Imagine you’ve got a waiting room full of patients who are a little under the weather. What does it take to get the waiting room clean after a day of heavy traffic? Healthcare cleaning services demand commercial grade products, highly trained experts, a slew of disposable gloves and masks and consistent elbow grease.
Clear and present symptoms
Few people enjoy spending time at the doctor. In addition to whatever fever and symptoms you may be experiencing, it’s easy to observe people cough, sneeze, and blow their noses, so it might make you wonder exactly what else you’re being exposed to.
Sneezes can expel droplets at speeds of up to 100 miles per hour. While most droplets will fall to the ground within 6 feet – hence the social distancing rules established during the COVID pandemic – a single sneeze travels over 25 feet and can release up to 40,000 droplets, which can contain thousands of individual viruses or bacteria. The influenza virus, for example, is so virulent that a single infected droplet can release over 20,000 virus particulates.
Cleaning crew to the rescue!
Commercial cleaning professionals are like cage fighters, going head-to-head with some of the toughest microbes in the world. These bad boys aren’t going to shy away from a little water and vinegar mixture. Villains like the common cold wreak havoc on over a billion people each year. While few fatalities occur with the common cold, other highly contagious malcontents like influenza, SARS, and COVID-19 variants, affect millions annually but are also more likely to be fatal.
Does your crew have the right stuff?
The Environmental Protective Agency (EPA) is committed to reducing negative environmental impacts wherever they exist, and that includes hazardous chemicals used in cleaning, disinfecting and sanitization. Most bio-friendly cleaning products receive the EPA’s Safer Choice designation. Products approved with this label contain ingredients that are safer for humans, pets and the environment, are readily available at many large retail stores and will do the trick to keep your home and personal items clean.
But when it comes to the healthcare arena, there really is no wiggle room. The EPA’s Design for the Environment, or DfE designation, is the only way to go. This category is designed to be antimicrobial, which means they are designed to kill microorganisms or tiny living things that are too small to be seen with the naked eye. Humans have millions of these tiny creatures living in harmony within their bodies. (Think “good bacteria” in your gut as an example.)
Disinfecting products of this strength is necessary to combat the wide array of germs in the healthcare environment on a given day. But to the individual performing the task, improper use of these caustic cleaning agents can cause contact burns on the skin, eyes, and other sensitive areas. Accidental ingestion or inhalation can disrupt the person’s microbiome, and more importantly, could cause immediate and life-threatening symptoms.
Handling concentrated antimicrobial agents correctly, proper dilution and using the proper personal protective equipment (PPE), requires specialized training. Certified cleaning professionals are knowledgeable about using disinfectants, are trained in proper use and disposal of PPE, and follow public health recommendations published by the EPA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Medical Facility Cleaning Services: Choose your crew wisely
Anyone with a kitchen knows that daily cleaning makes the job manageable. If you leave the dishes to pile up for a week though, you’ll have a much larger, more disgusting job. Beside attracting pests, it’s a hotbed for mold, mildew and bacteria. Instead of simply washing dishes, you’ll now also need to sanitize surfaces, disinfect and scrub. And scrub. And scrub.
Commercial cleaning crews that offer medical facility cleaning services know better and establish cleaning protocols for that exact reason. For them, consistency is the name of the game. A disheveled waiting room with handprints, soiled mats, or odors can drive patients away
Daily tasks include cleaning of high-touch surfaces, dusting, vacuuming, sweeping, mopping and removal of rubbish. Then cleaning crews prioritize tasks by spreading out those for low-traffic areas, such as lighting fixtures, window glass, and floor polishing, and scheduling them at practical intervals to maintain cleanliness efficiently. For example, high-traffic facilities might require weekly floor treatments, while smaller practices may need them less frequently. This approach ensures each area gets the attention it needs without overburdening resources. “Because each environment is unique, cleaning crews customize protocols to fit specific needs.”
Healthcare Cleaning Services in a Nut Shell
Comprehensive healthcare cleaning services can be tough but it’s necessary to keep patients and healthcare workers safe. Ultimately preventing the spread of germs and bacteria is no easy task. In sum It requires a well-trained team of professionals wielding the correct types of EPA-approved disinfectants following a strict protocol. In a nutshell, by using the right products, proper procedures, and investing in training, will keep those around you safe.
“Keep your healthcare facility safe and spotless with expert cleaning services. Contact us today to ensure a clean, healthy environment for your patients and staff!”