2 minute read
Maintenance Ten Pandemic Cleaning Tips By Peter Farrell
by MediaEdge
Ten Pandemic Cleaning Tips
Proper cleaning and sanitation have never been more top-of-mind BY PETER FARRELL among residents and condo property managers alike. As Canadians continue to spend time at home, keeping common areas clean and sanitized is key in slowing the spread of COVID-19 and other potential health threats.
1Disinfect Common Surfaces Daily with a Hospital-grade
Disinfectant
Follow this guidance as indicated by the World Health Organization and the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety. Daily disinfection of common surfaces like elevator buttons, door handles, and mailboxes is one of the most effective ways to reduce instances of surface-to-person transmission. Using a Health Canada-registered disinfectant ensures potency and maintains health and safety standards. 2 Don’t Forget Stairways Using condo elevators and trying to remain socially distant can be difficult, which is why many people opt for the stairs during this time. Stair railings are a crucial but often overlooked hotspot for crosscontamination and need to be disinfected.
3Install Hand Sanitizer Stations Throughout Common Areas
Having hand sanitizer available to tenants and guests in common areas not only creates a more hygienic living space, but also targets surface-to-person transmission at its source. 4 Keep Pests Under Control Pests don’t rest for pandemics. Partnering with a trusted integrated pest management provider keeps your condo free of unwanted guests.
Upgrade to Touch-Free Washroom 5 Fixtures
Installing touch-free washroom fixtures in common areas, like automatic faucets and soap dispensers, leads to cleaner washrooms. With COVID-19’s potential for fecal-oral transmission, the less people are touching items in the washroom, the better.
6Regularly Review Cleaning Procedures with Operations Staff
Proper training and regular updates on new cleaning procedures assures the consistent delivery of maintenance and facility operation objectives.
7Have Dedicated PPE Disposal Bins at all Entrances
Many residents leaving their homes will be wearing personal protective equipment. Having an enclosed receptacle where residents can safely dispose of their PPE at all entrances ensures infectious material is kept separate from common area disposal bins.
8
Provide Educational Signage Throughout the Condo
Educational signage throughout the condo indicating the symptoms of COVID-19, reminding residents to use hand sanitizer upon entering the building, and displaying how to safely remove PPE directly contributes to the overall cleanliness of the condo. Creating a hygiene-conscious
culture helps uphold cleaning efforts. DelProperty_Condo_March_2018_torevise.pdf 1 2018-04-13 2:44 PM 9 Consider Professional Disinfection H a v i n g y o u r c o n d o professionally disinfected acts as an extra safeguard in support of regular cleaning procedures. Professional disinfection services cover all the harder to reach and often overlooked surfaces that regular daily disinfection misses. Consider this especially if there has been a confirmed case of COVID-19.
10 Disinfect Delivery Packages A surge in online ordering means more packages arriving at the front desk. Disinfecting packages as they come in protects residents from unknowingly cross-contaminating other surfaces, like the elevator, when bringing them into their unit. 1
Peter Farrell is the chief executive officer of Citron Hygiene. He oversees Citron’s global operations in Canada, the US and the UK, and has served on a number of industry Boards, including ISSA and BOMA Toronto.
20
