Running a business is a lot of work. You have meetings to attend, decisions to make and employees to oversee. You fill your time to its maximum potential, and sometimes, you wish there were more hours in the day. There’s always more to do tomorrow and more you wished to accomplish today. You have your hands full, but there’s something else you need to consider: keeping your place of business clean.

You probably don’t have the time to put on a pair of gloves and start scrubbing the floors. You need to spend your time focused on running a business. The question is, should you use a cleaning company or hire a janitor? There are pros and cons to both options, and what works for one business may be different than the next. This guide will help you learn more about hiring a cleaning company vs. an individual to clean your office or facility so you can make the best choice for your business.

Quality of Clean

When it comes to cleaning your business, it’s not about checking off boxes and hoping for the best. You want your business to be spotless, especially if you’re going to be paying money for the service. Consider the quality of the end result for whichever cleaning option you choose.

Hiring In-House

You may feel more comfortable hiring an employee or team of employees to clean your business from within. Here are the benefits of doing so:

• Control: You get to choose how and when your business space is cleaned. You set the schedule to determine who is cleaning your office and when they’re cleaning it. You can even tell them exactly what you want them to accomplish throughout the week. If you want full control over your building’s cleaning, then hiring in-house may be for you.
• Convenience: When you hire employees committed to keeping your business clean, you’ll experience greater convenience. These employees can be around during regular business hours to clean spills and messes that occur at any time. Waiting until a cleaning crew arrives is not always a viable option.
• Customization: Do your floors need unique care? Are you or some of your employees allergic to certain cleaning agents? When you hire an in-house cleaning staff, you get to customize the equipment and chemicals they use to meet your unique needs and preferences.
• Security: The security of your business is one of your top priorities. When you hire in-house, you can know who is in your business at all times, even during overnight cleaning sessions. Have peace of mind knowing who is cleaning your business.

Hiring a Cleaning Company

Hiring a cleaning company provides different benefits related to the quality of the clean. Here are some aspects to consider:

• Specialized equipment and products: A professional cleaning service has various high-quality gear and cleaning products. Instead of stocking your business with cleaning supplies, let the cleaning company bring its own equipment for the job.
• Expert techniques and processes: Great gear is useless without the skill to use it. Professional cleaning companies can clean more in less time and do a better job because they’ve honed their craft and know all the best cleaning procedures.
• Fully trained employees: It costs time and money to train an in-house cleaning crew. You can save that time and money by hiring a professional cleaning company. They’ve done all the training in advance so they can complete the job right away. And since they’re trained, your business building will experience a high-quality clean from the first day. You get all the benefits of a trained cleaning crew without doing any of the training.
• Level of experience: Professional cleaning companies have years and even decades of experience. They’ll be ready for the most unusual cleaning situations and leave you satisfied with the result. You can trust their expertise because they’ve seen it all, from the smallest accidents to the biggest messes.

Cost

How does the cost compare regarding hiring a cleaning company vs. janitors? Consider several factors to have an accurate idea of the differences in cost.

Hiring In-House

Here are some cost factors to consider when hiring in-house:

• Liability insurance: When you hire new employees to clean your business, you’ll have to pay liability insurance. In-house cleaning can increase certain risks for your employees. Without liability insurance, you leave yourself vulnerable to costly legal fees and court battles. You can avoid this liability by hiring a professional cleaning company.
• Workers’ compensation insurance: Accidents can happen on any day at any business. This is the reality when conducting business with hired employees. For that reason, you need to pay for workers’ compensation insurance for every employee you hire. This includes your new janitors and cleaning team. Factor this cost into the equation when figuring out how much it will cost to hire your own cleaning crew.
• Paid benefits: Full-time janitors deserve full-time benefits. Many of these hold monetary value. Paid benefits can include vacation time, health insurance, dental insurance, eye care and paid sick days. Beyond your employees’ hourly wages or yearly salary, you’ll need to pay more in the form of benefits for your full-time, in-house cleaning crew.
• Costs of equipment and supplies: You’ll need more than people to clean your business. You’ll need chemicals, cleaning supplies, products and cleaning equipment to get the job done. These can be costly, especially if you’re looking for a high-quality clean. You’ll also have to keep these items in stock and pay for equipment repairs if anything breaks. This can all become a hefty expense.

