Cleanliness, Reconsidered for 2021

Although we are tired of hearing the words, Coronavirus, Covid 19, Pandemic, we still need to consider these in our daily lives. How do these affect cleanliness and what steps do we take to stay as safe as possible while continuing to go about our daily lives?

Consider what we have seen. As of March 2020 Covid 19 was declared a world pandemic. While writing this paper the total number dead in the US alone is over 500,000. When we clean, sanitize and disinfect, we are reducing the risk of spreading Covid 19. So, what is the difference between cleaning, sanitizing and disinfecting?

Cleaning: Removes dirt, germs and other impurities by using soap or detergent with water to physically remove soil and germs from surfaces. Cleaning doesn’t always kill germs, but removing them helps reduce the spread of infection. We typically “clean” our house.

Sanitizing: Goes further to make surfaces hygienically clean. Think of how you would treat a surface where you prep food. We “Sanitize” our kitchen. There are many sanitizing chemicals available for use.

Disinfecting: Use chemicals to kill germs, viruses and bacteria. Disinfectants are made to specifically kill the pesky little creatures that pose a threat. Sometimes we may spray something like Lysol, thereby “disinfecting” a particular area in our home. This third item is one that may be worth paying more attention to on a commercial level. Are you disinfecting surfaces most often touched by your residents, customers and employees? Are you familiar with the many products and methods to disinfect? This is an area of current concern as disinfectants will kill the Covid 19 virus. However, questions remain. How often should you disinfect? From trigger sprayers to foggers to electrostatic guns, which method is most effective and can it provide the safety and peace of mind we seek? To be honest there is no solution to 100% protection, 100% of the time. The goal is to find balance and do the best we can to prevent the spread of viruses, germs and bacteria. Is this our new normal? Our electrostatic spray system has been in high demand and for good reasons.

According to the CDC, cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces is a preventative action to help reduce the spread of respiratory diseases like Covid 19. Use disinfectant solutions that thoroughly kill pathogens and make sure you use the right equipment. The right cleaning tools support employees as they work to kill germs. It’s also important to increase cleaning frequencies to further control the spread of germs. These precautions don’t stop a virus from entering your building, but they can help limit the spread of infection and may keep employees and guests healthy. Widespread outbreaks and pandemics, such as coronavirus, has had a drastic impact on our organizations. We should all evaluate policies and procedures to promote our health and well-being. On a personal level, fundamentals are key – wash your hands, use hand sanitizer when necessary and wear a mask or avoid being too close to others. Bring this same line of reasoning to work, fundamentally improve our cleaning, sanitizing and disinfecting.

Jeff Dougherty Marketing Manager

“Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.” – Mahatma Gandhi.