Commercial Cleaning Industry News, Tips, Guide and Checklist

You can read here many helpful articles related to commercial cleaning, latest cleaning news in Australia, including how to find and hire the best cleaners in your budget, how to train a commercial cleaner, why hire a cleaner over doing it yourself, cleaning tips for a specific area like supermarket, retail store, data centre, pub & restaurants, hospitals, factories, buildings, and more.

Covid on Different Surfaces and How to Clean Them

The world is in a pandemic situation and in the grasp of a deadly virus called coronavirus. From what is known about this virus so far, it is safe to say that it spread through touch and respiratory activities including breathing, sneezing, and coughing. Coronavirus can transfer from the human body to a range of surfaces, including clothes, phones, desks, and others, and can survive and contaminate these surfaces.

COVID or Coronavirus disease is a contagious disease caused by a coronavirus.

There is no sufficient data to know exactly how long the COVID virus can stay or survive on a particular surface, however, studies suggest that the virus’s survival period on different surfaces can range from 2 hours to up to 9 days.

COVID cleaning and disinfection, as suggested by health authorities globally, are the best ways to remove coronavirus from surfaces and limit the spread of infections caused by the virus.

How Long Does the Covid Virus Last on Different Surfaces?

The survival time of coronavirus on different surfaces depends on a number of factors, including the surface type, humidity, temperature, and virus type.

When an infected person sneezes or coughs, the virus moves from their body to a surface, where it can survive for hours to days. Now, when a person touches the contaminated surface, the virus can move along and enter their body through the eyes, nose, or mouth and end up infecting the person.

So, it’s evident that coronavirus can spread through surfaces, especially the ones where the virus can last for days. Studies suggest that the virus can survive longest on surfaces and in areas with low relative humidity and lower than room temperature. On the other hand, direct exposure to UV light in sunlight can quickly kill the virus.

Coronavirus Survival Time on Glass, Plastic and Stainless Steel

On many common surfaces, including plastic, glass, and stainless steel, the virus is said to have a rather long survival period of several days, especially at room temperature or lower. In ideal conditions of temperature and humidity, the virus can even last and remain infective for weeks on some of these surfaces.

This applies to all kinds of plastic, stainless steel, and glass materials, including but not limited to, plastic food packaging, credit cards, ATM buttons, light switches, water bottles, milk containers, remote controls, toys, video game controllers, computer keyboards & mouse, door handles, refrigerators, keys, pots, cutlery, metal handrails, industrial equipment, glass windows, mirrors, drinkware, smartphones, and computer/tv screens.

Coronavirus Survival Time on Paper

On paper notes and other paper items, coronavirus can survive from a few hours to up to 4 days. While the virus would last not more than 3 hours on printing paper and tissue paper, it can survive for up to 4 days on paper money.

Coronavirus Survival Period on Skin

Same as glass and plastic, the coronavirus can survive on human skin for a few days or more, as found in some studies. It is also possible for the virus to move from one person to another through touch (handshake, hug, high-five, etc.).

How Long Does Coronavirus Last on Clothes & Fabric

According to studies, the virus can survive longer on non-porous surfaces compared to porous surfaces such as cotton and fabric. On clothes, the virus will usually die within a few hours. However, the virus is tested to have a relatively high survival time on N95 respirator masks and surgical masks, even though both are considered porous surfaces. This is why it’s recommended to dispose of masks immediately after use.

Coronavirus Survival Time on Copper Surfaces/objects

The virus of COVID can last only a few hours on copper surfaces and will automatically die after that. This is applicable to all copper items, including coins, jewellery, cookware, and electrical wires.

According to the various research studies on the subject, the SARS-COV-2 survival period on different surfaces is as follows:

Plastic – 3 to 7 days
Stainless Steel – 3 to 7 days
Skin – 3 to 7 days
Copper – Up to 4 hours
Paper – Up to 4 days
Glass – Up to 4 days
Cardboard – 24 hours
Wood – Up to 2 days
Cotton fabric – A few hours

Coronavirus can also be found and survive on a range of other surfaces and objects, including floors, shoes, and food packaging.

Can Coronavirus Be Found in Food and Water?

There is another general concern among people that the food purchased from supermarkets and tap water may contain the virus. Well, according to studies by leading organisations all over the world, there is little data to show that the COVID infection can spread through food and/or water.

That means the probability of the virus being found in either is very low. However, that is not a reason to let one’s guard down. Properly washing all the food items, especially raw fruits and vegetables, with clean water before using them is strongly recommended.

How to Clean Surfaces for Covid Virus

Since the COVID virus can survive on common surfaces for up to several days, it is very important to keep the surfaces and objects around properly clean and germ-free. While general cleaning with soap and water can help reduce the probability of infection, routine disinfection of frequently touched surfaces and objects is the best way to achieve 100% protection from the coronavirus.

COVID cleaning should be done in two parts:

Cleaning
Disinfection

Cleaning refers to general cleaning, which includes cleaning, dusting, wiping or washing a surface/object to remove dust and dirt from it.

Remember, disinfection is not an effective method for general cleaning, as it will not remove dirt and dust, which is why cleaning before disinfection is recommended.

For general cleaning, one can use water or a damp cloth to wipe down all target surfaces and areas. Focus on high-touch surfaces and objects that may have come into contact with the virus. These include doorknobs & handles, handrails, lift buttons, doors, windows, handles on appliances, keyboards & computer mouse, light switches, water faucets, toilets, sinks, countertops, tables and desks, electronics such as phones and tablets, remote controls, etc.

Once all the objects and surfaces have been cleaned properly and dirt removed from them, the next step is disinfection using a TGA-approved disinfectant.

Disinfection is the process of removing certain pathogens, including bacteria and viruses, from a surface using specific chemical products called disinfectants. Disinfection is recommended for surfaces and objects that may have come in contact with the virus. These include all high-touch surfaces and areas mentioned above.

For disinfection of surfaces to remove the coronavirus, it is recommended to use a TGA-approved disinfectant that has been approved to be effective against SARS-CoV-2. Clean Group cleaners use TGA-approved chemicals along with our state-of-the-art Electrostatic Disinfection Spray technique that can remove up to 99.99% of germs from even the farthest corners in a place.

To disinfect the surfaces in question, one can use a normal sprayer. Make sure to carefully read the instructions for use of a particular disinfectant. Some disinfectants need to be wiped after applying, while others will evaporate automatically.

Gently apply the chemical on the surface and let it sit for a few minutes. If needed, wipe down the chemical using a microfiber cloth or wipe. Let the chemical dry completely before using the object again.

Besides the above-mentioned things and surfaces, all other objects that may have been contaminated must also be cleaned and disinfected properly before use.

According to health authorities, it is not necessary to wash the clothes every time one comes back from a short trip out. However, if a person may have come in contact with an infected person or surface or haven’t been able to maintain social distance when visiting a crowded place, washing the clothes they were wearing at the time would be the wise thing to do.

Since the coronavirus can spread through touch, it’s very important to wash hands using soap and water or a sanitiser solution at frequent intervals and especially in the following situations:

- Before and after eating

After using the washroom

After cleaning
After returning from the outside
After handling groceries brought from the market
Before and after cooking food
After shaking hands and coming in close contact with another person

When cleaning for coronavirus, make sure to use a mask and gloves and discard them immediately after use.

Professional Covid Cleaning & Disinfection by Clean Group

If one is not sure about how to clean for COVID or what things should be cleaned, contact Clean Group to seek professional help from COVID cleaning experts. The company offers comprehensive & guaranteed COVID cleaning and disinfection services to commercial premises all over Sydney.

