The business of cleaning is often one overlooked as a largely unskilled job done by an unskilled workforce, which couldn’t be further from the truth.
There are approximately 1.63 million workers in the cleaning sector, making up around five per cent of the UK workforce. Cleaning provides a vital service for the nation, ensuring that our workplaces, hospitals, transport and public spaces are clean and safe to use. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, cleaners have become essential key workers putting themselves in the frontline of the fight to help keep hospitals, Extra Care facilities, factories and warehouses open.
Managing Director of APM Cleaning and author of cleaning manual series The Business of Cleaning; Samantha Read is keen to acknowledge and promote the high level of knowledge and commitment required from APM staff to ensure high standards of cleaning and infection control procedures are carried out – something she feels has been overlooked by society in the past. The rigorous training staff undergo on infection control, COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations), manual handling, dementia friendly training and safeguarding demonstrates the importance that cleaners should know what they are doing and be well trained.
Do understand how disinfecting works
Here at APM, we have assessed the most effective means of cleaning client facilities followed by electrostatic disinfecting techniques using viricidal product.
The difference between cleaning, sanitising and disinfecting can be explained as follows:
- Cleaning is the removal of debris from objects/surfaces (Removing soil)
- Sanitising is the reduction (not killing) or organisms on a surface
- Disinfecting will kill the microscopic organisms on a surface
Don’t underestimate the space being cleaned
Cleaning in the Serviced Accommodation (SA) industry is not like cleaning in a hotel bedroom or buy-to-let property, in the same way that cleaning Extra Care facilities is not like cleaning an office block. Unfortunately, the reputation of the cleaning services industry suffers as a result of too many inexperienced and untrained cleaners and business owners who believe that cleaning is easy: It really isn’t!
SA properties and Extra Care facilities have multiple bedrooms and also have additional rooms such as kitchens with their cupboards and appliances, lounges, offices, hallways and stairways with high-touch-areas in need of thorough disinfection. Additional items to be cleaned can include throws, rugs, curtains, blinds and other soft furnishings. It also includes cleaning inside kitchen cupboards, oven, fridge freezer etc.
Do consider the right type of equipment for the job
A fogging machine is a dispenser that uses air pressure to produce a very fine fog enabling the efficient application of various types of chemical solutions such as bactericides, virucides, pesticides and odour control products.
Foggers have been in use for 50 years or more and are often used to control disease and insects in intensive livestock units such as poultry houses. More recently they have been used on cruise ships and oilrig accommodation units to control norovirus (vomiting bug) and medical facilities for infection control and within food factories. Today, we’re using them with anti-viricidal solutions to kill coronavirus.
These machines have become extremely important in the fight against Corona Virus COVID-19 as they are able to disinfect both small and large areas quickly and effectively with the fine mist accessing every surface of the room in a very short time. The fog particles produced are so fine they float in the air long enough to disinfect upper surfaces.
Do trust the experts
If your staff are working and observing social distancing right now, you can book APM Cleaning and Repair to come into your commercial premises to carry out a deep clean for added peace of mind. Or, contact us today to organise your deep clean for your business so your staff are able return to work as lockdown eases.
All our work is guaranteed, just call us on 0191 273 4600 and a member of our team will be happy to help you