Hiring a Cleaning Company

It’s easy to assume that hiring in-house will be more affordable than outsourcing your cleaning needs. While it’s true that you can cut corners to decrease expenses, it’s a difficult task to lower costs and still get a high-quality clean. Hiring a cleaning company might seem more expensive at first glance, but the following benefits can make the expense a good value:

• Choose a service package that fits your budget: Professional cleaning companies offer various service packages to choose from. You can select a service that fits your budget, however large or small it may be. You’ll know that the services you receive will be high-quality for the amount you’re paying. And you can know exactly what services the company will provide based on the description of the package. Experience the benefits of a professional cleaning service at a price that fits your budget.
• Scale service up or down as needed: Every business owner knows that there are seasons of high profits and low profits. As these times of year fluctuate, you may need to scale your cleaning services up or down to accommodate the changes in activity and budget. With a professional cleaning company, you have the freedom to make these changes as you see fit. Talk to the company’s representative and describe your situation and your desires. They’ll work with you to provide services that fit your needs as they change throughout the year.

Additional Services

Life likes to throw curveballs your way. As you’ve spent time running your business, you understand this all too well. When choosing whether to outsource office cleaning or hire an internal team, you need to consider additional services. When unexpected needs arise, can your in-house team handle it? Will a professional cleaning company have the flexibility to accommodate these curveballs?

Hiring In-House

When new needs arise, hiring in-house gives you some freedom to find a way to accomplish them. Here are some factors to consider if you decide to use your own cleaning crew:

• Hire and train additional people: You may need to hire more people to complete certain tasks, raising your costs. If your cleaning crew cannot handle the volume of cleaning needed, you’ll need to bring on more team members. You may also need to hire different people for additional tasks. Maintenance and repairs around your business may fall outside the skill set of your cleaning crew. You could end up having two internal teams: a cleaning crew and a maintenance crew, which can become a costly solution.
• Difficult and strenuous tasks: In some situations, your in-house cleaning team may lack the skills needed to clean certain messes. Tasks like power washing the building, cleaning your carpets, and deep cleaning tough messes can be too difficult for an inexperienced or undersized cleaning team, not to mention the need for additional equipment. You could end up hiring a professional cleaning team anyway in such situations.

Hiring a Cleaning Company

Professional cleaning companies can respond to additional needs in ways that your internal crew may be unable to. Here are some benefits of hiring a cleaning company that’s ready for every situation:

• Maintenance services: Instead of hiring one internal team for cleaning and another for maintenance, choose one professional cleaning company to handle both. Some cleaning companies provide maintenance services for your business, making them your comprehensive solution. They can provide the handyman services you need.
• Wide range of services and abilities: Professional cleaning crews are ready for many tasks beyond standard cleaning services. If the outside of your building is dirty, they can pressure wash it. Do your walls need a facelift? Cleaning companies can provide painting services. Some companies even offer graffiti removal services if someone vandalizes your building. You also need to keep your parking lot clean, so see if a professional cleaning company will maintain your parking lot as well.
• Green cleaning: If you’re committed to preserving the environment, then make sure your business is staying green. Fulfill this commitment by hiring a professional cleaning company that offers green cleaning services. They may have access to the best environmentally-friendly cleaning products. Get a high-quality clean without any environmental guilt.

Peace of Mind

When comparing in-house vs. outsourced cleaning services, you need to remember the value of having peace of mind. Many people in business may say peace of mind is priceless. Make sure you’re making a decision that will reduce stress in your life.

Hiring In-House

Consider the following factors regarding peace of mind when employing your own cleaning team:

• More flexibility: When you hire in-house, you have control over your cleaning team. You know who is in your building, and you choose how your team cleans the building, so you know what’s going on at all times. Some business owners may find this level of control and flexibility worth the added hassle of hiring in-house.
• More risk: When you hire your own cleaning team, you open yourself up to risks. Besides the risk of injured employees and needing to pay medical and legal fees, you risk a lack of efficiency. If a member or several members of the cleaning crew get sick, you could face gaps in your schedule. Then none of the work gets done.

