Disinfection services !!. In the pre corona world, would you have heard about this? In today’s world, it has now become an essential service. We attempt to demystify this space a little. Given that there is a lot of frenzy and fear in the world today, we try to demystify this space. The points below will make it easier to decide whether you require a disinfection service both for your offices and residences.

What should Disinfection or Sanitization services do?

The primary function of Disinfection or Sanitization cleaning services is to kill viruses and bacteria and provide a healthy and safer environment. It should also be able to improve upon the indoor air quality. These also prevent cross-infection in enclosed spaces.

Let us take a step back and understand a few definitions on Cleaning and Disinfection as per the CDC( Centre for Disinfection Control and prevention)-one of the leading agencies in our fight against Covid 19

• 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.

So the critical thing to note is that disinfection and cleaning go hand in hand, and offered as disinfection cleaning services or sanitizing cleaning services. Now professional disinfecting services should be having the right chemicals approved by the local and international health authorities. They should be having the right expertise as well as machinery to provide for the correct disinfection. The services are offered as Commercial office disinfection services for viruses or residences. It could be branded in these times as Corona virus Disinfection Services or even as Corona virus Cleaning & Disinfection Services. 

 However, we should keep in mind that this service should not be only for Corona Virus; rather, this is meant to kill a host of viruses as well as bacteria, for example, SARS, MERS, Covid-19, etc. Their purpose is to Clean and disinfect enclosed surfaces so that it is safe and healthy to occupy. That is why disinfection services can also be referred to as disinfection cleaning companies!!

What are the products generally used, in the sanitization service?

There are a lot of varieties of disinfectants, and they are broadly classified based on the active ingredients present in them. Some popular ones are Hydrogen peroxide, Quaternary ammonium, Sodium hypochlorite, Citric acid, Lactic Acid. You would have come across as few popular brands such as Diversey, Clorox, S. C Johnson, Reckitt Benckiser, etc.

The fact of the matter is that quite a few of these disinfectants are harmful, especially the ones using Chlorine or Hydrogen Peroxide. They are known Irritants and also toxic to the environment. Hence it is risky to use them in enclosed spaces.A few disinfectants are quaternary ammonium compounds that are biodegradable and have quick virucidal properties (i.e., they kill viruses quickly) as compared to traditional disinfectants. These compounds can also be used with Fogging or ULV machines to generate a spray. 

However, mere spraying of the disinfectant is not good enough. Due care has to ensured so that the cleaning pre and post disinfection is also taken care of.

What are the areas that require disinfection services?

The disinfection should be done with a fair amount of cleaning. There is no point in disinfecting a dirty workplace or an uncleaned house. This reduces the efficiency of the disinfection process and might not lead to full eradication of viruses or bacteria. At all times, we have to ensure that the cleaners are using disposable gloves. This is both during cleaning as well as disinfection. Hands are to be again washed post removal of the gloves.

Having a general disinfection cleaning service is a good practice before we focus on areas of high contact. The high contact points, such as Door knobs, Door Handles, and Knobs, Light Switches, Desks, Keyboards. Toilet areas and kitchen should be rubbed vigorously rubbed to remove the Virus. High Footfall areas like reception desk/ entry bay should also be

scrubbed so that sanitization is done properly. This office virus sterilization is an important activity to be done before restarting offices.

Soft surfaces such as Carpets, Rugs, and drapes should be either washed with a soap solution and water using warm water ( refer to manufacturer instructions if there are specific instructions). These can be disinfected using EPA/Local authority approved disinfectants.

For electronic items such as cell phones, tablets, touch screens, remote controls, and keyboards, remove visible contamination. It is best to use disinfectant wipes, which are 70% alcohol-based, to disinfect. It is also better to have wipeable covers for electronic items.

For home sanitizing services, it would make sense to do a thorough deep cleaning followed by sanitization in areas such as bathrooms, living areas, and kitchen.

What is the equipment used?

A professional disinfection company would be ideally having a ULV ( Ultra Low volume) spraying machine, which can create a mist-like formation. These machines, also known as foggers, help to form droplets of the disinfectant in the air and helps reach a greater area in a short period.

 To increase the efficiency of the spraying, we can also use electrostatic guns, which have a charge on the disinfectant spray. As a result, these will be able to have 100% coverage of the areas, unlike other traditional methods such as fogging. These disinfection services are also known as electrostatic disinfection services.

Another way of disinfection is by using UV( ultra Violet lights ) to disinfect an enclosed area. However, UV lights are hazardous for the human skin and eyes, and all precautions have to be taken before their usage is permitted.

 In conclusion, as the world is going through turbulent times, disinfection services are an essential part of the fight against the Corona Virus. It is prudent to use it and also better to be knowledgeable about its usage.