What does disinfecting for reopening look like? This is the million-dollar question right now in communities across America. In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, businesses are weighing getting back to work with the health and safety of their employees and customers.
Locally owned and operated for over 25 years, Carpet Tech has long provided residents and businesses with IICRC certified cleaning, disinfecting, and remediation services. “As a local company, we understand how volatile this economy is now, and how dire it is for all of us to get back to work,” said Carpet Tech owner, Chet Pharies. “We are working with all our clients to offer economical solutions that help them get back to business in the safest way possible.”
More than ever, we are seeing and hearing the words cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting in the news and social media, and business owners and facility managers should understand the difference as they prepare for reopening safely. According to the CDC, cleaning is performed using a detergent, water, and agitation to remove germs from surfaces and objects. Cleaning does not kill bacteria, viruses, or fungi. Sanitizing is reducing contamination or bacteria to a safe level while disinfecting refers to killing germs on contact.
Although the CDC and OSHA have guidelines for keeping workplaces safe, deep cleaning and disinfecting hold different meanings to different industries. Many businesses have stepped up cleaning protocols per advice from public health officials. The most common steps taken by both businesses and individual households have been increasing the frequency of cleanings, using disinfectant products that federal officials say are effective for cleaning “high-touch” spots and making hand sanitizer readily available.
Following regulatory guidelines, Carpet Tech is helping businesses create and implement a routine corporate cleaning maintenance plan that best suits their facility and budget needs. This plan may include weekly, monthly or quarterly professional disinfecting to ensure all surfaces and contents have been treated properly using EPA approved chemicals and processes to combat bacteria, molds, and viruses, including coronavirus.
Carpet Tech uses ProKure 1, a chlorine dioxide-generating product proven effective against use against SARS-CoV-2. Using electrostatic sprayers and foggers, Carpet Tech’s IICRC certified technicians apply the disinfecting chemical to all surfaces and contents in the building. This process is safe and usually requires a 2-hour kill and dry time. While disinfectants kill or inactivate germs on a surface, as soon as that surface is touched, it can be recontaminated. Research to date indicates that the coronavirus can live for hours to days depending on the type of surface.
“While frequent disinfecting is paramount, we know that it’s not practical for every business to have us disinfect weekly, so that’s where our CT Shield process comes in,” Pharies said. IICRC certified technicians apply the antimicrobial protection to all surfaces and contents in the building. This process is safe and usually requires a 2-hour kill and dry time.
Carpet Tech’s CT Shield process uses EPA approved BioShield75, an antimicrobial spray that coats surfaces with a protective barrier to prevent the growth of microbes, adding protection after initial disinfection is complete
“Just because a surface looks clean, doesn’t mean it is,” said Pharies. “Bacteria, viruses, molds, and other harmful germs are invisible to the naked eye.” That’s why Carpet Tech has invested in ATP Monitoring to measure and evaluate contaminants on a surface before and after cleaning and disinfection. “We’re serious about providing safe, effective, and EPA approved disinfecting services for businesses so we can offer a certified clean to all those we serve,” Pharies said.
For more information on disinfecting for COVID-19, or to get help developing a disinfecting protocol for your business, call Carpet Tech at 888-343-9650