Clean Group experts use TGA-approved disinfectant chemicals along with the most effective Electrostatic Disinfection method. It involves the use of an electronic sprayer machine to send charged sanitiser particles on the surface to quickly grab and kill germs. The said method is found to be even more effective than the fogging technique to remove viruses from hidden and unreachable areas like corners, behind furniture, and the back of the chair.

Contact Clean Group today to get FREE Virus Disinfection & Protection Cleaning on all new cleaning service bookings.

Covid-19 Disinfecting Safety Tips and How to Disinfect a Workplace

The viruses that cause COVID-19 are constantly changing through mutation, and new forms of the virus are expected to emerge. Not all types are long-lived, some simply emerge and disappear but others remain here for a long time, spreading rapidly, and making survival difficult.

Health organizations and health care experts have suggested that keeping the hands clean by washing them with warm, soapy water, and not touching the face is the best defense against the virus.

Along with other steps disinfect, cleaning, and sanitizing are also essential against Covid-19. In this article Disinfecting for COVID-19, we are talking about the process of disinfection, its benefits, and surfaces that need disinfecting.

Before diving deep into the main topic let’s learn about the difference between cleaning and disinfecting first.

Disinfecting V/s Cleaning

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cleaning is the process when soap and water are used to remove germs, impurities, and dirt from a surface.

This process does not kill germs, but it does reduce their population from the surface. Whereas, disinfecting is when chemicals are used to kill the germs (viruses, bacteria, fungus) on a surface.

Thus, cleaning is meant to reduce their population, and disinfection is to kill them. To make the surface completely germ-free, it is best to clean household surfaces first to remove as many germs as possible, and then continue to disinfect to kill any germs remaining. Cleaning and disinfecting on a daily basis is a great step during this pandemic period.

Best Disinfectants Against Covid-19

A disinfectant is a chemical liquid (substance or compound) used to destroy microorganisms, including viruses, germs, and bacteria, on dormant surfaces. Sterilization is a more effective process than disinfectants, sterilizing is an extreme physical or chemical process that kills all forms of life.

Not all disinfectants are effective against the COVID-19 virus, for an effective solution use the disinfectant product from EPA List N. The disinfectants listed in the list are found to be highly effective against COVID-19. If one cannot find a product from the list in a local area, use a homemade bleach solution or a solution with at least 70% alcohol.

Surfaces That Need Regular Disinfecting for Covid-19

Surfaces that are touched several times throughout the day and are located in common areas need to be disinfected regularly. Commercial places such as offices, malls, cafes, restaurants, etc are full of such surfaces.

Examples of high-touch surfaces include common, telephones, pens, light switches, Tablets, counters, computer tables, shopping carts, tables, doorknobs, handles, stair rails, keyboards, mouse, elevator buttons, Remote controls, desks, chairs with backs, toilets, water dispenser, Window hardware, coffee making machines, faucets, and sinks.

Make Your Commercial Places Germ Free

Properly and regularly disinfecting for COVID-19 is a much-needed measure these days to keep employees, guests, and almost everyone in your office or business spaces safe. If you determine that regular disinfection may be needed then ask your cleaners to follow the process given below.

If you are cleaner than before doing anything make sure to wear disposable gloves, choose a disinfectant product from the EPA List N as those found effective against COVID-19.
If you failed to find a disinfectant product from the EPA List N, use a homemade bleach solution or alcohol solution with at least 70% alcohol.
Check product labels to see what PPE (such as gloves, goggles, or goggles) is required based on potential hazards.
Keep doors and windows open, ensure adequate ventilation,
If your disinfectant product label does not specify that it can be used for both cleaning and disinfection, you need to clean all the surfaces prior to disinfection.
Start cleaning from less dirty areas and then move towards dirtier areas. To clean all the surfaces, use soap/detergent with water and clean visibly soiled surfaces. You can use hot water instead of normal for better results.
Use only the amount recommended on the label, and if indicated to dilute with water, use water at room temperature.
All indoor areas such as entrances, escalators, elevators, corridors, and stairs, security guard booths, meeting rooms, office rooms, restrooms, cafeterias should be disinfected with 1% sodium hypochlorite or phenolic disinfectant.
Use a sprayer, fog machine, or wipes to disinfect all the surfaces, especially highly-touched surfaces.
Repeat the process a few times daily.
Remove your gloves carefully and wash your hands immediately after cleaning and disinfecting the client’s commercial place.

For more details about the process of disinfecting specifically for COVID-19, you can check the official website of the CDC. However, if you are looking for a professional COVID cleaning company for disinfecting services for COVID-19, Clean Group is here for you.

Why Choose Professional Cleaners for Disinfecting Your Premises?

Sometimes DIY products and makeshifts fail to deliver the results you want, increasing the risk of spreading the COVID-19 virus. Some local products also lack the effectiveness and compounds that are necessary for fighting against such deadly viruses. Local cleaners lack the appropriate equipment and experience to handle this responsibility.

A professional cleaning company with years of experience can handle this responsibility very easily. They have a team of trained cleaners who know the proper art of cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting. They already have a range of cleaning tools, equipment, and products that will make cleaning and disinfecting easy.

Additionally, with their knowledge of this field, they will choose the most effective disinfectant product and also take the proper quantity to provide the best possible result. Additionally, outsourcing a professional commercial cleaning company will be cheaper than hiring locals, additionally, you don’t have to provide the tools, equipment, and products.

Thus, to provide your staff and customer a germ-free environment, hiring a professional cleaner is essential these days.

Why Choose Clean Group

Clean Group is one of the leading professional cleaning companies in Sydney. The company provides quality commercial, strata, industrial cleaning services in and around Sydney NSW. Clean Group has been serving businesses in Sydney for the last 15 years with no bad reviews.

The company has all the equipment, machines, tools, products, and a highly trained team of professional cleaners ready to make your premises clean and germ-free. Contact Clean Group now and get the best workplace cleaning offer for COVID-19 disinfecting.

Important Tips for Maintaining Proper Sanitation in a Commercial Building

Cleanliness is essential, a clean environment makes people positive and happy. Even if the first impression is kept aside, health is actually the main reason why it is so important to have a clean building. In a commercial building, cleanliness reflects the working environment and culture of the company. It also shows how much a company cares about its staff and customers.

Coronavirus or Covid-19 is making survival hard since December 2019, more than 4 million people have died so far from the coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak. This pandemic situation taught everyone a lesson that only cleaning is not enough, sanitizing and disinfecting have become necessary these days.

Know the Difference

Meanwhile, cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting are basically related to cleaning but they are different from each other.

Cleaning removes dust, debris, and dirt from the surface, and scrubbing, washing, and rinsing are the common tasks for cleaning. In this process hot water with detergent/soap/cleaning compound.

Sanitizing, on the other hand, reduces the germs and bacterias identified on the product’s label from the surfaces. In it, chemical-based products are used.

Disinfecting destroys or inactivates the bacteria, germs, and viruses identified on the product label on hard, non-porous surfaces. It is also performed using chemical-based products.

While disinfecting is the most reliable way to help reduce the risk of spreading germs from surfaces by touch. Sanitizing is the most common, economical, and popular way to keep people safe from all risks.

In this article, some of the best sanitizing practices have been provided to follow during this pandemic time to reduce the risks to a minimum level. Even if COVID-19 isn’t of immediate concern, these practices will keep staff, guests, and customers of commercial property protected. Including these hygiene protocols in daily cleaning, tasks will be a great step to keep occupants happier, healthier, and more productive.

