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IN WITH THE NEW, STICK WITH THE OLD Taking forward the lessons learned during — and before — the pandemic remains critical by Robert Kravitz lessons to be learned as old and proven lessons that must be more closely adhered to. “For instance, cleaning professionals were taught for years to clean surfaces first before disinfecting and follow the manufacturer’s instructions when it comes to dwell time,” says Sawchuk. “But before the pandemic, these instructions were all too often overlooked. Now, they can’t be. If the job of cleaning professionals is to keep people healthy, all the proven lessons we have been taught over the years to ensure effective cleaning and keep building users safe must be followed.” Some of the other old but proven cleaning and disinfecting lessons Sawchuk says need much more adherence to are: READ THE LABEL
Disinfectant product labels provide a wealth of crucial information, such as how long the disinfectant should dwell on the surface before removing, what pathogens the disinfectant is engineered to kill or eliminate, and whether the disinfectant must be rinsed off surfaces after use.
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id you know that some experts now recommend that HVAC systems be turned off before cleaning and disinfecting surfaces? We rarely heard of such cleaning protocols being recommended in facilities before COVID-19. But examined more closely, especially in light of the pandemic, we can see why this is being advised. When we clean and disinfect surfaces, vapours from the cleaning and disinfecting agents can be released into the air. These vapours can prove harmful if inhaled. But there’s more to it than that. The entire cleaning process can also release potentially health-risking contaminants into the air. 28 / FACILITY CLEANING & MAINTENANCE / SPRING 2022
Remember, one of the critical components of professional cleaning is agitation. We are scrubbing surfaces to loosen and remove soils and contaminants. If the pathogen that causes COVID-19 is on those surfaces, it may become airborne. If so, we may inhale those pathogens, and inhalation is the primary way the virus is spreading from person to person. By turning off the HVAC, cleaning professionals reduce the risk of inhaling harmful fumes and pathogens. What other cleaning lessons do we need to learn from the pandemic? Mike Sawchuk, a Canadian-based coach who helps facility managers improve their in-house cleaning operations, says there are not so much new
UNDERSTAND THREAT LEVELS
We are often aware of the level of risk that different pathogens present and how this knowledge can impact which disinfectants we should select. But understanding threat levels is much more important now, due to the pandemic. Ideally, cleaning professionals should generally use a broad-spectrum disinfectant engineered to eliminate most bacteria, viruses (including coronavirus), protozoa, fungi, and other pathogens — ensuring all pathogens of concern are listed on the label. These broad-spectrum disinfectants normally are used when there is a low to medium threat level.
