Coronavirus / COVID-19 Disinfecting Services FAQ

Since March 2020, few businesses, with the exception of Food and Healthcare related facilities thought much about disinfecting services for their shop, office, restaurant, warehouse, or even government facility. In Canada, more people are begining to educate themselves about viruses like Coronavirus COVID-19, however, there's still many business owners and managers that don't know about professional disinfection services likeHCS 360° PLUS. Hygiene Consulting Solutions (HCS) has been in the business of commercial cleaning and disinfecting services since 2005, we are hoping to answer some of your most important questions here:

Disinfecting services are cleaning procedures that utilize a disinfectant. According to the CEPA, a disinfectant is an antimicrobial pesticide used on inanimate surfaces and objects to destroy or irreversibly inactivate microorganisms. Disinfectants are distinguished into two categories, hospital type and general use (household). Disinfecting services for commercial facilities should use hospital type disinfectants that are used for infection control, as Hygiene Consulting Solutions does.

The disinfecting cleaning procedures used can vary depending on the facility, tools and chemicals used. This could include methods such as spray and wipe, deep cleaning, and electrostatic spraying like our HCS 360° PLUS service.

Disinfecting services use a disinfectant which is any chemical that destroys or irreversibly inactivates microorganisms on surfaces. Sanitation services tend to use less potent chemicals, sanitizers, which reduce but not always eliminate microorganisms from materials. Hospital-grade disinfectants and disinfection services are best used for infection control, like coronavirus COVID-19,  where sanitizers and sanitizing services are best used in relation to food, carpet, or clothing (EPA).

Cleaning soiled surfaces prior to disinfecting allows the disinfectant to work more effectively. If you have a layer of dust, dirt or oils, this creates a barrier between the surface and the disinfectant which prohibits the disinfectant from destroying or inactivating the microorganisms on the surface face.

There are multiple occasions when someone should use disinfecting services like HCS 360° PLUS at their business, and an outbreak is definitely one of them. Recurring disinfecting services benefit high traffic businesses who see a lot of customers and/employees on a daily basis. Additionally, those facilities like doctors' offices, clinics, and hospitals that need to be concerned with infection control benefit from recurring services.

For the Coronavirus crisis, it is important to get your facility disinfected if you have a suspected/confirmed coronavirus COVID-19 exposure. This means you know, or suspect, an employee or customer came into your business while infected with the virus. Disinfecting services are also important for "essential businesses" who need to stay open to support public needs; this so they can remain open and productive for the benefit of not only their business, their employees, but the general good as well.

As businesses prepare to reopen after the coronavirus outbreak, it would be advisable to get a disinfection service conducted at your facility prior to doors-opening and your employees return. There is still not enough data to know how long the coronavirus COVID-19 lives on surfaces, it ranges from hours to days on different materials according to the CDC, and you want to help assure the health and safety of your customers and employees upon their return.

It is important to note that disinfecting services are viable until a surface comes into contact with human touch or fluids, so if you can guarantee no one is going to your business during the stay-at-home period, it is beneficial to jump on these services prior to the expected rush once the orders are lifted.

You may also want to consider adding, or increasing the frequency of your janitorial services which HCS can assist you with. Customers and employees are going to be very conscious (and thankful) of your efforts in this regard after experiencing such a dramatic period. It also helps us all reduce the opportunities for the coronavirus's resurgent return if we all have better health and cleanliness habits.

You can begin by clicking here to download & print a poster from the Ontario government on what you need to know to help you and your family stay healthy.

The Government of Canada has a wesite that provides a list of disinfectants & hand sanitizers that show evidence to be effective against COVID-19.  You can find that here.

It is also important to note that Hygiene Consulting Solutions when conducting professional disinfection services use EPA List N chemicals. You can learn more about our services on our website.

If you have any further questions regarding disinfecting services for your business, please feel free to contact HCS. Hygiene Consulting Solutions is proud to be your partner to help keep your workplace clean and productive and your customers and employees safe during and after this unprecedented time.  We Care About Clean!