Protect Your Organization from Covid-19 with Proper Sanitizing

There are many ways to uplift the hygiene standard at your commercial premises. Some of the key practices a cleaner, employer, or employee can include in your daily cleaning plan are listed below.

1. Follow Resources from Trusted Sources

Wrong information and bad guidance can be really dangerous in a health crisis. And during the pandemic period, it can make things worse. Thus, for cleaners and employers, it is advised to always choose trusted organizations for details, updates, and instructions. Anyone who wants to stay up-to-date with the latest information on the latest health and safety precautions, make sure to visit the following links:

2. Audit of High-Touch Surfaces

Commercial properties have many high-touch surfaces that can harbor millions of bacteria. And since it’s a crowded space, these surfaces should be cleaned and sanitized regularly to encourage a healthy and productive workplace. With auditing and observing activities, employers or cleaners can easily find these high-touch surfaces in a building.

You can start with these surfaces: chairs, appliances, computer mice, coffee stations, desks, door handles, lift buttons, keyboards, diaper changing stations, kitchen surfaces, light switches, toilet, TV remote, railings, reception areas, sinks, tables, telephone, vinyl furniture, water cooler handle.

3. Regular Sanitizing of High-Touch Surfaces Is Vital

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),Cleaning and sanitizing are different and both have their own importance. While the cleaning solution removes the dirt, dust, and grime from a surface, sanitizing reduces germs and bacteria from the surface.

To properly clean contaminated surfaces in a commercial building, cleaners working there can use a combination of cleaning and sanitizing products, or use a cleaning solution that is a sanitizer too.

4. Encourage Proper Hand Wash and Sanitation

It has been observed that proper handwashing is one of the best defenses against the spread of Covid-19. If people at your premises don’t follow a proper handwashing technique, the situation can become worse and it will be dangerous for other employees, visitors, and occupants. Employers should provide training to employees to wash their hands.

Hanging posters displaying proper hand-washing techniques in restrooms, kitchens and other high-traffic areas is also a good step. Additionally, employers can also provide hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol to employees. This will be a timesaving and highly effective way to prevent more pathogens from entering your building.

5. Handle Cleaning Equipment with Proper Sanitary

It is important to use fresh, clean sanitary supplies in your building to prevent cross-contamination and protect the health of the occupant. Normally, good professional companies use microfiber cleaning cloths to sanitize all their equipment from time to time.

They also use microfiber cleaning cloths in a variety of colors for specific tasks and equipment and keep them separate too. Mops, cleaning cloths, and brushes should be washed after each use, and for better results and safety, a spray-and-vac system can be also used, which delivers a fresh cleaning solution for every application.

6. Maintain a Cleaning Checklist

Organizations must rely on a robust cleaning program that includes written procedures and tasks when cleaning and sanitizing their buildings. A robust custodial cleaning plan should mention which surfaces need to be cleaned, who will clean, what products should be used, and the process to clean the area to prevent cross-contamination.

Before finalizing a deal with a commercial cleaning company, business houses should ask for the checklist, choose a schedule, check all the tasks included in the service, and details of the product and instrument.

7. Create an Outbreak Preparedness Process

Organizations and business houses need to be prepared for future opportunities as well as worst-case scenarios. Outbreak preparedness procedures are critical, especially when an outbreak can negatively affect staff, operations, and occupants. The plan should specify any additional cleaning measures that must be taken during the crisis, as well as how to identify signs and symptoms of outbreak infection.

Why Professional Cleaners?

Professional Cleaners or cleaning companies with their experience know the art of cleaning and sanitation very well. They prepare a proper COVID cleaning checklist after the initial inspection and on the basis of the client’s requirements.

Professional cleaners feature all the equipment and tools along with quality and government-approved cleaning products. And with their knowledge and experience, they can provide the best possible cleaning and a virus-free environment for workers, visitors, and all the operations.

To know more about sanitation in a commercial building, cost, process, and product, feel free to contact Clean Group Sydney.

How Disinfection Services Can Make Your Premise Covid-19 Free

Coronavirus (Covid-19) has been among us for the last two years. Governments of different countries are trying their best to stop the spread of this virus and keep their people safe. However, the SARS-CoV-2 virus that is causing this disease, with its mutation, is making it hard for everyone to survive.

As of September 2021, four major versions of SARS-CoV-2 are circulating among the global population: the alpha version referred to as B.1.1.7, the beta version as B.1.351, the gamma version as P. 1, and the delta version is called as B.1.617.2. The delta type is highly contagious and is likely to be more serious. Also, breakthrough infections caused by Delta can be as communicable as unvaccinated cases.

Coronavirus spreads when an infected person breathes out droplets and tiny particles that contain the virus. Infected people can also contaminate the surfaces they touch. The virus is rapidly spreading; the main advice to prevent COVID-19 is to practise stringent hygiene measures.

Other than vaccination, there are a few vital precaution measurements that can help everyone to stay safe from this deadly virus. Taking these precautions becomes necessary, especially if you have an important business that has to function during this pandemic time. It is necessary to take every precaution to protect the people who use your premises, including your employees, visitors and members of the public.

These hygiene measures include regular cleaning, sanitizing and disinfecting surfaces and other high-touch stuff. Even when the restrictions will be lifted, there is a possibility that more waves and variants will come. In this case, we all have to be vigilant and continue to use all the hygienic practices.

How Effective Is Disinfecting Against Covid-19?

Disinfecting comes between sanitizing and sterilizing. It is more effective than sanitizing and less effective than sterilization.

While sanitizing is the process of reducing (not killing) the virus population, sterilization is a process that destroys or eliminates all types of microbial life and is performed in health care facilities. Disinfection destroys or inactivates both bacteria and viruses on hard, non-porous surfaces.

Disinfecting surfaces is proven the best way to help reduce the risk of spreading germs and viruses from surfaces by touch.

Make Touch Points Virus-Free

Commercial and public spaces such as offices, hospitals, schools, social care, retail stores, hotels and public transport have many contact points that people commonly share, including: door handles, light switches, supermarket trolleys and baskets, cashpoints, petrol pumps, elevators, rubbish bins, kitchen and dining surfaces, taps, kettles, toilet flush handles or buttons, stair rails, handrails, grab handles, grab rails, recycling areas, vehicles, and many more surfaces.

Poor hand hygiene becomes a big problem at crowded places because people often cough and sneeze into their hands or touch their mouth or nose, providing an easy way of spreading the coronavirus to everything they touch.

Studies have shown that germs can spread from one infected person to the entire office in 2-4 hours through contaminated touch points. There is also a risk of contamination from bodily fluids and toilet sneezes. That’s why places like toilets, restrooms, and washrooms are more dangerous than the other areas of a premise.

With regular cleaning and proper disinfection, these touch points and areas can be made virus-free. At crowded places, frequent disinfection is required to provide the best protection against viruses.

Decontaminate Covid-19 with Disinfection Services

To protect your staff, visitors, and clients, regular cleaning and frequent disinfecting areas and all the high-touch stuff can play the role of life saving measurement. Normally, when a facility manager finds that someone from staff or visitor is infected from the covid-19, these few questions came into their mind

How soon can I get my facility up and running?
How to make premises virus free and are the surfaces of my premises safe to touch and reuse?
What hygiene procedures and virus control measures should I take immediately?
How can I develop a robust strategy for implementing strong hygiene standards in my organization?
What do I need to do to comply with the changing rules and how can I keep it from happening again?

