Furniture & Office Cleaning Guide For Healthcare Facilities
and Medical Offices
T he workplace is an ever-changing landscape, and it can be hard to keep up with all the new developments for health and safety. The COVID-19 pandemic immensely altered daily routines, and guidelines for health and safety in the workplace set by the CDC change so often that they come with further questions and concerns. Change happens, but never fear - we are here to assist you in adapting successfully to new regulations and challenges.
Our workspace experts at Interiors by Guernsey work with you to evaluate, develop, implement, and maintain an effective plan that addresses your specific needs and ensures a healthy and safe workplace. If things change, no need to stress. We will help you revise your plans accordingly to create and continue providing a secure work environment.
Set Your Goals
Plan and prepareBefore you get started, think about and define your cleaning goals and create a plan to achieve them.
The ideal workspace cleaning plan:
- Develops mitigation strategies, including those that protect and prioritize those at high risk
- Decreases disruptions to daily activity and processes
- Reorganizes office space to ensure ideal conditions
- Creates a workspace that your employees feel comfortable working in
- Implements guidelines to maximize disease prevention and control
- Sets best practices and scheduling for regular workspace cleaning, sanitizing and disinfecting
Getting Started
Understanding the DifferenceCleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting are not one and the same.
- Cleaning removes areas of impurities; HOWEVER, it does not kill germs, it only lowers the risk of spreading infections
- Sanitizing decreases the level of germs living on surfaces to a safe level
- Disinfecting uses chemicals to wipe out germs on surfaces
To do the most effective job, you’ll need a strategy that incorporates all three.
Assemble Your Supplies
Before cleaning, make sure you have all the tools to get the job done right.
What you’ll need:
- General cleaning supplies
- Disposable gloves and masks for use while cleaning (Note: gloves should be sanitized beforehand)
- EPA-approved disinfectant
Looking for supplies? We got you covered.
Time to Clean!
For a truly thorough clean, all surfaces (especially the hot zones) need proper disinfection. Hot zones are frequently touched areas in the workplace. They include:
- Phones
- Touch screens
- Keyboards & mice
- Drawer pulls
- Tables & desks
- Doorknobs
- Light switches
- Faucets & sinks
- Bathroom areas
- Seating areas and chairs
- Personal devices such as mobile phones and laptops
Steps for disinfection:
- Wash your hands before you begin
- After putting on gloves, clean the surface with soap and water
- Use EPA-approved disinfectant (follow instructions on label)
*If an EPA-approved disinfectant is unavailable, you can use 1/3 cup of bleach added to 1 gallon of water, or 70% alcohol solutions to disinfect - Don't forget to wash your hands again after disinfecting
NOTE: Do not mix bleach with other cleaning products.
Additional cleaning & disinfecting information by the CDC.
Maintenance
M aintaining a clean work environment is a never-ending task that requires everyone’s commitment and cooperation.
The best way to ensure this is to encourage hygiene best practices throughout your workspace, including:
- Wash your hands frequently with soap and hot water for at least 20 seconds
- Use hand sanitizer when needed
- Stay home when sick
- Avoid touching nose, eyes, and mouth
- Social distancing and wearing face coverings when required
T aking immediate action when someone in the facility is sick
- Close off area used by the sick person
- Open windows and doors to circulate airflow throughout the building
- Disinfect and clean all areas used by person and wait 24 hours (if possible) until person uses them again
- Vacuum the area if needed
- Safely dispose of any items used to clean & disinfect
"If your workplace, school, or business has been unoccupied for 7 days or more, it will only need your normal routine cleaning to reopen the area. This is because the virus that causes COVID-19 has not been shown to survive on surfaces longer than this time."
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
We're all in this together
It's time to start planning for the long-term and better prepare the workplace. Reopening the office requires effort from everyone to move forward. It's not only about personal safety, but also for the safety of others. Start developing a plan today to create a secure place of work by evaluating needs. Then, implement and revise your plans as things unfold. Change is essential and we will help you get there.