With the number of COVID-19 cases rising at an alarming rate due to the Delta Variant, it’s becoming increasingly important to be meticulous in properly disinfecting your home and office. There are methods and strategies you can use when thoroughly cleaning at home but if you feel that your space has been contaminated, it may be time to hire a professional company who can get the job done. Protecting yourself from COVID-19 by keeping a safe, clean home is important and is not a job that should be taken lightly.
EPA guidelines on cleaning
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released very specific guidelines when it comes to disinfectants and updates these guidelines often. According to their most recent guide to best practices which was released in April of 2021, they have laid out specific guidelines to follow. These include using EPA-registered disinfectants according to label directions, cleaning all surfaces with soap and water, and following CDC, State, and Local Public Health guidelines. Not only should the chemical used be approved by the EPA, but it is also recommended that the chemical is applied in a fashion where the surface remains wet for the proper dwell time for that particular disinfectant.
Approved chemicals to use
Since the EPA has approved a select number of chemicals that have been found to kill SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), it’s important that you follow these guidelines very carefully when selecting the proper disinfectants for cleaning your space. The regulations are so specific in fact, that each chemical has a precise recommended droplet size, and chemicals that claim to have a continuous cleaning lifespan (i.e., 28 days) are not approved.
Federal law requires that all disinfectants need to be registered with the EPA. Therefore, if you find a product that claims to kill COVID-19 but there is no EPA registration number, it’s possible it is not safe or effective. To help further identify approved products, the EPA has released List N, a full database for searching and finding disinfectants that are proven to work. To find an approved product on the EPA’s List N, click here.
General guidelines for cleaning regularly
Because COVID-19 is a highly contagious disease, the CDC has been recommending that everyone clean their homes, offices, and frequented spaces regularly. In addition to cleaning high-touch surfaces frequently, they also recommend that you disinfect thoroughly if someone has been in the space who has shown symptoms of COVID-19 or has tested positive for the virus.
Even though cleaning with a traditional household cleaner, like ones that contain soap or detergent, helps to reduce the number of germs and decrease risk of infection, there are times when it may be important to work with a professional company. Biohazard cleanup companies are experts in cleaning spaces that have been contaminated and they have the tools and training to execute any job.
How to pick a company
While there are many different cleaning companies out there, if you are worried about cleaning contaminated spaces, you should hire only a professional company with electrostatic sprayers. Because these sprayers are the top of the line and most effective way to disinfect a space, the best companies tend to be a bit more expensive than traditional cleaning companies. Like any service, you need to pay for quality and experience to get the job done right.
Xtreme Cleaners can help
At Xtreme Cleaners, we have decades of experience cleaning and disinfecting homes, offices, and public spaces in Louisiana. We use the best equipment available and are meticulous in our cleaning methods. Our team is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and we are equipped to tackle any situation with a high level of care and attention to detail to ensure the health and safety of you and your loved ones. If you or someone you know needs help disinfecting a space that has potentially been contaminated with COVID-19, give us a call at 800-524-9591 today.