Luckily, a facility manager doesn’t have to find answers to all the above questions. There are some reputed professional COVID cleaning companies who can take care of all the above with their state-of-the-art disinfection services. Additionally, these disinfection service providers will already have all the required tools, products, safety gears and other small to large size equipment.

What Do These Disinfection Services Include?

A disinfection service provider will first inspect the complete site using their experienced experts. This will provide a site-specific:

Safe operating procedures
Method statement
Risk assessment

Professional cleaning companies have specially trained disinfection technicians, who will at first wear the personal protective equipment (PPE) kit and then manually clean all the areas and surfaces, after which they will disinfect the site using specialist equipment, and approved high-level surface disinfectant products.

They will pay special attention to the key touch points and surfaces and by using disinfectant wipes/spray, they will make all these surfaces remain virus free for a longer duration. After following manual methods for disinfecting surfaces, they would use fogging machines to combat airborne pathogens and disinfect large areas.

In this ultra-low volume (ULV) disinfection fogging, a fogger machine is used to generate a cloud of tiny droplets of a disinfectant liquid, which significantly reduces the number of pathogens on both surfaces and in the air.

Proper and regular cleaning and disinfecting have become essential these days to make areas contaminated by the Covid-19 safe and quickly resume the operations without any risks. An experienced cleaning company can help businesses to resume their operations with their effective disinfection services. As stated above, professional disinfection services have the equipment, techniques, and products best suited for disinfecting any type of area. So, businesses can be assured about the safety of their staff, visitors and operations.

If you are looking for a reputed commercial cleaning company for disinfection services against COVID-19 then connecting with Clean Group Sydney will be a wise step. The company has 15+ years of experience and has all the resources to make your premise safe from germs, bacteria, and viruses. So for quality disinfection services, pick your phone and dial 1300141946 Now.

The Role of PPE in Infection Prevention and Control

An outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease now named COVID-19 was initially observed in mid-December 2019 from a seafood market in the city of Wuhan in China’s Hubei province, spreading to more than 185 countries/regions worldwide.

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses, animal coronavirus is a bit different from MERS and SARS because it really develops and infects people. However, so far it has killed around 45.5 lakh people and experts have already predicted that there are many more waves and variants are on their way to increase this number.

The SARS-CoV-2 virus is spread through human-to-human transmission, primarily through respiratory droplets that are produced when people cough, sneeze or exhale. It is also spread by touching, directly touching, and through contaminated surfaces or objects and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes. Healthcare-associated infection by the SARS-CoV-2 virus has been documented among healthcare workers in several countries.

People at the highest risk of COVID-19 infection are those who are in close contact with a suspected/confirmed COVID-19 patient or who care for such patients. And this is where the PPE kit comes in the protection of such people.

What is PPE?

PPE which stands for Personal Protective Equipment, are protective gear designed to protect the health of workers (wearer) by minimizing exposure to a biological agent. Proper use of PPE helps keep healthcare workers safe and prevents the spread of many types of viruses, germs, and bacteria, including COVID-19.

Components of PPE and Their Use

PPE is part of a larger infection prevention and control bundle of measures and should be implemented as part of a multi-pronged strategy for the management of COVID-19 patients. There are also many components of PPE which are explained below:

1. Coverall/Gowns

Coveralls or gowns are for protecting the torso of healthcare workers from exposure to the virus. These coveralls provide 360° protection, they cover the entire body, including the back and lower legs and sometimes the head and legs. Coveralls and gowns are considered equally acceptable because there is a lack of comparative evidence to show whether one is more effective than the other in reducing transmission to healthcare workers.

2. Head Covers

Coveralls also cover the head, but gown users may use a headcover that properly covers the head and neck while providing clinical care for patients. Hair and hair extensions should fit inside the headcover.

3. Face Shield and Goggles

Protecting the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose, mouth using a face shield or goggles is an integral part of standard and contact precautions. The flexible frame of the glasses should provide a good seal with the skin of the face and the eyes and surrounding areas.

4.Masks

Respiratory viruses including the coronavirus primarily target the upper and lower respiratory tract. Therefore, protecting the airways from particulate matter generated by droplets or aerosols protects against humans from any infection. There are many types of masks, but two types of masks that are highly recommended by the experts are Triple-layer medical mask and N-95 Respirator mask.

5. Gloves

Gloves are essential to prevent infection. There are many types of gloves that can do the job well. However, nitrile gloves are preferred over latex gloves because they resist chemicals, including some disinfectants, such as chlorine. Latex gloves can also be used if nitrile gloves are not available. Additionally, non-powdered gloves are preferred over powdered gloves.

6. Shoe Covers

Shoe covers are made of impermeable fabric and can be used over shoes to facilitate personal protection and decontamination.

No Better Defence

Precaution is the best defense against such a deadly virus, and nothing can beat the level of protection a PPE kit is currently providing to front liners during this pandemic situation. People working in the health care and cleaning/disinfection sector know-how vital infection prevention and control is in keeping residents, staff, and visitors safe and well.

The use of PPE kits has recently been raised in health care institutions such as hospitals, clinics, and diagnostic laboratories during the Covid-19 pandemic situation. When used properly, PPE acts as a barrier between infectious viruses and bacteria and the human body. They prevent them from contaminating the skin, mouth, nose, or eyes. PPE has a major role in preventing the transmission of contaminants through blood, body fluids, or respiratory secretions.

It is also clearly seen that PPE has certainly played a vital role in containing the COVID-19 pandemic in most of the countries across the world. Even cleaning companies started using PPE kits to protect their staff, and customers completely safe and Covid-19 free.

Proper training of all the staff whether cleaning or health care staff along with directing them to take all the precautions and use the PPE kit are some essential steps a business owner can take to keep their staff, visitors, clients, and operation safe.

PPE Training

There are many training online/offline programs available for everyone from really reputed sources. Mainly these training programs are split into three phases:

First Phase: Care homes for older people, mental health and learning disability settings
Second Phase: Supported living
Third Phase: Domiciliary care and day centers.

Normally, sessions will be delivered face-to-face or virtually by clinicians, trainers, healthcare experts. A typical PPE training course often includes the following topics:

When is PPE necessary and when will it not help?
What types of personal protective equipment are available to employees?
The proper way to put on (wear), adjust and take off PPE
Proper care, maintenance, and disposal of equipment
How long is personal protective equipment effective?
How to Inspect Equipment for Damage or Wear?

Most of the training programs available online or even offline cover all the topics from the above. For more details visiting the official websites of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World health organization will be a wise step.

What About Clean Group Sydney?

All the cleaners of Clean Group Sydney are well trained as per the new guidelines. Additionally, the company, as a leader in cleaning service providers in Australia, had conducted special PPE training and Covid-19 training programs for their cleaning staff multiple times.

Their cleaning staff uses state of art technologies along with PPE Kit and other safety equipment. They also take all the precautions such as maintaining distance, wearing masks and gloves, proper hand sanitation, and proper disposal of garbage and used kits. It has been also observed that the company had included dedicated Covid-19 cleaning and disinfecting services in their services portfolio.

Additionally, they also added sanitizing and disinfecting tasks in their regular cleaning services. Thus, if one is looking for a well aware and trained cleaning service provider then they must contact Clean Group Sydney at once.

What Is Sanitisation and Why Is It So Important?

Whether it is an office, manufacturing plant, home, or even health care center, maintaining a higher standard of cleaning has become essential these days. There is not a fixed way to clean a premise, it all depends on requirements, size of the area, and time allotted for cleaning and expertise of cleaners. However, there are many types of cleaning ranging from regular cleaning to sanitization and disinfection.

