Category: Healthcare Cleaning

20 Jan 2023
medical facility cleaning

WHY HIRE MEDICAL FACILITY CLEANING SPECIALISTS?

medical facility cleaning

Hiring medical facility cleaning specialists to manage the cleaning and disinfecting of your facility has many benefits. Companies that specialize in medical facility cleaning understand the strict cleaning and disinfecting requirements of the medical profession. They will ensure that your facility is cleaned to the standards expected by patients, staff, and regulating agencies.

INFECTION CONTROL

One of the greatest concerns for a medical facility is the spread of germs. Patients, staff, and regulating bodies like CMS and HHS have high expectations when it comes to infection control. A professional cleaning crew that specializes in medical facility cleaning understands the importance of infection control and the pivotal role their cleaning and disinfecting procedures play.

Cleaning specialists are well versed in infection control protocols and procedures, understand the dangers of cross-contamination, and have policies and procedures in place to mitigate the spread of germs. They know how to clean, disinfect, sanitize, and even terminally clean any space in your facility.

HAZARD AWARENESS

Medical facilities are ripe with hazards not found in most other environments. Biological waste, hazardous materials, sharps, etc. are all hazards with which specialized medical facility cleaning crews are familiar. They understand and follow the procedures and protocols prescribed for the handling of these items.

In addition to the hazards specific to the medical profession, trained medical facility cleaning crews are also taught to mitigate hazards caused by the work they do. They follow OSHA safety guidelines, know how to handle cleaning chemicals and solutions safely, and are hyperaware of any safety hazard that their work may inadvertantly cause.

PATIENT PRIVACY AND DIGNITY

The privacy and dignity of patients in your medical facility is a major concern and cleaning contractors that specialize in medical facility cleaning train their staff in this important area. They understand patient dignity and privacy concerns and are discreet, respectful, compassionate, and professional when working within patient populations.

While not medical professionals, medical facility cleaning crews should be familiar with HIPPA and FERPA regulations and how they relate to the privacy and dignity of patient populations.

INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATIONS SKILLS

Medical facility cleaning providers must be able to work well in an environment made up of patients, visitors, and providers and must act with respect and professionalism toward all. Well-trained healthcare cleaning staff know how to do their work quickly, safely, and respectfully with minimal disruption to those around them. 

Not everyone is cut out for these types of interactions and responsible healthcare cleaning services proactively train their staff to hone excellent interpersonal communication skills. A well-trained cleaning crew will have positive impacts on patients, visitors, and staff both through their cleaning expertise and their daily interactions.

CONSISTENT AND RIGOROUS CLEANING PROTOCOLS

Qualified medical facility cleaning providers have consistent and rigorous cleaning and disinfecting protocols that are specific to medical facilities. They provide regular training and education to medical facility cleaning staff and regularly evaluate their performance.

This ensures that your facility is cleaned to the highest standards each and every time.

NEED HELP WITH YOUR MEDICAL FACILITY CLEANING?

Complete Care Maintenance has cleaning crews specifically trained to work within medical facilities. Call or contact us today to learn how we can help.

10 Oct 2022
doctor's office

PREPARING YOUR MEDICAL FACILITY FOR FLU SEASON

doctor's office

While Covid cases have been steadily dropping for the past several months, health officials warn that this winter will likely bring a resurgence of the virus. That coupled with the onset of cold and flu season and a shortage of healthcare workers is leaving medical facilities stretched. 

AN UNPRECEDENTED WINTER OF VIRUSES

A recent article from nbcnews.com states that hospitals are preparing for an unprecedented winter of viruses. It will be another winter with Covid cases and one that is expected to include high levels of influenza and other respiratory illness patients.

Flu cases are already on the rise in the U.S. and pediatricians are seeing a growing number of children presenting symptoms of RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) and enteroviruses. Couple that with the anticipated increase in Covid cases due to increased indoor activity and it seems like the perfect viral storm.

