5 Ways the CDC Recommends Disinfecting Your Equipment

If you haven’t been to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website, it’s a great place to learn about best practices and standards when combating coronavirus. They have in-depth information about how to disinfect your business if you believe someone ill was in the building (note: the steps are different than if you are conducting standard disinfection procedures, of course). We’re passing along a few of our favorites and key points to help keep you, your employees, and your clients safe:

1. Wash your hands: There’s a reason everyone starts with this one: it works. According to the CDC, If soap and water are not available and hands are not visibly dirty, an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains 60%-95% alcohol may be used. However, if hands are visibly dirty, always wash hands with soap and water.
2. Wear gloves: It’s not a substitute for handwashing (in fact, you need to wash your hands whenever you remove gloves), but the CDC advises wearing strong, disposable gloves and gowns for all tasks in the cleaning process, including handling trash.
3. Keep calm: Don’t shark dirty laundry! From capes and protective drapes to towels, hand cloths, and rags, it’s best to place laundry into machines. Don’t shake or dump it. The CDC says this minimizes the possibility of dispersing virus through the air.
4. Clean the hamper: Chances are you have a basket marked “Dirty.” Chances are you’re not cleaning it as often as you should. The CDC says we should clean and disinfect hampers or other carts for transporting laundry according to the guidance above for hard or soft surfaces.
5. Think global, act local: Employers should work with their local and state health departments to ensure appropriate local protocols and guidelines, such as updated/additional guidance for cleaning and disinfection, are followed, including for identification of new potential cases of COVID-19.

Check out the full list of disinfection recommendations on the CDC website. We’re happy to share a few key pieces of information, but there’s no substitute for the real thing. Health and safety is everyone’s responsibility, and if we all do our part to limit the spread of illness (coronavirus or otherwise), we’ll create an environment for our employees to do their best work and for our clients to enjoy your business!