As businesses prepare to jump back on their feet as lockdown started to ease, we had a deep look at how and what we can do for the guests and staff according to health and safety in a Covid-19 context. Proactive communication is required to prevent the spread of coronavirus Covid-19 but also how we can deliver safely reassuring cleaning services according to the guidance in place.
As a general rule, social distancing and personal protection equipment is the first line of defence.
COVID-19 can be transferred via hands from one surface to another. By touching a surface that has traces of COVID-19 on it, and then touching your face or eyes, you may become infected with COVID-19. Soap and hand sanitizers are effective at denaturing the fats and proteins surrounding the virus, and therefore good ways to kill the virus.
COVID-19 can live on some common household surfaces for up to 3 days. Information and knowledge are evolving all the time. Currently, it is thought that the virus can live for up to:
2-3 hours in the air
Up to 4 hours on copper
Up to 24 hours on cardboard, glass, and metal.
Up to 2 or 3 days on plastic and stainless steel.
Therefore, these surfaces need to be disinfected before they are safe to touch. All surfaces which are touched frequently should be regularly disinfected.
Detergent and disinfectants
We compiled information from multiple sources and we have tailored a cleaning protocol to clean and disinfect with the aid of professional detergents and best in class disinfection agents. Ready to use detergent for specific areas diluted automatically with the help of the Diversey J-flex systemassures correct concentrations ruling out the human error. Detailed information can be found by following the link.
For the kitchen area, we use Suma D10 J-Flex, which is a concentrated detergent disinfectant for cleaning and disinfection of all surfaces in food premises. The product is effective against a wide range of micro-organisms, in all water conditions. The formulation also contains surfactants, which makes the product suitable for one-step cleaning and disinfection.
Special attention should be given to the kitchen area and all the kitchenware should be washed at the highest temperature setting every time for new guests.
For the bathroom area, we use Taski Sani 4 in 1 cleaner, descaler, disinfectant, and deodorizer for all acid-resistant hard surfaces. It provides excellent hygiene, reducing the risk of cross-contamination.
For common touchpoints disinfection, we use Oxivir Excel, a highly concentrated one-step cleaner disinfectant with broad-spectrum efficacy, and short contact times. Based on Diversey Care patented Accelerated Hydrogen Peroxide formulation Oxivir Excel can be used on hard, nonporous surfaces and some soft furnishings.
Broad efficacy provides the highest levels of protection. Extensively tested against European norms and effective against multiple pathogens of concern, carries a full virucidal claim including Poliovirus, Adenovirus, and Murine norovirus, considered effective against all enveloped viruses such as HIV, HBV, HCV, Influenza, Vaccinia virus, and Coronavirus. Excellent user safety profile reduces worker risk, with no hazard warnings; it does not contain respiratory irritants, gentle on surfaces suitable for use in high-risk areas in Healthcare. Oxivir Excel does not need rinsing, the active ingredient breaks down into water and oxygen harmless when dried out.
Soft furnishings
The official UK Government advice is to steam clean your upholstery and fabric furnishings to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. This will be available on-demand so please let us know in advance.
Flooring
The recommendation for carpets and flooring is to be spayed with disinfectant mist but also a hepa filter for the vacuum cleaner. Our vacuum cleaners contains a hospital grade micro-filter and a micro hygiene filter.
Training
Our staff been through extensive training and are familiar with processes and procedures specific to infection control and we provide adequate personal protection equipment (disposable gloves, face mask, aprons, and shoe covers) between cleans, to avoid cross-contamination. Fresh cleaning cloths are used for each property, disinfected (washed at 90 degrees celsius) prior to visiting.
For each changeover, we follow these steps:
Assess the workplace
Remove the waste
Clean to remove any residual dirt on surfaces
Disinfect
We start with a thorough, structured cleaning with special attention to common touchpoints as:
Door handles
Remote controls
Landline phone
Alarm clocks
Drawer handles
Door locks and doors knobs
Light switches
Desk and bedside tables etc.
The owner or letting agent should ask guests to air the property during the stay and to strip beds/bag up linen on departure.
At the end of our visit, we will complete a cleaning checklist after the model provided by The Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers that can be downloaded by clicking the link.
Laundry
The dirty laundry shouldn’t be moved and shaken unnecessary – this minimizes the possibility of dispersing the virus through the air. Everything used for transporting laundry should be cleaned and disinfected in line with the current guidelines. To minimize the risk of contamination, the dirty laundry is kept bagged for 72 hours before washing it where possible. The linen is being washed with disinfecting washing powder, tumble dried and ironed according to manufacturer specification. These three steps will effectively kill the virus.
Clean pillow and mattress protectors should be used for each changeover (removed and left bagged for 72 hours between use).
Guests who are self-isolating
If a guest is self-isolating in holiday accommodation, staff members should avoid entering the room. Communication with the guest should take place over the phone to agree on arrangements for room service, linen and laundry supply such as items being left outside the room for the guest to collect and deposit for collection. The staff should avoid close contact (within 2 meters) with self-isolating guests and clean their hands with soap and water or alcohol-based hand rub. Guest that are self isolating and are tested positive ( Test and Protect programe) should isolate for 7 days and family members, 14 days respectively. If the guest test is negative they can end the isolation protocol and can safely return to their main residence.
If guests who are isolating can travel home safely to isolate, avoiding the use of public transport, they should do this.
If a guest has developed symptoms during the stay at your property, they must declare it when leaving and refrain from putting out any rubbish. All rubbish should be double-bagged and stored safely for 72 hours before being thrown out.
Our work ethic is central to Tidy Cleanerbusiness philosophy and critical to delivering consistent, reassuring cleaning services.
We are prepared with the new enhanced cleaning procedures and looking forward for a fruitful summer.
We willing to help so if anyone requires information regarding this post we will do the best to answer all the questions.