In addition to the anticipated rise in respiratory infections, the healthcare industry is dealing with an unprecedented staffing shortage. Healthcare workers are quitting at rates 23% higher than when the Covid pandemic began, leaving those who stay on the front lines with unmanageable workloads and extended hours.

HOW TO PREPARE

If you manage a medical facility, you are most certainly on the front lines and need to take extra precautions in order to manage what could be a very difficult flu season.

Healthcare officials are urging people to get a flu shot and Covid boosters to help stem the tide and mitigate the need for medical care. Pediatricians and medical professionals are encouraging people to double down on prevention measures like masks, social distancing, and improved cleaning and disinfecting protocols. These approaches have proven effective in the past and are our first line of defense against these diseases.

ENSURE YOU HAVE ENOUGH PPE

Medical facilities need to ensure they have ample supplies of personal protective equipment. Masks, gloves, and gowns were in short supply when the pandemic hit, and many healthcare centers were caught off guard. Now is the time to take inventory and ensure sufficient supplies.

It is also recommended that all staff be re-educated on proper procedures for donning (putting on) and doffing (taking off) PPE. Be sure to encourage (or require) the use of face coverings for patients and visitors as well.

ENFORCE PERSONAL HYGIENE PROTOCOLS

Strictly follow the steps for proper hand hygiene and cough etiquette, and encourage staff, visitors, and patients to follow them as well. This will help mitigate the spread of germs in your medical facility. Be sure that you make hand sanitizers, tissues, and masks accessible to all patients and staff and encourage their use. Also, make sure that soap dispensers in restrooms are always full.

REGULARLY CLEAN AND SANITIZE HIGH-TOUCH SURFACES

High-touch surfaces in a medical facility are far more likely to harbor viruses and bacteria than the average home or place of business. It is vital that these surfaces are regularly cleaned and disinfected throughout the day. Consider hiring professional janitorial staff or a day porter to manage these tasks for you as you may already be working with limited staff. Do not overlook everyday items like common-use pens, clipboards, telephones, and office equipment. 

PERFORM DAILY DEEP CLEANING OF YOUR FACILITY

Hiring a commercial cleaning company with medical facility experience to manage daily cleaning and disinfection will ensure that your facility is properly cleaned and disinfected every day. This allows you to begin each business day with a clean slate and will make maintaining cleanliness throughout the day more manageable.

30 Aug 2022
medical facility cleaning

TIPS FOR HIRING THE BEST MEDICAL FACILITY CLEANING PROVIDER

medical facility cleaning

Not every commercial cleaning company is qualified to manage the cleaning requirements of a medical facility. Medical facilities must meet stringent standards of cleanliness and sanitation. Cleaning companies that engage in medical facility cleaning require specialized training in infection control, blood-borne pathogens, sharps handling, and management of biological waste. 

In addition, medical facility cleaning providers should be familiar with government regulations particular to the medical community including HIPPA and OSHA. They should have a solid understanding of Hospital Acquired Infections, dwell times, and the difference between cleaning, sanitizing and disinfecting.

When vetting prospective providers for your healthcare facility it is important to ask the right questions, request proper documentation, and review all references. Here are some tips for weeding out the less than qualified providers and hiring the best medical facility cleaning company.

SPECIALIZED TRAINING

Can the prospective cleaning service provide evidence that they engage their employees in ongoing training specific to the demanding nature of the healthcare industry? Training should include cleaning, disinfecting, and sanitizing protocols, HIPPA and OSHA regulations, blood-borne pathogen protocols, sharps and biological waste protocols, cross-contamination avoidance, and professional communication.

Prospective providers should be able to show a dedication to ongoing employee training specific to the healthcare industry. Evidence of such training might include training program outlines, schedules, or certifications, 

HEALTHCARE EXPERIENCE WITH REFERENCES

Before contracting with any medical facility cleaning provider you should make certain that they have experience providing services within the healthcare industry. While the average business may be able to accommodate some on-the-job training, the stakes are just too high in the field of healthcare – even small mistakes can lead to huge consequences. 

