Touchpoint cleaning and disinfection services are critical components of a clean and healthy learning and working environment, especially during cold and flu season.
Touchpoint Cleaning and Disinfection Services
Due to the ongoing SARS-CoV-2 outbreak, touchpoint cleaning and disinfection services have become recognizable household terms.
However, many facility occupants are unaware of what these touchpoints or germ hotspots consist of.
When asked what the germiest or filthiest part of their facility is, many occupants will typically respond with the restroom or a surface in the restroom, such as the toilet.
That, strangely, is incorrect.
While it’s true that restroom floors, toilets and urinals harbor pathogens, they’ve got nothing on light switches, sink taps, toilet flushers and stall door handles.
These touchpoints host a surprising amount of dirt, viruses and bacteria and, because they are handled so frequently, can really facilitate the spreading of illnesses.
The problem is not limited to the restroom.
Door knobs, cell phones, keyboards and drinking fountains are also filthy.
That’s why touchpoint cleaning to prevent disease is crucial to your employees’ health and wellness.
While the coronavirus outbreak has dominated the news and the population's focus, it is far from the only, or most common, type of deadly pathogen routinely spread between students and office workers.
Other pathogens, especially influenza, norovirus, rhinovirus, and hepatitis, are far more common and easily spread via direct contact with an infected person or, more likely, a contaminated surface.
Combatting the spread of these illnesses and the current coronavirus, and any future outbreaks of newly discovered pathogens will require an ongoing focus on enhanced cleaning and disinfection methods.
Touchpoint Cleaning and Disinfection Done Correctly
When cleaning and disinfecting for health, even the most well-intentioned service providers often overlook subtle yet critical components necessary to ensure the highest standards of cleanliness and safety.
The first mistake is using a product that is not suitable for a surface or for eliminating the desired pathogen types.
There are numerous cleaning and disinfection products available to residential consumers and commercial cleaners, which are registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for specific claims against various molds, mildews, bacteria, and viruses.
Additionally, each of the products requires a specific laytime to achieve full effectiveness.
So, the first step in properly sanitizing facility touchpoints is to ensure that the person cleaning the surface has a product capable of killing the pathogens and knows how to apply the product properly.
The next step, which is likely the most critical, is to clean the surface before applying a disinfectant product.
Dirt, oil, and other matter located on the surface will significantly reduce a disinfectant's efficacy, which means a false sense of security, a dirty surface, and a waste of time and money.
Cleaning should be done with high-performance commercial-grade microfiber products and an EPA-registered soap-based detergent rated for commercial use.
Once the surface has dried, the disinfectant can be effectively applied.
The final step in surface pathogen control and elimination is two-fold:
- Understanding that no disinfectant is rated for residual efficacy against pathogens, which means as soon as the surface is touched, it is likely recontaminated, and;
- The more often a surface is touched, the more germs and bacteria are present, and the more it needs to be cleaned and disinfected.
Finally, handwashing and hand awareness are vital in protecting facility occupants and ensuring touchpoints are not constantly recontaminated with dangerous germs and bacteria.
Twenty seconds of vigorous scrubbing with soap and clean water is typically all it takes to prevent the spread of illness and potentially save a life.
References & Resources
- 3 Ways to Prevent the Spread of Infectious Diseases in Bathrooms
- Staying Alive: Cleaning Up Infectious Diseases
- You’re Doing It Wrong: Three Steps to Disinfect Properly
Takeaway
Facility touchpoint cleaning and disinfection services are vital for ensuring the health and safety of the population.
The 'trick' is, there is no trick--high-quality service requires knowledge, skill, and experience.
Outsourcing to a highly trained and dedicated service provider is a proven method for ensuring the highest cleanliness and safety standards.
Contact us today and discover why Vanguard Cleaning Systems® is the Standard of Clean® for businesses throughout Northwest Arkansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma.
In Oklahoma, dial 918-960-4450
In Arkansas, dial 479-717-2410
In Missouri, dial 417-812-9777
