Cleaning During COVID-19
Summary
Harmony Cleaning has cleaned thousands of homes and offices over the years and have experience in some of the best and safest ways to do so. With so many questions on how to clean and disinfect for COVID-19, we felt releasing this summary could help our customers.
Use Soap & Water
The cheapest, most natural, and effective method for cleaning is with soap and water. Soap removes viruses from surfaces for Covid, cold and influenza protection. **According to Health Canada, soap destroys this lipid layer (of Coronaviruses), stopping the virus from being able to infect you**
Ventilation and Air Purifiers
The latest scientific studies have proven the virus is transmitted by airborne droplets and not by touching surfaces. Proper ventilation by opening windows or doors or using an Air Purifier work best.
Disinfecting vs. Cleaning
Disinfecting and cleaning are different. Disinfecting neutralizes the virus using chemicals while cleaning removes it from a surface.
Best Disinfectants
Order of the best to least favorable disinfectants: 60% – 95% Alcohol, Hydrogen Peroxide, Iodine, Bleach. The best disinfectant is alcohol with concentrations of 60% – 95%. It will stop the virus and only takes 10 seconds of contact to do so.
How we are fighting the Coronavirus
We are working with our cleaners and customers in order to follow all suggested government guidelines to protect everyone's safety. Let's work together to keep us all safe.
Our Cleaners
- We will notify customers immediately and cancel cleanings if your cleaner or anyone in their home has any symptoms or have been in contact with who has Covid-19.
- Our cleaners wear masks prior to arrival and at all times during your cleaning.
- Cleaners are wearing gloves and using soap and water to remove bacteria and viruses from surfaces.
- Ventilation will be used when possible such as opening windows and doors to let air circulate which removes airborne droplets and the virus.
Our Customers
- We ask that our customers let us know immediately if there are any risks for our cleaners such as Covid-19 symptoms or having contact with anyone with symptoms or who has tested positive.
- Help us maintain physical distancing in your home or office during cleanings.
- Wash all cleaning supplies between cleanings such as cloths and mops heads.
- We encourage our customers to ventilate homes and offices regularly such as opening windows and doors to circulate the air or to use a basic air purifier when available.
What Does Not Work?
A little cleaning and disinfecting knowledge will go a long way in keeping your family safe. That said, finding time to clean and sanitize can be just as hard as doing the actual cleaning.
Vinegar
Vinegar, 10% Malt Vinegar has some signs of killing influenza, but not corona family viruses. Amesh A. Adalja, M.D., an infectious disease expert at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, sums it up well. “[Vinegar] does have acid in it, and it [can] damage bacteria and viruses, but it’s not something I’d recommend using to prevent the spread of coronavirus.”
Ammonia
Ineffective toward enveloped viruses
Alcohol
Of any type below 60% concentration. Drinking alcohol is not an option at all.
Tea Tree Oil
Has been shown to help cold sores (herpes virus) but not against the corona family.
Be Smart
Be smart. Wear masks when inside or in confined outdoor spaces. Wash your hands. Ventilate indoors spaces.
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