A reputable provider should be able to show experience with healthcare cleaning services and provide references upon request. Experience is something that can not be taught and solid references from other healthcare providers speak volumes about a provider’s healthcare cleaning experience.

EMPLOYEE SCREENING

Healthcare facilities are often home to vulnerable populations, sensitive patient information, medical records, and prescription medications. It is an environment ripe for criminal activity and it is vital that whomever you engage to provide cleaning services within your facility rigorously screen their employees.

Commercial cleaning providers that take employee screening seriously will be able to communicate the specifics of their candidate hiring, screening, and onboarding processes.

ON-SITE SUPERVISION

Due to the sensitive nature of the healthcare environment and the specialized training required to work within that environment, it is important that your cleaning services provider employs dedicated supervisory staff for all cleaning personnel. You should be provided with all supervisor names and contact information to ensure clear lines of communication should any issues arise.

CLEAR CHAIN OF COMMAND AND COMMUNICATIONS HIERARCHY

Any well-organized company has a clear chain of command and a well-defined communications hierarchy. Your medical facility cleaning provider should provide you with both. This helps you to resolve issues with lower-level staff and assures that your provider has a solid organizational structure with satisfactory oversight at every level.

LOOKING FOR PROSPECTIVE MEDICAL FACILITY CLEANING COMPANIES?

Complete Care Maintenance has extensive experience providing cleaning services within the medical community and would be honored to bid on your project. Call or contact us today to speak with a customer service representative.

10 Aug 2022
medical facility cleaning

6 BENEFITS OF HIRING A MEDICAL FACILITY CLEANING SERVICE

medical facility cleaning

Like any office environment, medical offices need to be kept clean and sanitary.  Unlike the typical office environment, medical offices are regularly visited by individuals who are already sick. This coupled with the fact that medical facilities are held to a higher standard of cleanliness means that these facilities need a more regular and thorough cleaning.

This is just one of the many reasons that medical offices outsource their cleaning to a medical facility cleaning service. There are many other reasons as well. Some you may not have considered.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

Every place of business wants to make a great first impression and a clean and sanitary office environment goes a long way toward achieving that goal. Professional cleaning companies understand the value of a great first impression too and they key in on those areas that need the most attention.

Entryways, windows, and doors are all areas that fall into the ‘first impression’ category. Reception areas, waiting rooms, and restrooms are also on the list. These are the areas that patients are sure to visit and ensuring that they are clean and sanitary is key to making a great first impression.

INFECTION CONTROL

If there is one thing that is always top of mind in a medical environment, it is infection control. Ensuring that the spread of germs and bacteria is mitigated throughout your facility is vital to the health and safety of both patients and staff.

Professional medical facility cleaning crews are trained in infection control protocols. They understand the difference between cleaning and disinfecting, the importance of dwell times, how to avoid cross-contamination, and where and how germs are spread in an office environment.

PATIENT AND STAFF SAFETY

In addition to infection control protocols, a professional cleaning staff promotes a safer medical office environment in other ways too. Reducing clutter, cleaning up spills, and alerting management to unsafe conditions are all part of creating a safe environment.

It should be noted that professional cleaning crews are also well-versed in OSHA compliance, HIPPA regulations, sharps handling, biological waste removal, and blood Bourne pathogen protocols. This kind of knowledge and experience is not something you receive from a typical cleaning service.

IMPROVED AIR QUALITY

Indoor air can be up to five times more contaminated than outdoor air. The effects of poor indoor air quality are particularly dangerous for individuals with respiratory illness, the young, the elderly, and those with ailments that are already taxing their immune systems. These individuals likely make up the vast majority of your patient population.

It is not just patients that are adversely impacted by poor indoor air quality. You and your staff are as well, even if you do not notice it. Better indoor air quality has been associated with increased productivity, clarity of thought, and reduced absenteeism.

