Cleaning Should Focus On Disease Transfer Points

One of the most important areas when green cleaning to protecting health, are the “disease transfer points”, or places that pathogenic bacteria or viruses are likely to be passed from person to person. To identify where these points are, simply think of places in the building that occupants touch with their hands or skin. 

Some examples of disease transfer points include: Doorknobs, light switches, countertops, desktops, chair arms, drinking fountain push bars, entrance door push bars, exercise equipment and hand rails to name a few.

Essentially, anywhere the human hand touches and the general public will come into contact with on a repeated and frequent basis. When identifying these “Disease Contact Points”, be mindful of the traffic flow within a facility. Once cleaned, sanitized or disinfected, these points re-soil with the next contact by the human hand. Depending on where that surface may be, will determine how soon this build up happens and to what extent.

These points must be cleaned, sanitized or disinfected routinely and often, using an approved product and a microfiber wiper (which must be cleaned or changed regularly). Best practices in Green Cleaning is to then treat these contact points with an approved product that will leave a protective barrier, resisting pathogenic bacteria growth and promoting better cleaning for days. This procedure of “Barrier Cleaning” will interrupt the transportation of bacteria and virus from that surface.

As a professional Technician, we are entrusted with the health and wellbeing of every individual who uses the facilities where we provide services. It is our job to provide the safest atmosphere possible. Be always mindful of this as you perform the task required in the different areas of service within the facility being maintained, as Green Cleaning has an effect on you first, then the individuals who enter a facility.

David Thompson is a 40-year veteran of the cleaning industry and author of “The New Generation of Cleaning”, a best Practices Guide for Environmental Health Services. Thompson is also president of the Green Clean Institute. His book can be found at www.Janitorkatt.com while the GCI coursework and certification courses have a home at www.GCICertified.com.