Hiring a Cleaning Company

You can experience greater peace of mind when hiring a professional cleaning company. Here are some reasons why:

• Trained cleaning crew: Handling your own cleaning team can be stressful. Hiring and training your crew takes time and resources, and managing their schedules, time off, sick leave and daily tasks can be a full-time job in itself. Professional cleaning companies handle all these stressors themselves, so you don’t have to. Plus, you can easily scale your services if needed.
• Free up time: When you hand off hiring, training and managing a cleaning crew to a professional company, you free up your time for other tasks. You’re running a business, and you have a lot of work to do as it is. Spend your time doing what you do best and outsource your cleaning to a professional cleaning company.
• Get reliable service: A stressful day can get worse when members of your internal cleaning crew start calling off. Professional cleaning companies have people on standby to fill in empty spots if someone can’t come in. They’ll clean your business when they promise to, guaranteed.
• Experience a high-quality clean: When you hire employees to clean your building, you expect them to do a good job. It can be discouraging and frustrating if you’re unsatisfied with their performance. When you hire a professional cleaning company, you’re entering a partnership with people who will do a great job every time. You’ll get a high-quality clean without the stress of janitors underperforming, which is especially important during the coronavirus pandemic.
• Give a great first impression: First impressions matter in every industry. Your customers and clients will see if your building is clean, and this will shape their initial opinions of you and your business as a whole. Trust your cleaning to a professional cleaning company to ensure you give a great first impression every time someone enters your building, facility or office space.

Create a Clean and Healthy Workplace With Shine Facility Services

There’s only so much time in the day. With all the duties you already have, you may not have the time to add the responsibility of hiring and managing a cleaning crew for your business. When you hire Shine Facility Services, you’re investing in more than a clean building. You’re investing in peace of mind, more free time, first impressions and even the health of your employees and customers.

We commit to creating a healthy workplace for you and everyone who enters your building. Two former five-star hotel executives own and run our business, representing a commitment to high-quality service with stellar results. When you need a professional, comprehensive cleaning solution, Shine Facility Services is the company for you. Contact us today to take the next step toward a clean, healthy workspace.

You may associate air pollution with smog-belching smokestacks or bumper-to-bumper L.A. traffic, but harmful air pollution can affect an ordinary home or office space. Although we don’t discuss it as frequently as outdoor pollution, indoor air quality impacts our lives just as much, if not more. Office managers shouldn’t underestimate the importance of indoor air quality. In your role, you need to know how to detect possible indoor air quality issues and prevent potential health hazards.

With more and more studies directly connecting the quality of a building’s air significantly to its occupants’ overall health and ability to focus, office managers need to be well-educated on the effects of indoor air pollution and the importance of air filtration. For those seeking to understand how to improve indoor air quality, this article will explain the health effects of poor indoor air quality, explore what causes poor indoor air quality and offer tips to improve indoor air quality in office spaces.

How Does Indoor Air Quality Affect Your Health?

Before we can understand the effects of indoor air pollution and why you should focus on indoor air quality, we must first answer the question: What is indoor air quality (IAQ)? As its name implies, IAQ refers to the quality of the air within and directly surrounding a particular building. The nature of indoor air quality and its link to individuals’ health, productivity, comfort and well-being make the quality of a building’s air a major concern for building managers, tenants, business owners and employees alike.

Many of us spend up to 90% of the day indoors, so it should come as no surprise that the quality of a building’s air directly affects its occupants’ health and ability to function at their highest capacity. But the extent to which IAQ can impact health may be a bit of a shock — the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) found that some indoor environments can have levels of pollutants even higher than the pollutant levels outside.

Many people believe staying indoors is an effective way to avoid breathing polluted air, but inside air contains pollutants from outside, plus added contaminants from indoor activities, such as smoke from cooking or fumes from cleaning products and building materials. The EPA has said indoor air pollution is typically between two and five times greater than outdoor air pollution, with the potential of being up to 100 times worse than the outside air.

This poor quality of air is partly due to keeping office windows closed to shield employees from outside pollutants. Despite good intentions, closing windows cuts down on a building’s ventilation and means every breath an employee takes in a cubicle or conference room raises the carbon dioxide level. This high concentration of CO2 can lead to headaches and drowsiness.

Indoor air pollutants can also lead to more severe illnesses. Because of the potential health problems posed by poor indoor air quality, the EPA has consistently ranked indoor air pollution among the top five environmental risks to public health. Even carefully run buildings can unknowingly experience excess air pollutants indoors, so it’s essential to recognize the symptoms of poor indoor air quality.

Why is indoor air quality important? Here are three signs that poor indoor air quality is affecting your health.