QUALITY ASSURANCE

When you outsource your medical facility cleaning to a professional cleaning service they have both motive and obligation to assure quality cleaning services. After all, if they do a poor job, you will find someone else. On the other hand, if they perform above and beyond your expectations, they will have earned a satisfied customer.

Well-organized and experienced medical facility cleaning companies understand the need for quality assurance. They train their staff, employ quality control policies and procedures, and provide supervisory oversight.

CONSISTENCY

Experienced commercial cleaning providers have developed cleaning protocols and training programs to help ensure both quality control and consistency. When a cleaning crew visits your office, they already have a cleaning plan in place. They already know how they are going to clean your facility most efficiently and effectively.

Every time that they enter your facility, they follow the same protocols and same procedures. This ensures that everything gets cleaned properly and that no area of your facility is overlooked. It also ensures a consistent clean that you can count on.

NEED HELP WITH YOUR MEDICAL FACILITY CLEANING?

Complete Care Maintenance has been providing medical facility cleaning services in New Jersey and Pennsylvania for more than two decades. We can provide you with all the benefits listed above and more! Call or contact us today to learn more.

10 Jul 2022
doctor's office

THE DIRTIEST THING IN YOUR DOCTOR’S OFFICE ISN’T WHAT YOU THINK

 

doctor's office

 

Trips to the doctor’s office are a part of life and generally, they are intended to keep us well and in good health. But is your doctor’s office really clean? Aside from all of the coughing and sneezing that goes on in the typical waiting room, there are germs lurking in places you might not have considered.

If you are a physician operating out of a private office or outpatient facility, you likely take cleanliness very seriously. After all, your clientele is coming to you because they are sick. That means that they are inevitably bringing germs and bacteria into your office environment. Even the patient with a broken arm is likely bringing some germs and bacteria into your office.

Having your office professionally cleaned and sanitized on a daily basis can go a long way toward keeping you, your staff, and your patients safe but maintaining a clean doctor’s office requires continued vigilance and maintenance.

Once the cleaning crew finishes their work and a new day begins, patients and staff are busy – if inadvertently – spreading germs and bacteria throughout your office. This is inevitable and it is your responsibility to mitigate the spread of germs during office hours.

One of the keys to stopping the spread of germs is the cleaning and disinfecting of high-touch surfaces. In today’s blog post we are going to reveal some of the germiest surfaces in your office. Some of them may surprise you.

Recent research conducted by InsuranceQuotes.com ranked four of the ‘germiest’ surfaces in a typical doctor’s office setting. These are just some of the areas that should be regularly cleaned and disinfected throughout the day.

DOOR HANDLES

Not surprisingly, door handles made the list of the geekiest surfaces in a doctor’s office. Door handles, whether on the main entrance, the restroom, or other internal spaces are one of the most touched surfaces in any facility. The fact that many of the people touching door handles in a medical setting are already sick makes doctor office door handles a bit more ominous.

What may be surprising to many is that door handles were ranked as the fourth ‘germiest’ surfaces in the typical doctor’s office setting. Despite this relatively low ranking on the list, door handles should be cleaned and disinfected regularly throughout the day.

WAITING ROOM CHAIR ARMREST

The armrests of chairs in a doctor’s office are the third most germ-ridden surfaces, harboring more bacteria than the typical toilet seat. Again, the typical patient population has a high percentage of people who are already ill. They have a much greater potential for spreading germs and bacteria than a healthy individual. Regardless, every individual that uses an armrest will leave something behind.

Cleaning and sanitizing waiting room chair armrests after every use can go a long way toward stopping the spread of germs in your medical office.

THE DOCTOR’S KEYBOARD

Coming in at number two on the list is the doctor’s keyboard. This is a bit surprising when you consider that in general, doctors are more hygienically conscious than the average individual. Still, the doctor’s keyboard is often used by other staff besides the doctor, and keyboards are often neglected during routine cleaning.

It is important to not overlook the keyboard when cleaning and disinfecting your office. Doctors should also consider keeping hand sanitizers at the desk so that hands can be sanitized prior to and after using the computer keyboard.

