How do you know if an item can be disinfected? The following are three ways:

1. The Type of Material

If the item is nonporous, such as hard plastics, metal, or glass, it can typically be disinfected. It’s much more challenging to disinfect items like upholstery, fabrics, or even wood. To treat those, we use specialized equipment and cleaning methods.

2. The Extent of the Damage

If your item was only mildly affected by smoke or water, it can typically be restored and effectively disinfected. We’ll have to closely examine the damage to determine the probability of restoration.

3. The Type of Contamination

Was your item exposed to smoke or water? Or were there harmful chemicals involved? If your possessions were exposed to biohazards or dangerous chemicals, they may not be able to be disinfected or restored.

What Surfaces Should Be Disinfected?

Any surface that is frequently touched—such as doorknobs – should be disinfected. In addition, any surface or object that came into contact with smoke, water, or any other contaminants should undergo careful restoration.

What Does It Mean When a Surface Is Disinfected?

A surface is disinfected when the number of harmful germs and microorganisms has been reduced to a safe level as determined by public health standards. This process dramatically decreases the chances of getting an infection.

Knowing whether an item or surface can be disinfected is an important first step. But for facilities that serve large numbers of people every day — like hospitals and schools — disinfection isn’t just about restoring belongings after a disaster. It’s a daily standard of care. Here’s what those facilities need to know about environmental cleaning services.

What to Know About Environmental Cleaning Services for Hospitals and Schools

Even before the pandemic, winter had a reputation for being the season that brings sickness. Between allergies and colds, it seems there are people sniffling no matter where you go. 

Though most can follow standard guidelines for disinfecting their facilities, hospitals and schools must take extra care in their environmental cleaning services to protect their vulnerable visitors.

When deciding the best way to clean and disinfect the surfaces of your hospital or school, there are a few things you need to know:

Environmental Cleaning Services: Disinfection Services Go Beyond Cleaning

When making sure your facility is safe for its young or ailing inhabitants, you need more than a clean environment. You need to make sure your cleaning service disinfects and sanitizes the environment as well. What is the difference between cleaning, disinfecting, and sanitizing?

Cleaning vs. Disinfecting Objects and Surfaces

Cleaning removes dirt, grime, and other problematic residues, stains, or debris from the environment. A good cleaning can be achieved with some nice, hot water and a bottle of soap. Disinfecting goes one step further, using chemicals or a strong alternative to remove germs. This is done by treating the surface or object with the disinfecting product and leaving it there to effectively kill the germs.

A clean environment is not always germ-free, and a germ-free environment is not always clean. Sanitizing is one step down from both: sanitizing something is simply the process of cleaning and/or disinfecting a surface or object to make it safe for use. You can sanitize a dish by scrubbing it then running it under very hot water. A teacher can sanitize a desk by wiping it down with an antibacterial wipe.

Know What Type of “Clean” Your Facility Needs

By making yourself familiar with these different terms for cleaning, you will better know how to request the type of environment cleaning services your facility needs. 

At First Call, we have the cleaning solutions you need, from hospital-grade disinfecting services to reliable cleaning and sanitizing services. We are proud to integrate natural products into our cleaning regimes, so your desks and waiting areas are safe for even the littlest hands. Learn more about the natural products we use here.

Environment Cleaning Services Should Follow Authoritative Guidelines

Facilities like hospitals and schools must be sure their disinfection protocols follow health and safety requirements. While the guidelines set forth by the CDC, EPA, and OSHA are similar, each has its own specifications. 

At First Call, we stay up to date on the requirements and suggestions of each authority. When you choose First Call to help make sure your hospital or school is safe, you can trust us to disinfect your surfaces with the greatest care for the people your facility serves.

We are also able to offer advice about the level of cleaning your facility may need, even at a large scale. From the different types of cleaning to the regularity of service, we can create a custom quote that meets your facility’s required standards and keeps its occupants safe from germs.

Some Surfaces Need More Cleaning and Care Than Others

When it comes time to disinfect your facility, your cleaning service should be cleaning some areas differently than others. This is because germs collect more or live longer on some surfaces and materials than others. 

Depending on the surface and its purpose, it may be necessary to: use different cleaning and disinfecting products that don’t react poorly with the material; leave the disinfecting products on surfaces long enough to work; or clean, then disinfect areas of high traffic.

Which environmental surfaces must be cleaned and decontaminated more rigorously? The high traffic areas with materials that encourage germs to live longest include:

•       Doorknobs
•       Tabletops (or desks)
•       Countertops
•       Sinks
•       Glass (high traffic glass areas could include coffee tables, doors, shared kitchenware)
•       Appliance handles (stainless steel refrigerator or dishwasher handles, cabinet handles)
•       Plastics (toys in a waiting room, shopping carts, bathroom doors)

These are just a few examples. Within a hospital, there are many specialized areas, such as waiting rooms, supply caddies, trash cans, and other surfaces that can also require special attention.

Hospitals and schools aren’t the only places that benefit from a deeper level of cleaning. Many homeowners and business owners turn to professional disinfection during a very specific time of year — spring. Here’s how that seasonal refresh connects to everything we just covered.

Discover How Our Services Can Help With Your Spring Cleaning

Some people consider it an annual rite of passage: Clearing away the winter cobwebs to welcome the fresh cleanliness and easy breezes of spring .

