as those set forth by the FDA or the CDC. Proper tools, such as cloths designed to trap dust and mops that don’t require a bucket, reduce the risk of spreading viruses and bacteria.
 
All of this must be done regularly and consistently to yield the desired effect. Between professional cleanings, you should wipe down surfaces regularly throughout the day, using a product with the power to kill germs.


Trust Coverall® to Clean and Disinfect Your Workplace

Coverall’s independent franchise business owners are comprehensively trained in proper protocols for cleaning, disinfecting, and sanitizing. Coverall’s proprietary Core 4® Process is built on CDC and AORN guidelines, and even exceeds those high standards. It also calls for the use of color-coded cloths and no-dip mops to reduce cross-contamination.
 
When you talk with a Coverall independent franchise business owner, they will assess the needs of your workplace and tailor a cleaning plan that they carry out frequently and consistently. Request a free commercial cleaning quote to get started with Coverall.

Posted: 6/2/2020 12:00:00 PM by Coverall | with 0 comments