AND THE NUMBER ONE ‘GERMIEST’ SURFACE IN YOUR DOCTOR’S OFFICE IS …

Believe it or not, the surface that was found to harbor the most germs in this particular study was the clipboard pen. When we think about it, this makes perfect sense. Virtually every patient that enters the office touches the clipboard pen when signing in. According to the study the average clipboard pen has over 46,000 times more germs than an average toilet seat!

Clipboard pens should be wiped down thoroughly with disinfecting wipes after every use to help avoid the spread of germs. Providing hand sanitizers at the reception desk is also a good idea.

BONUS TIP FOR THE TIE-WEARING PHYSICIAN

Earlier studies have shown that a doctor’s tie ranks among the most germ-ridden surfaces in the doctor’s office. You might want to make additional trips to the dry cleaners.

WANT MORE TIPS FOR MAINTAINING A GERM-FREE MEDICAL FACILITY?

Call or contact Complete Care Maintenance for a free consultation. We can help you to identify areas for improvement in your current cleaning and disinfecting procedures.

20 Mar 2022
medical facility cleaning

5 KEYS TO EFFECTIVE MEDICAL FACILITY CLEANING

medical facility cleaning

Medical facility cleaning is not something that can be delegated to an office cleaning staff. Medical facility environments require a much more focused and procedural approach to cleaning and disinfecting. Commercial cleaning companies that offer medical facility cleaning services are held to much higher standards than your typical commercial cleaning company and they should have definitive policies and procedures in place to ensure that the needs of the facility are met.

When hiring a medical facility cleaning contractor it is important to ensure that they have experience with medical environments, that they understand the unique requirements of these environments, and that they have the staff, equipment, and expertise to meet the unique needs of the facility.

Here are five key areas to consider when developing a medical facility cleaning program:

1) Organization and Administration

A qualified medical facility cleaning contractor should be able to provide you with an organizational chart that clearly defines the chain of command with regard to your cleaning staff. This should include a primary and secondary contact person, clearly defined onsite supervisors, and job descriptions for all staff involved in the cleaning of the facility.

In addition, a communications policy should be clearly defined which outlines contact persons, preferred methods of communication, emergency communications protocols, and frequency of meetings such as facility walkthroughs, feedback meetings, and service reviews.

2) Staffing and Training

The size of your facility, the amount of traffic it receives, and its unique cleaning requirements are all important factors in determining the appropriate number of staff. Your provider should be able to review the unique requirements of your facility and ensure that staffing levels are adequate.

Even more important than staffing levels is the training that the staff receives. A qualified medical facility cleaning contractor should have mandatory, ongoing training programs in place for all cleaning staff. Training for medical facility cleaning staff should be based on national or facility level cleaning guidelines and should include:

  • Training in infection control and cross-contamination mitigation
  • Understanding of CDC and CMS recommendations
  • Procedures for the management of biological, chemical, and radioactive waste
  • Proper handling, use, and storage of chemicals
  • Equipment operation and maintenance
  • OSHA training
  • HIPPA regulations
  • Orientation to the facility layout and key areas of concern
  • Policy and procedure reviews

3) Equipment and Supplies

One of the advantages of hiring a medical facility cleaning contractor is that they will typically provide all necessary cleaning equipment and supplies. Whether these items are stored at your facility or brought to and from the facility by the service provider should be stipulated in the cleaning contract. 

Regardless, it is important that your cleaning services provider have all the necessary tools, equipment, and supplies required to effectively clean and maintain your facility.

4) Policies and Procedures

Medical facilities typically have cleaning and disinfecting policies in place. These should be discussed with your cleaning services provider to ensure that those policies are followed. In addition, policies regarding facility-specific safety protocols, security, and patient interactions should be communicated to the cleaning contractor. These policies can then be communicated to the cleaning staff through their regularly scheduled training program.

In addition to facility-level policies and procedures, it is important for medical facility staff to understand the policies and procedures of the cleaning contractor. Your provider should be able to provide written policies and procedures that their cleaning staff is required to adhere to.

