A realistic look at COVID-19 cleaning
COVID-19 is a respiratory illness, and public health guidance has long emphasized air and close contact over surfaces. That does not make surface work pointless, but it does mean a sensible response is measured. We focus on the places people actually touched and the rooms the sick person used, rather than spraying every square foot.
Many households and businesses call us not because they think surfaces are the main risk, but because they want a documented, professional reset before people return. That is a reasonable goal, and we plan the visit around it in a short consultation first. Organizations that want a recurring schedule can set one up, and portable HEPA air filtration can be added where it helps; it supports, but does not replace, ventilation.
Products we use for SARS-CoV-2
EPA keeps List N, a list of disinfectants for use against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. We select a List N product that is suited to the surfaces in your space, confirm its EPA Registration Number, and follow its directions for dilution and contact time.
Contact time varies from product to product, and the surface needs to stay visibly wet for the whole period. We read the label on site rather than quoting a figure from memory, because labels differ and change.
Where the work concentrates
We start with a short walkthrough to learn who was ill, where they spent time and who else shares the space. From there we build a list of the surfaces that matter most.
- Door handles, light switches, railings and elevator buttons
- Desks, keyboards, phones, shared tablets and point-of-sale screens
- Kitchen counters, break-room appliances and table surfaces
- Bathroom fixtures, faucets and flush handles
- Bedside tables and remotes in the room where someone recovered
- Steering wheels, door pulls and seat-belt buckles in shared vehicles
Cleaning, disinfection and fabrics
Each surface is cleaned first to remove grime that could interfere with the disinfectant, then treated with the List N product. Electronics are handled with products and methods their manufacturers allow, which sometimes means a wipe rather than a spray.
Bedding and washable fabrics from the sick room can be laundered according to the care label. Upholstered furniture is treated only with products whose labels allow use on soft surfaces. Where a label does not cover a material, we tell you rather than guess.
If you want wide-area application in a large office or classroom, we can use an electrostatic sprayer with a product labeled for that method. We treat it as a supplement to hands-on work, not a substitute.
Homes, offices and care settings call for different plans
In a private home, the visit usually centers on the bedroom and bathroom the sick person used, plus the kitchen and living areas the family shares. We keep the crew small, work around anyone still recovering, and leave untouched the rooms no one entered.
In an office, daycare, school, clinic or gym, the scope is wider but shallower: many surfaces, each touched by many people. We agree in advance which floors or rooms are in scope so the work matches the exposure rather than the size of the building.
Senior living communities and group homes often have their own infection-control procedures. We follow the direction of the administrator or nurse in charge and fit our work into their plan instead of replacing it.
Before we arrive
A few simple steps help the visit go smoothly and keep everyone comfortable.
- Follow your doctor's or employer's guidance on isolation and returning to the space
- Open windows if it is safe and comfortable to do so
- Set aside items you want handled gently, such as electronics or heirlooms
- Let us know about anyone in the home with asthma or chemical sensitivities
What sits outside our role
We do not test people, test surfaces or advise on medical care. Questions about symptoms, testing and isolation belong with your healthcare provider or the health department. Ventilation upgrades and HVAC system work go to a licensed HVAC contractor.
If your organization needs ongoing support during respiratory illness season, our commercial disinfection programs may be a better fit than a one-time visit. For a broader overview of illness-related work, see infectious disease decontamination. Our service area covers Nashville and the 41 counties around it in Middle Tennessee.