Today sanitization is more important than anything else. Correct…!. From individuals to business houses, everyone is looking for sanitizers or sanitizing service providers to keep them safe and secure from the deadly virus. However, if you are still not aware of why Sanitization is so important! This article is for you.

What is Sanitization?

Sanitation is the process of cleaning a particular area or surface in such a way that it is made bacteria-free and fundamentally cleans all kinds of germs and viruses that can infect the human body and cause various kinds of diseases.

In other words, it is a process of removing harmful microbes by using chemical solutions that do not harm the human body. Chemicals are used in measured amounts and diluted with water or other diluting agents; the final product is called sanitizers. It can also be done with the help of heat and some other methods but it cannot be applied in every context. There are two ways people are using sanitizers.

Hand Sanitization: It is a process of COVID-19 cleaning the body part especially the hands that can be infected easily by any germs or viruses when the hand touches any surface, animals, or humans that have germs on it.
Surface Sanitization: It is a process of eliminating microorganisms from any kind of surface including tabletop, clothing, fruits and vegetables, and any other type of hard surface.

Types of Sanitization Available in the Market

There are many processes and many types of chemical compounds available in the market as sanitization products. Some popular sanitization methods are :

Antimicrobial sanitization
Chemical sanitization
Foam cleaning sanitization
Thermal sanitization that normally performed using either steam or hot water
Pressure cleaning sanitization, that is done with the strong pressure of water.

The choice of method depends on the nature of the surface that needs to be cleaned and the environment where the surface is located.

Now other than methods, there are also various options available in terms of the main chemical or product in sanitation. Some of the most well-known choices are:

Alcohol-based products
Iodine sanitizers
Hydrogen Peroxide
Peracetic Acid
Iodophors
Peroxyacetic Acid
Formaldehyde
Quaternary ammonium
Glutaraldehyde
Phenolics
Chlorine-based cleaners

As sanitization is a process that can be done in many different ways and by using a large number of products and chemicals, choosing the most relevant product is the responsibility of an expert. And that’s why normally businesses hire a professional cleaning company for all the cleaning and sanitation tasks.

Why Is Sanitizing So Important?

We are all facing one of the most terrible pandemics in history. Coronavirus has badly affected all of us; More on the less fortunate community. If you put aside earning for a living, the constant fear of the possibility of contracting the virus has made it so difficult to step out of our homes.

Taking precautions is the best defense against this disease. These precautions along with proper cleaning. sanitizing and our habits can create a barricade between us and viruses. While cleaning is the process of sweeping, mopping, wiping the dirt & impurity off from surfaces, it can’t eliminate the germs. Whereas, sanitizing will eliminate or inhibit the growth of bacteria, mold, and viruses.

Proper sanitation will effectively eliminate pathogens, although these sanitizers should contain 70% to 90% alcohol as recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). Regular cleaning and sanitation are necessary to keep people, whether family members or staff, safe from the Covid-19 and many other viruses, germs, and bad bacterias. It is helping to contain the spread of viruses.

That’s why sanitation becomes one of the most essential steps as part of the cleaning process in commercial, industrial, and residential places. Especially in the health care sector workers are using it to stay protected as well as to keep others safe.

How to Reduce the Risk of Contracting the Covid-19?

There are many methods and processes that can be used to sanitize your premise but the most effective one is engraved below:

Wear gloves, a PPE kit, or other protective gear.
Inspect the complete premise.
Collect all the pickable stuff, vacuum all the surfaces.
Use hot water and detergent/soap or other cleaning products to clean dirt and debris from the area.
Sweep or mop to extra clean the surface and make it dry.
Use sanitizer in a spray machine or fogging machine to spray the sanitizers to each and every surface and corner.
Use disposable sanitizer towels to clean and sanitize all the high-touch surfaces like door handles, telephones, keyboards, tabletops, etc.
Clean the washroom and disinfect each and every corner.
Let all surfaces dry, for better results.

These tasks may seem easy while reading but they are actually not. To perform these tasks on a regular basis and effectively, business houses will need the help of professionals. Professional cleaners and cleaning companies will make sure that they follow all the safety guidelines, using the only govt. approved sanitizing products and quality tools to make sure that the customer’s premises remain virus-free for a longer duration.

Choosing a quality cleaner is essential to get the best results during this pandemic period. If anyone is looking for a good and reputed cleaning company then they should contact Clean Group Sydney first.

Covid-19 Infection Control Training Faqs & Answers

Cleaning was never a straightforward job, and now during the time of a pandemic, the role of cleaning and cleaners gets bigger. Precaution is the best defence against Covid-19, but before taking all the precautions properly, people should know the best way to take them. By observing this, many private companies and government authorities have launched Covid-19 training programs and courses, especially for cleaners and health workers.

These training programs and courses are good for making cleaners aware of the situation and provide them training for taking precaution but even after that, there are some important questions cleaners ask during covid-19 training. Here, in this article, we listed all those questions and tried to provide convincing answers to all of them.

What is Covid-19?

COVID-19 is a disease caused by a new virus SARS-CoV-2 which belongs to the coronavirus family. The WHO first noted this new virus on December 31st, 2019 when a cluster of cases of ‘viral pneumonia’ were reported in Wuhan, People’s Republic of China. Later, some genetic variants of the virus have been found around the world. And it is expected that more variants and waves will appear soon.

What Are the Symptoms of Covid-19?

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are:

Fever
Dry cough
Fatigue

Symptoms of severe COVID‐19 disease include:

loss of appetite,
Temperature above 38 °C.
Shortness of breath,
Confusion,
Persistent pain or pressure in the chest,

Other less common symptoms that may affect some patients include:

Conjunctivitis or red eyes
Loss of taste or smell,
Chills or dizziness.
Sore throat,
Nasal congestion,
Headache,
Pain in muscle or joint
Skin rashes,
Vomiting or nausea,
Diarrhea,

Other symptoms are:

Irritability,
Confusion,
Reduced consciousness
Anxiety,
Depression,
Sleep disorders,
Rare neurological complications: strokes, delirium, brain inflammation, and nerve damage.

What Happens When Someone Gets Covid-19?

Of those who get Covid-19, about 80% recover from the disease without any hospital treatment. About 15% become seriously ill and need treatments and oxygen and 5% become critically ill and require intensive care.

Covid-19 can in some serious cases lead to death because of complications including respiratory failure, sepsis and septic shock, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), thromboembolism, multiorgan failure, injury to the heart, lungs, liver, or even kidney.

In some rare cases, it has been observed that children can also develop a severe inflammatory syndrome in a few weeks after getting Covid-19.

Who Is Most at Risk of Serious Illness from Covid-19?

People aged 60 years and above having medical problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, heart and lung problems, or cancer are at higher risk of developing severe illness from Covid-19. However, anyone at any age can get infected and become seriously ill or die at any age.

What Are the Long-Term Effects of Covid-19?

Not all, but some people who have had COVID-19, whether or not requiring hospitalization, continue to experience some symptoms of effects of Covid-19. In most of them, common symptoms they were facing are fatigue, respiratory and neurological symptoms.

What Is the Best Way to Protect Ourselves and Others If We Don’t Know Who Is Infected?

Taking precaution is the best protection against Covid-19. Stay safe by carefully taking all the precautions as shown in the training. These precautions include maintaining distance, wearing a mask, wearing gloves, avoiding crowds and close contact, using hand sanitizer, etc. As a COVID cleaner, you can protect your customers and yourself by wearing PPE kits and using quality sanitizers and disinfectants during cleaning.