1. Sick Building Syndrome

Sick building syndrome (SBS) is just as it sounds: a sickness that stems from spending too much time in a building with poor air quality. Because of their similar symptoms, SBS is easy to mistake for a bad cold or the flu. Pay attention to whether your symptoms improve after leaving a specific building and return when you go back, which is a significant indication that SBS is to blame.

SBS usually includes skin, respiratory or neurological symptoms like these:

• Headaches
• Dizziness and nausea
• Difficulty concentrating or forgetfulness
• Throat irritation
• Chest tightness and respiratory illness
• Runny nose
• Rashes

2. Lower Productivity

According to the EPA, poor indoor air quality may cost the nation tens of billions of dollars every year in lost productivity and medical care coverage. That’s because conference rooms with constantly closed windows create increased levels of carbon dioxide in the room, resulting in drowsiness, headaches and trouble concentrating. The source of this productivity loss is a large number of pollutants in the air which reduces the amount of oxygen available to the brain, resulting in declined cognitive abilities.

On the flip side, the EPA has reported a direct connection between improved indoor and higher productivity and fewer lost workdays. Research also found that employees who worked in an environment with high-quality indoor air performed 60% better in cognitive tasks than those in a traditional office space. Because better air quality improves oxygen flow to the brain and cognitive performance, investing in better air quality will pay off for organizations in the long run.

3. Respiratory Problems

Severe indoor air pollution can contribute to more serious health issues, especially for those with underlying conditions. High levels or concentrations of air contaminants like dust, mold and secondhand smoke can exacerbate existing respiratory problems or cause new ones. More toxic pollutants, such as asbestos, formaldehyde or carbon monoxide, may result in severe health conditions.

Extremely poor indoor air quality can lead to these long-term illnesses:

• Lung cancer
• Respiratory infections
• Asthma
• Rapid heartbeat and heart disease
• Chronic lung disease

What Causes Poor Indoor Air Quality?

Indoor air quality is a complex concept. Many variables play a role in making up the air’s composition, such as a building’s design, maintenance and surrounding outside air, and they are always changing. Although the exact quality of indoor air at a specific point can be hard to pin down, the EPA has been able to identify which pollutants affect it the most.

These are the three primary indoor air pollutant categories to be aware of.

1. Chemical pollutants: Chemical pollutants are often products of combustion, such as tobacco smoke and nitrogen dioxide, but can also include accidental chemical spills and emissions from products like cleaning products or office equipment.
2. Particles: A particle is a solid or liquid substance light enough to hang in the air, such as dust and dirt. These tiny particles usually come from outside and can be harmful to human health.
3. Biological contaminants: Contaminants like large concentrations of bacteria, viruses, dander, pollen and molds typically come from inadequate building maintenance or moisture from spills, humidity and condensation. This kind of pollutant is especially hazardous for those with allergies or asthma.

Within these categories, there are many different forms of toxins and pollutant possibilities. Depending on a building’s structure, upkeep, ventilation and location, its indoor air could have a variety of particles and pollutants. Not all offices will have the same variables, but there are some standard sources of air pollution for every building manager to watch out for.

Here are some specific factors that contribute to indoor air quality.

• Smoke: Regardless of a no-indoor-smoking rule, smoke can still cling to someone’s skin or clothing and accompany them inside the building. Containing more than 400 chemical compounds, cigarette smoke is particularly dangerous to have inside a poorly ventilated space.
• Dust: Dust and mites may seem tiny enough to ignore, but these minuscule particles can circulate around a building and set off a string of allergy symptoms.
• Mildew and mold: A change in temperature can quickly lead to condensation and moisture, which serves as a breeding ground for mold and mildew. Buildings with water damage are especially susceptible to mildew and mold problems.
• Chemicals: Chemicals can come from building materials, furniture, upholstery and practically every manufactured item, making proper office ventilation essential.

With all these microscopic causes of poor indoor air quality, it can be overwhelming to know when your building’s air quality needs a boost. In particular, it can be challenging to detect potential air quality issues within large commercial facilities. Often, health symptoms are the most reliable signs of air quality issues, but it’s always preferable to clear out air pollutants before sickness strikes.

If you notice your building occupants starting to show SBS symptoms, follow these three steps to addressing indoor air quality.