Of course, there’s much more to this deep deodorizing than merely vacuuming behind the furniture. Spring cleaning is extremely time-consuming, detailed work. Wouldn’t you rather spend that time enjoying spring? In this article, we’ll explain how our services can help with your spring cleaning so you won’t have to worry.

Why Is Spring Cleaning Important? How Our Services Can Help You With Your Spring Cleaning

When your home has been tightly insulated to keep warm during the winter months, dust, dirt, and grime may have eased their way into your corners, your carpet, and other hard-to-reach areas. Spring cleaning gets rid of these and gives your home a fresh start for the season.

Did you know that spring cleaning may also make you healthier? According to the Cleveland Clinic , spring cleaning is about much more than making your home or office look good. There are several psychological benefits as well, and these include:

•       A feeling of accomplishment
•       Reduced stress (as a result of reducing clutter)
•       Getting you moving
•       Allowing you to find and remove home hazards
•       Fending off depression

Spring Cleaning Is a Great Time to Disinfect

This is particularly important not only in your home but in your office, school, or even warehouse. Winter includes flu season, and sniffles and colds have undoubtedly entered your area. A thorough cleaning—with particular attention to communal areas—can give you a healthier start.

It’s important to note: There’s a difference between cleaning and disinfecting, and that’s one key to how our services can help with your spring cleaning.

What’s the Difference Between Cleaning and Disinfecting?

We touched on this a bit earlier, but we feel it should be repeated because it’s so critical to understand the distinctions. You’ll hear people use these words interchangeably, but there are key differences.

Disinfecting became the buzzword during the height of COVID when federal and state regulations required a certain level of quality to determine if an area was safely disinfected or not.

While we’ve used the term “spring cleaning” in this article, what we offer at First Call is much more than using a household bleach-containing product and mopping the floors. We don’t merely clean. We disinfect. Disinfecting is a stronger alternative to actually removing and destroying germs.

All of our disinfection services follow the standards set by the Centers for Disease Control, EPA, and OSHA to help ensure your home, office or school is safe. If an area has been disinfected, then it must meet these stringent requirements, while mere cleaning does not. We also use a hospital-grade disinfectant.

Of course, knowing the difference between cleaning and disinfecting matters just as much in the workplace — maybe even more. For business owners, that distinction often comes down to a different comparison entirely: janitorial services versus professional office sterilization.

Differences Between Janitorial Services and Professional Office Sterilization

You want your offices to present a professional, polished look. At the same time, you want to be sure your employees are safe. To reach both these goals, you need to understand the differences between regular janitorial services and office sterilization.

What Makes Office Sterilization Different from Janitorial Cleaning?

Janitorial cleaning is an essential part of running a good business, but it is not the same thing as office sterilization.

• Cleaning an office removes visible dirt, but it doesn’t disinfect or sterilize–meaning that even after cleaning, germs may still be lurking on the surface.
• Disinfecting is a process that actually kills germs.

But even after cleaning and disinfecting, there may still be more germs present than public health guidelines deem safe.

That’s when sterilization comes into play. Sterilization both cleans, kills germs AND ensures that the area meets all federal, state and local guidelines for safety.

At First Call, we use a hospital-grade disinfectant that is effective against all types of viruses and germs, including COVID-19. We can work with areas of any size, whether a hospital waiting room or large office building.

We also meet all CDC, EPA and OSHA standards which means we’re in compliance with all regulations from both the state and federal governments.

What is the Difference Between Cleaning and Disinfecting?

Remember, cleaning removes dirt and germs physically from the surface using soap, detergent and water. Cleaning in itself does not kill germs, but instead, it removes them, according to information from the Centers for Disease Control. 

Disinfecting a surface involves killing the germs where they reside on surfaces or objects. Typically, this involves a bleach or alcohol solution. It’s important to note that disinfecting doesn’t typically clean dirty surfaces, and it doesn’t always remove germs.

However, sanitizing is a different story.

Sanitizing may typically involve both cleaning and disinfecting, ensuring that it is in accordance with public health safety standards for office areas.

Why Is Office Sterilization Important?

Are you fully aware of the cost of employee absenteeism?

According to the Centers for Disease Control, these absences can add up, leading to productivity losses of around $225.8 billion a year in the United States—which equates to roughly $1,685 per employee. 

Promoting a healthier workspace isn’t just good for employees; it helps your bottom line.

Even worse, sometimes employees come in to work when they are sick. Not only does this affect their productivity, but it also presents the possibility of infecting other employees. In fact, employees who work when they are sick represent at least 60% of the total cost of worker illnesses.

Office sanitation can create a healthier workspace by dramatically reducing the chances that sickness will spread throughout your business. Not only is this good for your employees, but it boosts your bottom line.

Why First Call is the Right Call for Office Sterilization

We have worked with office buildings of all sizes, schools, warehouses, universities and all types of businesses to create safe and sanitized working environments. Healthy employees are productive employees, and ensuring they have a safe environment is also key in helping you avoid potential liability pitfalls.

For decades, we’ve served the Triangle, Greensboro and Burlington areas by offering professional office sanitation at a location near you. But even more importantly, we value you as a client. You’re more than a mere customer; we consider you part of our team. We will work together and keep you abreast of our progress at every turn. 

See why our customer service and dedication to quality places us above our competitors—it’s why First Call is the right call. Contact us today.