5) Monitoring and Feedback

Monitoring of cleaning staff should be performed both by the cleaning contractor and the facility level staff to ensure that policies and procedures are being followed and that the terms of the contract are being met.

All facility staff should be encouraged to provide feedback with regard to the effectiveness of the cleaning contractor and their staff. A formal process should be in place that allows staff to easily communicate feedback whether positive or negative.

In addition, there should be regularly scheduled meetings between facility management and the cleaning contractor’s supervisory team to review feedback and act upon it.

31 Jan 2022
healthcare facility cleaning

HEALTHCARE FACILITY CLEANING: WHAT YOUR PROVIDER SHOULD KNOW

healthcare facility cleaning

Finding a professional healthcare facility cleaning service can be challenging. Healthcare facility cleaning requires an experienced team with a unique skill set to understand the nuances of working in a healthcare environment. They must be well trained in current cleaning best practices, be knowledgeable about current healthcare regulations, and be able to work well within a community of patients and providers.

HEALTHCARE FACILITY CLEANING – BEST PRACTICES

Healthcare facilities have strict protocols with regard to cleaning, disinfecting, and sanitizing. Cleaning teams working in these settings must be familiar with these protocols and adhere to them to ensure that cleanliness standards are met. A qualified healthcare cleaning provider will be prepared with the proper tools, equipment, products, and cleaning techniques and procedures. They should be able to provide detailed reports that describe their training procedures, compliance with applicable regulations, and understanding of healthcare cleaning best practices.

When working within your facility their knowledge and expertise should be demonstrated with the following:

  • The use of healthcare-specific cleaning tools and technologies
  • Use of chemical cleaners designed for healthcare applications
  • Knowledge of how to clean specialized medical equipment
  • Demonstrated understanding of cleaning, disinfecting, and sanitizing protocols
  • Adherence to cross-contamination mitigation protocols
  • The use of personal protective equipment
  • Demonstrated understanding of hazardous waste handling policies and procedures
  • Onsite supervisors that specialize in medical facility cleaning

 

CURRENT HEALTHCARE REGULATIONS

Providers of healthcare facility cleaning services need to remain up-to-date on current healthcare regulations. They should be familiar with and regularly follow recommendations from all recognized healthcare regulating bodies. In addition, they should have regular training protocols in place to ensure that their healthcare cleaning teams and supervisors are aware of current cleaning standards and healthcare regulations. Your healthcare facility cleaning provider should be familiar with at least the following:

  • The Association for the Healthcare Environment
  • The Association of PeriOperative Registered Nurses
  • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  • The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
  • The Environmental Protection Agency
  • The Health Information Portability and Accountability Act
  • The Occupational Health and Safety Administration

 

WORKING WITHIN THE HEALTHCARE ENVIRONMENT

Healthcare cleaning providers must be able to work well in an environment made up of patients, visitors, and providers and must act with respect and professionalism toward all. Well-trained healthcare cleaning staff know how to do their work quickly, safely, and respectfully with minimal disruption to those around them. They understand patient dignity concerns and are respectful, compassionate, and professional when interacting with patients, doctors, nurses, and visitors.

Not everyone is cut out for these types of interactions and responsible healthcare cleaning services proactively train their staff to hone excellent interpersonal communication skills. A well-trained cleaning crew will have positive impacts on patients, visitors, and staff both through their cleaning expertise and their daily interactions.

DOES YOUR HEALTHCARE FACILITY CLEANING SERVICE MEET THESE STANDARDS?

Healthcare facility cleaning is more than just cleaning. It is a specialized service that requires a diverse set of skills and knowledge that you will not find in a typical commercial cleaning provider. It is important that you research prospective providers and ensure that they have the knowledge, training, and experience to meet the demands of a healthcare environment.

Complete Care Maintenance has been providing healthcare cleaning services for more than three decades. We have the tools, knowledge, experience, and training to meet and exceed your facility’s needs. Call or contact us today to learn how we can help.