When Should I Get Tested for Covid-19?

If someone is having symptoms, they need to be tested as soon as possible. People who do not have symptoms but have had close contact with an infected or maybe an infected person also need to consider testing for COVID-19. As a cleaner, if you get to know that someone from your previous custom gets infected, you should visit a health center for testing.

What Are the Recommended Tests to See If I Have Covid-19?

A molecular test is used to detect SARS-CoV-2 and confirm infection, the most common molecular test being the polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

What Are Rapid Antigen Tests?

Rapid Antigen Tests or Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs) detect viral proteins (antigens). It is cheaper but less accurate than PCR. However, it provides more rapid results. It is best when more viruses are spreading in the community.

Is There Any Way to Find Out If Someone Has Covid-19 in the Past?

Yes, Antibody tests can tell if someone has had an infection in the past, however it is not for diagnosing COVID-19. It detects when antibodies start to develop in response to a virus.

What Is the Difference Between Isolation and Quarantine?

Isolation is for Covid-19 positive people or people who have symptoms. Being in isolation means being isolated from everyone in a medical facility (even at home too) where you can receive medical care for at least 10+3 (without symptoms) days. Whereas, Quarantine is for people who came into contact with someone having Covid-19. In case of Covid-19 quarantine of at least 14 days is advised.

What Should I Do If I Have Come into Contact with Someone Who Has Covid-19?

If you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, you can become infected, even if you feel well. Thus, start taking all the precautions very strictly to keep the other safe. Contact the health care provider or someone on the COVID-19 hotline. Corporate the health care experts and follow the advice given by them. Monitor your health and visit a health care center for proper testing if any of the symptoms are observed. Stay positive and do exercise and meditation.

How Long Does It Take for Symptoms to Develop?

It takes 1-14 days after the exposure to Covid-19 for symptoms to develop. However, on average, symptoms of Covid-19 start to appear in between 5-6 days.

Is There a Vaccine for Covid-19?

At least 13 different vaccines (in 4 platforms) have been administered.
Some popular ones are:

Pfizer/BioNtech Comirnaty vaccine
SII/Covishield
AstraZeneca/AZD1222 vaccines
Janssen/Ad26.COV 2.S
Moderna COVID-19 vaccine (mRNA 1273)
Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine

What Will I Have to Do If I Get Symptoms of Covid-19?

If you have symptoms of Covid-19, the first thing you should do is to call your healthcare provider for instruction. Also, find out how and when you can get tested for Covid-19. Take all precautions and stay away from others for at least 14 days and monitor your health.

Is There Any Cure for Covid-19?

The WHO does not recommend self-medication with any drug, and scientists are also trying to find an effective cure to treat Covid-19.

Meanwhile, oxygen is included in optimal supportive care for critically ill/at-risk patients. Additionally, dexamethasone, a corticosteroid, may help reduce the length of time on a ventilator and save the lives of patients with severe disease.

Are Antibiotics Effective in Preventing or Treating Covid-19?

Antibiotics are for bacterial infection and not for viruses, thus antibiotics are not effective against Covid-19. However, hospitals can use it to prevent/treat secondary bacterial infections. Which appears as a complication of Covid-19.

These answers will not only help cleaners to get accurate information, but it will also help them to answer the question of customers. Cleaning is a tough job and cleaners have to be proactive to follow all the guidelines and precautions. However, If you are looking for a professional cleaning company for cleaning, certification, and training, Clean Group is here for you.

Clean Group is one of the highly reputed cleaning companies located in Sydney, NSW, Australia. The Company is actively providing quality cleaning services to commercial, industrial, and strata buildings. We have all the resources like tools, cleaning/sanitizing/disinfecting solutions, equipment, machines and a team of responsible and experienced cleaners. Thus, don’t wander here and there and contact Clean Group now for all your cleaning needs.

Covid-19 Infection Control Training in Sydney (Keep You Safe at Work)

Australia was already reeling under disasters in early 2020 and then on 1 March, Australia recorded its first death from the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then the government has taken very serious measures to contain the spread of Covid-19 and keep people safe.

In the same view, the Australian government with the department of health introduced a free online COVID-19 infection control training course too. This training course is available for health care workers in all settings.

It covers the fundamentals of infection prevention and control for COVID-19. Meanwhile, As per the situation, this training course is essential for everyone. We should provide training to our family members, staff and other people.

That’s why in this article I am providing details of what a basic COVID-19 infection control training in Sydney includes, what tools and equipment are required, and how we can stop the spread of COVID-19 in our surroundings.

Before knowing the process and other important stuff, understanding the virus we are fighting against is important.

Coronavirus Disease (Covid-19)

The coronavirus disease or commonly known as COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, and it has been among us for the past two years. Many people who are infected with it will experience mild to moderate symptoms and recover without special treatment.

However, some will become seriously ill and require medical attention. The COVID-19 disease killed around 45 lakh people worldwide, and from time to time it is making things horrible for us with its mutation. Thus. to stay safe, and to protect others we need to contain its spread and it is possible with proper hygiene, changing habits, boosting our immunity, and making people aware around us.

How Does It Spread

The virus can be spread in small liquid particles from an infected person’s mouth or nose when they cough, breathe, sneeze, or speak. These liquid particles exist from large respiratory droplets to small aerosols.

You can become infected by breathing in a surrounding where someone has COVID-19. It also spreads by touching a contaminated surface and then your eyes, nose, or mouth. This virus can easily spread indoors as well as in crowded places.

After knowing the basics of coronavirus disease or COVID-19, now we can dive into the details of necessary training for COVID-19 infection control.

Covid-19 Infection Control Training in Sydney

COVID-19 infection control training in Sydney is necessary for everyone including normal people, homeowners, cleaners, hospital staff, primary care/ aged care, and everyone. This training will help you to understand how to reduce the risk of coronavirus (COVID-19) infections at home, in the workplace, and in clinical settings.

Let’s start with the precautionary measurement we can take to control the spread. I learned all these from the Clean Group Sydney staff when they came to my workplace and conducted a free training and consultant program. So, here is the list of measures we can follow to keep yourself safe from this deadly virus.

1. Hand Hygiene Practices

We should wash our hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use sanitizers, especially when we are in a public place, or after blowing out nose, coughing, or sneezing.

Teach your family member and staff to wash hands properly and the proper way to use hand sanitizers. This particular step is extremely important before eating or preparing food, before touching your face, after using the toilet, handling your mask, changing a diaper, caring for a sick person, or touching a pet.

2. Use of Personal Protective Equipment

Even if you are fully vaccinated, wear a mask indoors in public, to maximize protection from the delta variant and possibly to prevent spreading it to others. Additionally, don’t trust the normal cloth masks and choose N95 masks for the best possible protection. Don’t forget to show your loved ones and staff the correct way of wearing a mask. You can wear gloves and a PPE kit if you are a cleaner or medical staff, it will keep you as well as others safe from this disease.

3. Stay 6 Feet Away from Others

It has been observed that some people without symptoms may be able to spread the virus, so avoid close contact with people. If possible, maintain a distance of 6 feet (2 arm lengths) between yourself and people and other family members.

You can also use stickers and posters to encourage them to maintain 6 feet distance in the office area. Maintaining a distance from others is vital for people who are at high risk of getting very sick.