1. Investigate: Before deciding there’s something wrong with your building’s airflow, look into whether other environmental factors like noise, poor lighting and thermal comfort could be affecting employees. Once you’ve eliminated these possibilities, it’s time to examine the quality of your indoor air.
2. Inspect: Check out the building’s ventilation system to make sure it’s taking in the right amount of air from outside and distributing it throughout the building well. Also, make sure the filtration systems are functioning correctly.
3. Test: Air testing kits are a great way to detect air pollutants within a space. You can submit samples to a lab for analysis of whether your building has high levels of mold, asbestos, carbon monoxide, toxic gases and other chemicals.

How to Improve Air Quality Inside Your Office

Now that you’ve seen the dangers and causes of poor indoor air quality, you may be wondering how you can improve your workplace indoor air quality. Luckily, there are many ways to purify your workplace’s indoor air and make sure your employees are comfortable. Putting a little extra effort into keeping your building well-maintained will go a long way toward eliminating air pollutants and increasing productivity.

Take a look at these top 10 ways to improve office air quality and protect employee health.

1. Test Regularly

Routinely testing your workplace’s levels of indoor pollutants, regardless of any SBS symptoms, will allow you to stay on top of your building’s air quality and detect any abnormalities before they become a problem. Air quality tests should include checking for mold, airflow, ventilation, odd odors, humidity levels and water damage. A professional air quality test will tell you exactly what you need to fix within your building to improve its indoor air.

2. Unblock Vents

Make sure your building’s air vents are fully opened and unblocked. Cabinets, storage boxes, chairs or other furniture in front of an air vent could disrupt the circulation throughout the building and negatively affect the quality of air, resulting in health issues.

3. Change HVAC Filters

To see the benefits of indoor air filtration, try to clean your HVAC system regularly as well as change its filters. A clogged HVAC filter can put a stop to your building’s airflow and speed up the rate at which pollutants collect in your enclosed space. Letting dust and debris build up within a clogged air filter will cause allergens to settle inside your air ducts and risk your employees’ health.

4. Check Air Ducts

You’ll need to inspect and clean your air ducts regularly, especially if you recently had a clogged air filter. To prevent any major health concerns, call in an expert to assess and fix your air ducts if you notice any signs that they may be interfering with your building’s circulation or air quality and in need of professional cleaning.

5. Freshen the Air

Use commercial-grade equipment, such as dehumidifiers, air purifiers and air scrubbers, to clean your building’s air. Investing in top-of-the-line air-cleaning devices will keep your indoor air quality at an appropriate level and save you from having to hire professionals to fix problems later.

6. Go Natural

Thanks to photosynthesis, indoor plants are a workplace’s secret weapon for pure air. Adding an office plant will decrease the amount of carbon dioxide in the air and increase the levels of oxygen released into the air to make breathing easier. As a bonus, the greenery will give your office space a more peaceful and pleasing aesthetic.

7. Open Up

Let fresh air in through an open window whenever possible. Windows are a great way to promote natural airflow and circulation throughout a building. If your office has windows, open them whenever the weather permits so that stale air has an outlet and fresh air can come in.

8. Monitor Humidity

A healthy level of humidity is crucial to indoor air quality. Make sure your building’s humidity level hovers somewhere between 30 and 50% to prevent dust mites, mold and other allergens from thriving. Air conditioners and a dehumidifier can be your allies in maintaining your workplace’s proper humidity.

9. Mop up Spills

To avoid mildew and mold from excess moisture, clean up any workplace spills immediately. Water damage and residual dampness support the growth of mold and mildew, which is detrimental to human health. Prevent this problem before it arises by taking care of leaks and spills as soon as someone brings it to your attention.

10. Keep Your Building Clean

Scheduling regular professional deep cleans for your workplace is the easiest way to maintain its indoor air quality. Thorough cleanings will keep contaminants and allergens from spreading through the air, get rid of dust and reduce the chance of mold growth.

Between cleaning appointments, keep a clean workspace by clearing away clutter and disposing of garbage before it has time to build up. Look for a cleaning service that uses eco-friendly cleaning products instead of harsh chemicals that could harm your building occupants’ health.

Contact Shine Facility Services to Improve Your Air Quality

If you need a one-stop-shop to sanitize your building and raise standards of cleanliness, contact Shine Facility Services. At Shine, we use green cleaning products and disinfectants to protect and preserve the health of your office. Our goal is to deliver top-quality commercial cleanings that are sustainable and effectively reduce air pollutants.