01 Jun 2021
cross-contamination

Avoid Cross-Contamination When Cleaning

Oftentimes the spread of germs is facilitated by cross-contamination. Cross-contamination is defined as the transfer of bacteria or other microorganisms from one substance to another. Surprisingly, cross-contamination often occurs as a result of cleaning. While this may sound counter-intuitive, poor cleaning practices are a major source of cross-contamination. Professional cleaning companies recognize this fact and put in place procedures and protocols that are designed to mitigate the risk of cross-contamination.

How To Avoid Cross-Contamination When Cleaning

Use Smart Cleaning Processes – Putting cleaning processes in place helps ensure that cleaning duties are performed in a consistent manner. Smart cleaning processes take into consideration the risk of cross-contamination and focuses on taking steps to prevent it.

  1. Always start with a clean pair of gloves and fresh cleaning equipment.
  2. Clean one area at a time.
  3. Always clean from top to bottom, wiping down surfaces with an effective cleaning solution.
  4. Spray disinfectant on all high-touch surfaces like desks, phones, doorknobs and push plates, elevator buttons, counters, railings, and all bathroom surfaces, following manufacturer recommendations for saturation and dwell time.
  5. Finally, clean the floor starting from an inside corner and working your way toward the exit.
  6. Place cleaning cloths, mop heads, and other used cleaning tools in a plastic bag and dispose of your gloves when you finish.
  7. Repeat this process for every area that you clean, never using the same cleaning cloths, mop heads, etc.

Color Code Your Cleaning Supplies – Color coding cleaning supplies is an excellent way to reduce cross-contamination. For instance, always having ample supplies of cleaning cloths in pre-defined colors can help cleaning crews avoid using the same cloth in two distinctly different areas. A simple color-coding system might look like this:

  • Red – Red cloths and equipment marked in red are designated for high-risk areas like toilets and urinals.
  • Yellow – Yellow cloths and equipment are designated for medium-risk surfaces like restroom sinks and countertops.
  • Green –  Green is designated for lower-risk areas such as office areas and non-prep food surfaces.
  • Blue – Blue cleaning supplies are reserved for low-risk surfaces like glass and mirrors.

With a color-coded system like this, you can avoid you can mitigate cross-contamination and more easily monitor workers to ensure they are following protocols.

Choose The Right Tools –  Choosing microfiber over traditional cloths and mop heads is a big step forward in reducing cost-contamination. Traditional cleaning cloths and mop heads are made from absorbent cotton fiber. One study conducted by the University of California Davis Medical Center in collaboration with the EPA that traditional wet loop mops reduced bacteria by 30%, while microfiber mop heads showed a 99% reduction in bacteria.

Microfiber traps bacteria in the fibers of the mop while wet loop mops capture bacteria in the water molecules. Every time a wet loop mop gets dunked in a body of water the bacteria are released, only to be redistributed on the surface being cleaned. Microfiber employs positively charged particles to trap dust particles which is where the bacteria hide. It is a much more effective method for removing bacteria from surfaces.

Like microfiber Hepa filters do a better job of trapping dust particles that harbor germs and bacteria. Traditional vacuums typically employ a cotton or polyester fiber filter that fails to hold the dust as well as the fiberglass and charcoal found in a Hepa filter. Selecting a Hepa filter vacuum will help reduce the risk of cross-contamination.

Segregate Cleaning Staff – Assigning designated staff members to areas throughout your facility is a great way to mitigate cross-contamination. Allowing the same individual to clean the restroom and the kitchen can easily create cross-contamination concerns.

People, whether they realize it or not can collect and carry germs and bacteria on their clothing, shoes, hands, and hair. Limiting cleaning crew staff to designated areas helps to reduce the risk of transmission.

Employ A Commercial Cleaning Company – A well-organized and well-managed commercial cleaning company will already have these protocols and procedures in place. They will be fully versed in the use of proper chemicals and equipment, and they understand how to clean and disinfect virtually any surface.