4. Effective Surface Cleaning

Whether you’re in the office or at home, make sure to clean high-touch surfaces daily. This includes tables, handles, doorknobs, phones, light switches, countertops, desks, faucets, keyboards, toilets, and sinks. You can guide your people to use sanitizers and disinfectant solutions to keep all these surfaces virus-free.

5. Disposal of Contaminated Waste

Garbage and waste from your home or offices need to be disposed of properly. Additionally, Disposal of contaminated waste such as personal protective equipment, medical wastage is very necessary. Office or professional cleaners need to pay proper attention to the disposal of waste.

6. Proper Reporting and Monitor Daily Health

Be aware of symptoms. Pay attention to fever, cough, shortness of breath, or other symptoms of COVID-19. If you observe some symptoms in yourself then inform your seniors properly and avoid going to the office or public place. Consult with doctors and maintain a record of your temperature.

7. Spread Awareness

Provide proper training to your staff and teach them to use face masks and other helpful instruments. If you are running a cleaning company, teach them to use fogging machines, sanitizing, and disinfectant machines and solutions. Make your family and friends aware of all the precautions and encourage them to take all the precautions.

8. Other Helpful Precautions

COVID-19 infection control training is basically for keeping ourselves safe from Covid-19, there are many small and common steps we can take to achieve that, some of them are listed below.

If you are sick and have symptoms, stay home from work, school, and public areas, except for medical care.
Avoid public transport, taxis, and ride-sharing if possible.
Always wear a face mask around other people.
If you are infected, isolate yourself from others in your home as much as possible.
If possible, use separate bedrooms and bathrooms.
Avoid sharing dishes, glasses, bedding, and other household items.

That’s it, this simple training module that you can follow and share to make people aware and keep them protected. While this period of time is scary and there isn’t a universal “right answer” on how to do business, keep the family happy, train people around, and provide them with all the information they need. Training them is a great step in the right direction to keep them safe from Covid-19.

Meanwhile, as you have already seen I am quite impressed with the Clean Group Sydney company and their cleanliness as well as the way they make people aware. Clean Group is one of the finest professional COVID-19 cleaning companies in Sydney, NSW, Australia, with years of positive record and the services that people really wanted in this modern era. You can contact Clean Group Sydney for commercial, industrial, strata, and special Covid-19 cleaning, and they will ensure that the virus remains at a distance from your surroundings.

COVID-19 Cleaning & Disinfecting? (How to Disinfect Workplace Surfaces)

COVID (Coronavirus Disease) is a disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus or commonly known as the coronavirus. As many studies have suggested, the coronavirus can land on and spread through surfaces. Disinfection is one of the effective and TGA-recommended ways to get rid of the coronavirus from surfaces and objects and limit the spread of infection in commercial premises.

Businesses looking to safeguard their premises against the virus must seek professional help from an expert COVID cleaning company Sydney.

How Does the Coronavirus Spread?

The COVID-19 virus can reach surfaces like door handles, knobs, light switches and others through an infected person. From there, it can transfer to other people if they touch a contaminated surface and then touch their nose, mouth, or eyes, through which the virus can enter the body.

COVID Cleaning & Disinfecting?

COVID cleaning refers to the process of cleaning with the purpose to reduce germs, including the coronavirus. Disinfecting is a cleaning method that is found to be the most effective for virus removal, given the right disinfectant is used for the job.

COVID Disinfection Cleaning is recommended in the following cases:

When a confirmed COVID case is found on the property
When someone is sick
Regular disinfection as a precautionary step to safeguard against COVID infection

Cleaning Vs. Disinfecting for Covid-19

Cleaning is the basic way to reduce germs on surfaces in a commercial facility. Basic cleaning, washing or wet mopping using a detergent solution or soap water is good enough to take care of germs that are normally found in a property. However, this only works for places where there are no confirmed or suspected COVID cases found yet.

For commercial facilities where someone is sick or found infected by the coronavirus, disinfection cleaning is usually the best approach.

Disinfecting can kill up to 99.99% of germs on surfaces, depending on the disinfectants used and the disinfection process. This helps reduce the risk of spreading infection and is the best way to maintain a healthy workplace.

Disinfecting is also recommended for places with high-traffic areas such as malls, departmental stores, public places, etc.

Areas and premises where the probability of COVID transmission is high and/or the vaccination rate is lower are also advised to go through routine disinfecting.

For places where a sick or COVID-infected person has been reported, both cleaning AND disinfecting are compulsory before the area could be used again.

How to Disinfect Surfaces in an Office?

For the cleaning of surfaces and high-traffic areas in a workplace, use a TGA-approved disinfectant from this list.

The use of a sprayer machine along with an approved disinfectant is ideal for small spaces. For large spaces, a professional COVID disinfection service is recommended.

Before starting to disinfect, properly clean the surface to remove any dust and dirt from it. Basic cleaning methods such as vacuuming, wiping, and mopping are generally good enough.

Soft surfaces such as fabric, blinds, rugs must be vacuumed first and then disinfected using a product that is safe for such surfaces. If needed, clean or wash the surface using a detergent or soap-water solution.

All electronics, including computer monitors, mouse, keyboards, tablets, phones, remote controls, and ATM machines must be routinely cleaned and disinfected as these are highly vulnerable objects. For disinfection of electronic surfaces, use either disinfectant wipes or a disinfectant solution along with a basic sprayer. Gently spray the solution on the surface and then wipe it down using a clean cloth, or let it stay (according to the instructions provided on the package).

The next step is disinfecting other frequently touched areas inside and outside the property. These include water faucets, lift buttons, light switches, door handles & knobs, window sills, tabletops, desks, kitchen counters, toilets, sink, etc. Spray the disinfectant solution on the surface and wipe it down using a clean or microfiber cloth.

When handling a disinfectant solution, always wear disposable gloves and mask, and discard them immediately after use. Cleaners must thoroughly wash their hands using water & soap after cleaning.

Electrostatic Disinfection Technology is the best, certified method for commercial disinfection. It is even more effective than disinfectant fogging and can kill up to 99.99% of germs, including the coronavirus. Contact Clean Group for details.

Disinfecting a Facility with a Confirmed or Suspected Covid Case

Extra care must be taken when cleaning and/or disinfecting a place where someone is sick or a confirmed COVID case has been reported.

The entire area or spaces the infected person occupied must be closed for the general public. This will help limit the spread of the infection. Do not use or let anyone use these spaces until they have been cleaned and disinfected. The person must be immediately quarantined or sent to a hospital. Wait for a few hours before starting to clean and disinfect the place.

When cleaning the area, make sure to maintain proper air circulation by keeping windows and doors open and using fans.

Use a TGA-approved disinfectant solution to carefully disinfect all touchpoints, frequently used areas/objects, and high traffic places. When using a disinfectant, always follow the instructions provided on the product package.

For professional disinfecting cleaners, it is recommended to use a PPE kit while cleaning. For regular people, wearing a mask and gloves is the best way to avoid cross-contamination.

Properly clean and disinfect all the areas that the sick person occupied and/or used in the last 24 hours or so.

Either discard or thoroughly wash the dirty laundry of the infected person. Do not use it without washing.

Studies suggest that the coronavirus automatically dies on surfaces after a few days. So, in case if a couple of days have passed since the person was reported sick, only cleaning should be sufficient and no disinfection is needed. However, in commercial premises, where the traffic is high and the area needs to be used immediately or within a few hours, thorough cleaning and disinfection are a must.

In offices and workplaces where a confirmed COVID case is reported, the entire property must be cleaned and disinfected to avoid cross-contamination, before the place could be used again.

