QMI Environmental, Inc.

Durango, Colorado    

At QMI Environmental, we use standard precautions and treat every office space as if there are pathogenic germs present. When there is a known risk, hygienic cleaning is applied to prevent the spread of germs. Following our standard precautions means we ensure a hygienically clean surface in three ways: targeted cleaning, disinfecting high-touch surfaces, and sanitizing our cleaning equipment. Read more below!

TARGETED CLEANING

Life, and germs, happen. And because we live life, we are exposed to many people and outside environments. This introduces harmful bacteria and viruses (germs) into our home and office. Once within the home or office, a series of events occurs and the germs spread to other members (family or employees) in that space. Breaking this “spread of germs” cycle is a key way to prevent the spread of infection and is achieved by good cleaning and hygiene practices.

The goal of cleaning is to remove or reduce the level of harmful substances that can threaten human health. Cleaning reduces the number of germs on a surface to a “safe level,” one that is not harmful to human health.

At QMI Environmental, we have identified the major routes for the spread of germs. These routes are places where hygiene is most important to stop the spread of germs. By keeping these surfaces and items clean we can significantly reduce the spread of infections.

HIGH-TOUCH SURFACES

High touch surfaces should be the focus of special attention when cleaning. Germs can survive for several hours to many days on surfaces, depending on the specific germ. When hands touch a surface, they can pick up these germs and spread them to other surfaces and people. High touch surfaces that need frequent cleaning, and disinfecting when practical, include:

• Toilet handles, seats and lids
• Handles of cupboards, microwaves, ovens and refrigerators
• Surfaces contaminated by used diapers, menstrual pads, vomit, feces, blood or other bodily fluids
• Surfaces and cutting boards used for handling raw meat
• Telephones, computer keyboards, computer mice, electronics
• Doorknobs, light switches (and areas around these items that tend to get grimy), handrails

KEEPING EQUIPMENT CLEAN

Equipment hygiene is important. If not cleaned correctly, cleaning cloths, sponges, brushes, mops and cleaning equipment are considered to be reservoir disseminators, or germ spreaders. They pose a high risk of cross-contamination for several reasons:

• They are used to clean items and surfaces that are soiled with dirt and organic matter. They inevitably become contaminated with microbes and act as reservoirs for germs.
• They are touched by hands, which in turn, become contaminated.
• If not thoroughly cleaned, it is likely that some microbes will survive and multiply to high numbers over a period of hours.
• They can contribute to the spread of microbes if not adequately decontaminated between uses or discarded.

To minimize the risk of cross contamination, cleaning cloths and cleaning equipment must be always hygienically cleaned. Microbes tend to stick to fibers of cleaning cloths, brushes, and mops and may not be removed unless properly cleaned. The best way to make sure these cleaning cloths and mop heads are hygienically cleaned is by washing them in a washing machine. This not only dislodges dirt and microbes but also kills the microbes in the hot water. If a cloth or mop is left wet for several hours, bacteria will multiply and become even more strongly bound. Therefore, it is important to decontaminate cloths and mops and dry them as soon as possible after use.

Reusable cloths and removable mop heads should be hygienically cleaned after each use. Cloths can be hygienically cleaned by washing in a washing machine with laundry detergent and water temperature set to at least 160 degrees Fahrenheit.

Clean all brushes, including vacuum attachments, using detergent and warm water between each use. Rinse with hot water and leave with brush heads up to dry.

Clean non-detachable mops using detergent and clean, warm water, then rinse with a disinfecting solution like bleach. Wring out the mop until it is as dry as possible, then leave it heads up to dry.

Buckets should be cleaned in detergent and warm water and rinsed with disinfecting solution like bleach. Finally, they should be rinsed with fresh water. Leave the bucket upside down to dry.

Always wear protective gloves and glasses or goggles when cleaning toilets and children’s potties. Also, learn how to properly remove gloves (13) and glasses or goggles after you are finished cleaning to prevent cross-contamination and to protect yourself from infection. Make sure to wash your hands after removing your gloves. You should also always wear gloves in a client’s home when handling soiled laundry, transferring it from the washer to the dryer, and folding it. Finally, always wear gloves when removing trash.

Microbes are everywhere. A certain percentage of them are pathogenic and can cause illness in humans. It is important to remove pathogenic microbes from the residential environment in order to keep cleaning professionals and their clients safe from infection. Cleaning removes soil, but more is needed to stay healthy. Hygienic cleaning targets and removes pathogenic germs. As stated earlier, as house cleaning professionals we are on the first line of defense against harmful deceases like the new coronavirus. Targeted hygiene and hand washing are two ways our cleaning professionals can protect ourselves and our clients from the spread of infection.