To get started on making your office a safer and more productive place to work, request a quote from Shine Facility Services today.

At Shine Facility Services, the safety of our team members, our clients, and the public is always of primary importance in everything that we do. We wanted to provide you with an update on the actions we are taking in response to the outbreak of COVID-19 and reassure you that we are prepared, with a clear action plan in place.

What We Are Doing

First, Shine Facility Services remains vigilant in monitoring the most up-to-date safety, infection control and cleaning protocols recommended by global experts, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Second, in connection with guidance provided by global health authorities, we have strengthened our on-site cleanliness measures. These actions include, but are not limited to, the following efforts:

• Implemented Disinfection Process using EVA CLEAN PRO TEXUS ELECTROSTATIC SPRAYING TECHNOLOGY.
• Increased cleaning scope to sanitize all high-frequency touchpoints more often. We use WAXIE SOLSTA 730 DISINFECTANT CLEANER, which has a kill time of 1 minute for Covid-19.  Information about this disinfectant is listed below.
• Ensuring sufficient stock levels of soap and soap dispensers remain filled
• Upon customer’s request, installation of hand sanitizer dispensers, which will be available at the building entrance or in pantry areas, etc…
• Upon customer’s request, order and distribute the wipes to office employees to wipe down internal surfaces

We are committed to creating a healthy and safe environment for your facility. We will keep you informed of any new developments which may impact you and your facility. Please do not hesitate to contact Shine if you have any questions or requests.

EVA CLEAN PRO TEXUS ELECTROSTATIC SPRAYING TECHNOLOGY

Protexus electrostatic sprayers easily disinfect and sanitize around curved and hard-to-reach surfaces, covering up to 3x the surface area of a conventional sprayer or mister using the same amount of time and labor.

PUR:ONE Fast Dissolving Cleaning and Disinfecting Tablets

PUR:ONE is a fast-dissolving concentrated tablet that dissolves in water. It is the first chemical with an EPA registered kill claim against bacteria present in biofilm. It is a powerful cleaner and disinfectant having sporicidal grade disinfection in a safe and effective formula for workers and surfaces. PUR:ONE can be applied with a mop, spray bottle, and micro-fiber. It is the only sporicidal disinfectant that will not dull or damage the floor finish. It can replace bleach, peracetic acid, and quats in any disinfecting program. It is used as the first step of the EvaClean program to effectively clean, disinfect, and kill bacteria in biofilm in 1 minute.

WAXIE SOLSTA 730 DISINFECTANT CLEANER

A one-step hydrogen peroxide-based product for disinfection, cleaning, and deodorizing. Cleans quickly by removing dirt, grime, mold and mildew stains, body oils, and other common soils found in hospitals, nursing homes, office buildings, schools and colleges, and many other locations. For use on any hard, non-porous washable surface where disinfection is required. Contains hydrogen peroxide. Meets CA Code of Regulations maximum allowable VOC levels for the disinfectant category. 4/3 Liter bottles per case. For use with Solution Station dispensers only. A new claim for SARS-Related Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in one minute.

Recommended Precautions

While thorough cleaning & disinfecting is a critical component of managing the spread of COVID-19, the best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus. However, as a reminder, CDC always recommends everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases, including:

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
• Follow CDC’s recommendations for using a facemask.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
• If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.

Additional Information

Sars-Cov-2/COVID-19. SARS-CoV-2 is a coronavirus that causes COVID-19, an illness which is primarily spread from person to person. COVID-19 symptoms can range from mild (or no symptoms) to severe illness. A person can become infected in different ways, such as coming into close contact (about 6 feet or two arm lengths) with a person who has COVID-19, from respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks, or by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it, followed by touching one’s mouth, nose, or eyes. It is unknown how long the air inside a room occupied by someone with confirmed COVID-19 remains potentially infectious, influencing factors such as the size of the room and the ventilation system design (including flowrate (air changes per hour) and location of supply and exhaust vents.))

Cleaning refers to the removal of germs, dirt, and impurities from surfaces. It does not kill germs, but by removing them, it lowers their numbers and the risk of spreading infection.

Disinfecting refers to using chemicals, for example, EPA-registered disinfectants, to kill germs on surfaces. This process does not necessarily clean dirty surfaces or remove germs, but by killing germs on a surface after cleaning, it can further lower the risk of spreading infection.