DIY vs. Professional COVID Disinfection

Disinfection is a cleaning type that involves the use of harsh chemicals that can be harmful to skin, eyes, and other body parts if not handled carefully. Special care must be taken when handling disinfectants and appropriate gear including Personal protective equipment (PPE), masks, and gloves must be used by cleaners while disinfecting. All this may not always be possible for regular or inexperienced cleaners. This is why it is strongly recommended to outsource professional COVID cleaners for disinfecting of commercial premises.

There are many benefits of hiring a professional COVID disinfecting service. An expert cleaning company will have all the resources and tools needed for an efficient disinfecting job. Moreover, their cleaners will have the experience and training required to safely and efficiently disinfect commercial properties without risking the safety of the people around them. They will know about and can disinfect all frequently touched points, areas & objects.

An experienced COVID cleaning company like Clean Group will use TGA-approved chemicals along with the best disinfection method to effectively remove up to 99.99% of germs, including the coronavirus from workplaces. Moreover, it is easier to trust a professional than a regular cleaner with no disinfecting experience.

Need professional help with COVID Disinfection in Sydney? Contact Clean Group.

What Is the Most Effective Method of Sanitising for Covid-19?

COVID is a very real threat, not just to people but also to businesses and companies. As seen in the last year or so, many small businesses had to close their doors permanently and others failed to recover from the impacts of the coronavirus. So, it would be wise to not take the threat lightly. Let’s talk about the best ways to sanitize to get rid of the virus responsible for COVID-19.

What Is Covid Sanitization?

Sanitization refers to the process of making something sanitary using a specialised chemical called sanitizer. Basically, the application of a sanitizer will remove or reduce pathogens such as bacteria on a surface. This is particularly used for cleaning in sensitive premises including food processing and medical industries where sanitation is a mandatory requirement.

Sanitizing should not be confused with disinfecting, which is a more effective method of control infection and bacteria on hard, non-porous surfaces. Disinfecting generally involves the use of a more harsh chemical that may not always be suitable for medical and food premises and for personal use.

Sanitization is also used for laundry and other soft surfaces to remove germs and bacteria from them.

Sanitizer may also refer to hand sanitizer, which is an ethanol-based solution generally used to clean hands and get rid of bacteria and germs. Alcohol-based sanitizers containing at least 60% alcohol have been found to be effective against the coronavirus.

Best Methods for Covid Sanitizing

Sanitizing provides an additional layer of security after cleaning for equipment and surfaces on which disease-causing organisms may be present. The use of an effective sanitizing solution and procedure can help reduce germs on common surfaces as well as hands, which in turn, helps prevent the transfer of these germs to other surfaces or people.

COVID Sanitizing is particularly helpful in industrial and commercial premises where sanitation is a mandatory concern because of dealing with foods and people’s safety (medical premises). The process helps remove a variety of microorganisms, including the coronavirus, from food-contact surfaces, utensils, and equipment.

In hospitals and medical premises, sanitization is a mandatory practice before and after the use of medical equipment and devices. It is known to be effective against the COVID-19 virus.

In general, there are two proven methods of sanitizing used in both commercial and industrial premises for providing final sanitation after the surface or object has been cleaned properly. These include – 1) Heating & 2) Chemical Treatment.

1) Sanitization by Heating

The use of hot water and/or steam is a very common household sanitization process. This method is particularly useful for removing germs from foods and food-contact surfaces such as utensils, bottles, etc. Heating at a certain temperature can help reduce or kill the COVID-19 virus.

Hot water sanitizing: The use of hot water for sanitizing is both easy and very effective. There are other benefits as well, such as hot water is readily available, non-toxic and affordable. The sanitizing process involves either immersing the object into hot/boiling water or pumping the water onto the surface/object. The ideal water temperature for effective hot water sanitizing is 171°F. (77°C) or above.

Steam sanitization: This method of sanitizing by heating involves the use of steam, which is also a wonderful agent for removing germs from food equipment and items. This method is both safe and very effective in food equipment sanitization. The process involves treating the object with the steam flow at 171°F. (77°C) for at least 15 minutes or above 200°F for at least 5 minutes.

2) Sanitization by Chemicals

The use of chemical solutions is one of the best and quick ways to get rid of germs and disease organisms, including the coronavirus from surfaces and hands. The chemicals used for the sanitizing purpose must have specific properties and be approved by respective authorities for the ability to destroy microorganisms.

Some chemicals may not be suitable for use on food-contact surfaces because of their harsh properties, in which case hot water or steam sanitizing is recommended. For all other industrial and commercial sanitizing needs, using an approved sanitizer is ideal.

Only TGA-approved chemicals and sanitary products that are certified to remove the COVID-19 virus must be used for professional sanitizing in industrial and commercial premises.

When buying or using a sanitizer, make sure to check the label for instructions to use, registration number, preferred uses, and safety precautions. For both household and industrial sanitizing needs, the following chemical sanitizers are safe to use:

1. Chlorine: Chlorine and its compounds are a part of a number of popular sanitizer and disinfectant products. Chlorine can help remove a wide variety of microorganisms from surfaces and water. It doesn’t leave stains and is effective even in hard water. It’s also affordable and easily available.

2. Iodophors: These are soluble iodine complexes usually combined with other nonionic surface cleaning agents. These are effective in the removal of bacteria and are non-corrosive and don’t leave stains. Also, it’s safe for the skin.

3. Ammonium Compounds: are surface cleaning agents that are able to remove a wide variety of germs. These are non-corrosive, skin-friendly, and stable. The application of the solution on a surface will form a protective film, thereby preventing further contamination.

Make sure to check the label and confirm with the vendor/manufacturer whether the sanitizer is effective against the coronavirus before purchasing and using it. Also, one must consider the different factors affecting the effectiveness of chemical sanitizers.

Most of the sanitizer products/chemicals work on contact, which means they must come in direct contact with microorganisms in order to destroy them.

Also, certain sanitizers may be selective in which variety of microorganisms they work on. The concentration of the sanitizer is another thing one needs to look at when buying it.

The more concentrated the sanitizer, the more effective it will be to remove germs. The temperature of the sanitizer solution, pH of sanitizer, and time of exposure are some other factors to consider when choosing the right sanitizer solution for COVID cleaning.

Covid Sanitizing by Professional Cleaners

As the demand for specialist COVID cleaning and sanitizing services is increasing, so is the number of professional cleaning companies offering these services.

Hiring a professional COVID cleaners in Sydney is certainly the best way to ensure complete sanitation in commercial premises. Clean Group offers complete COVID cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting services at affordable prices.

The cleaning professionals will perform routine cleaning as well as sanitize all high-traffic areas and surfaces such as countertops, tables, light switches, toilets, doorknobs & handles, rails, chairs, faucets, refrigerator doors, remote controls, etc.

All food-contact surfaces, including dishwashers, utensils, kitchen counters, and equipment will be thoroughly sanitized using approved chemicals that are safe for humans.

Professional sanitizing is recommended over DIY cleaning to effectively combat the COVID-19 virus in commercial premises. It’s safe, reliable, and effective.

However, sanitizing may not always be suitable for general disinfection purposes, as separate disinfectants containing specific solutions are available for commercial disinfection. Make sure that the cleaners are using approved chemicals for sanitizing.

Sanitizing is a less harsh method of COVID cleaning compared to disinfecting, but it is still a good way to cut the number of germs on a surface.

It is particularly useful in medical and food processing industries, where proper sanitation is a prerequisite. Contact Clean Group for all kinds of COVID sanitising needs fulfilled in an effective and affordable manner.