How to Clean and Disinfect a Room From COVID-19

As COVID-19 still prevents us from returning to the normal routine, it is necessary to make adjustments.

​Some of those adjustments include making sure our rooms are cleaned, disinfected, and sanitized properly.

If time is not your ally, cleaning and disinfecting a room from COVID-19 is all about being thorough.
 
And, that means making sure you are aware of which areas you have cleaned, and which areas of the room are yet to be cleaned. 
 
What is the best way to ensure this?

Have a starting point in a room to eliminate infected areas from COVID-19

It is always easier to break a larger area into smaller cleaning zones. 
 
Then, issue a plan to determine where you start and how you move forward. 
 
Rather than cleaning object-by-object in a random fashion, a structured approach helps to be thorough and not miss a spot.

In practice, it is always easier to clean and disinfect a room if it is clear of any loose objects. 
 
If you are cleaning or disinfecting your office or home from COVID-19, try to put all smaller objects in a box. 
 
This way, you can easily proceed with the cleaning and sanitization process of the greater structure of the room, whether that be:
 

• Walls
  
• Base Trim
  
• Flooring
  
• Cabinets
  
• Doors
  
• Furniture
  
• Handles
  
• Toilets
  
• Tubs
  
• Dressers
  

With the smaller objects out of the picture, surfaces can be disinfected completely. 
 
In addition, having a room that is empty of loose items can make cleaning the room more efficient, as you can easily take a top-down approach and loose objects do not complicate your progression so you can focus completely on the target surfaces that you need to clean and disinfect.
 
Once you have progressed in the surface cleaning and disinfection, you can take care of the loose small objects.

Take the same precautions to deal with the loose objects. Wipe them off and disinfect them with appropriate products ensuring compliance with manufacturers’ recommendations for electronics.
 
Once the room has been sanitized from COVID-19 from top to bottom, and all the loose items cleaned and disinfected separately, you can put everything back in place. 
 
Remember to dispose of your personal protective equipment appropriately.

Cleaning and Disinfecting Common Touchpoints in a Room From COVID-19

If you deal with an area of your office or home with high traffic, it is essential to clean and disinfect frequently. 
 
Although you may not want to get involved in a thorough deep cleaning and disinfection, you may need to focus on touchpoints.
 
These common touchpoints can include:

• Countertops 
• Tables
• Desks
• Vertical surfaces
• Handles
• Doorknobs
• Doors
• Furniture
• Handrails
• Light switches
• Toilets
• Faucets
• Sinks
• Floors
• Screens
• Monitors
• Keyboards
• Phones
• Tablets
• Linens, clothing and miscellaneous laundry items

 
However, it is essential that the surfaces that are the most commonly exposed to human interaction are cleaned and disinfected with household cleaners and EPA-registered disinfectants or laundry detergents for linens and clothing.

Remember, each type of disinfectant and cleaning product may have a different application process and contact time to activate. 
 
The virus that causes COVID-19 can be found on a variety of surfaces and can live for different amounts of time on different surfaces. 
 
Therefore, carefully read the safety data sheet for the different cleaning and disinfection products.

For DIY COVID-19 Cleaning & Disinfection Remember to Wear Your Personal Protective Equipment

There are a few basic principles that apply to disinfect a room across different mediums.
 
If you suspect that an area of your office or home has been exposed to COVID-19, the most important rule is to make sure to wear disposable gloves, a mask, and possibly safety glasses before cleaning a given surface.
 
If disposable gloves are not available, designate one pair of gloves that you will use for cleaning and disinfecting.

Do not use them for anything else. Reserve them exclusively for cleaning and disinfection purposes.
 
If you wear reusable gloves or masks, clean them immediately after usage and wash your hands.
 
These designated gloves should not be used for any other purposes.
 
For a complete list of directions on cleaning and disinfecting unique surfaces from COVID-19, see the CDC's Detailed Disinfection Guidance page.

Conclusion

The most important aspect of any cleaning and disinfection project is preparation and planning. 
 
Thorough preparation and planning will help you in the execution of your COVID-19 cleaning and disinfection project.  
 
The preparation and planning aspect should encompass the cleaning area, cleaning product selection and disinfectants, and equipment to be used throughout the process. 
 
A thorough preparation not only ensures that the cleaning and disinfecting job are completed appropriately, but it is also the best approach to ensure your personal safety.
 
As we are preparing to re-open businesses in the next coming weeks, do you have a cleaning and disinfection protocol in place?