CloroxPro Blog – Professional Cleaning and Disinfection Insights

Although the excitement around reopening is understandable after many months of lockdowns and restrictions, it is important to remember what we have learned from the pandemic as we continue to embrace the recent enhancement of public health awareness.

“Hygiene Theater”

Recently, there have been several articles published discussing the idea of “Hygiene Theater” This describes the phenomenon of disinfecting surfaces relentlessly to provide a sense of security, even if it’s unknown how much risk reduction this cleaning actually provides.^1,2

Some articles debate the odds of transmission of the COVID-19 virus (SARS-CoV-2) on inanimate surfaces.³ But as the situation evolves and we continue to learn about the virus and its transmission, one thing is clear. Erring on the side of caution has raised the standard for what it means to be “clean.”

There may be a wish to forge ahead by returning to our ways before the pandemic, but there’s good reason to embrace our “new normal.”

New world mindset

The “new world mindset” bought on by the pandemic should be seen as a public health achievement. Infection prevention is no longer a term isolated to the four walls of the hospital — we, now more than ever, are all more aware of the need for disinfection within our businesses as employees (or owners), as consumers, and even in our own homes.⁴ Disinfection is now seen as everyone’s responsibility. And that is a very good change indeed!

Rebuilding trust is essential

Gone are the days where employees and customers accepted a certain level of risk when it came to the safety of our shared public spaces. Now we are finding that the accepted trust in our surroundings may be questioned.

Here are some things you could consider implementing to help rebuild trust⁵:

• Provide hand sanitizer
• Provide disinfecting wipes
• For customers
  • Clean surfaces after each interaction
  • Take extra cleaning precautions & preventions Disinfect shared furniture spaces with regular spraying
• For employees
  • Regularly cleaning of equipment and shared space by a cleaning service
  • Disinfect shared furniture spaces with regular spraying

Not only have are these practices been especially relevant over the past year, it is evident that the public is now looking for consistent displays of safety and cleanliness to trust businesses moving forward.

Develop a plan

With the new attitudes and awareness in place, it is vital to develop a plan for using disinfectants efficiently and effectively. There’s a time and place for cleaning, and a time and place for disinfection, and doing the right amount of each can help safeguard public health.

Smart disinfection

Work smart! It is important that disinfection is happening where it is needed most. Depending on the type of facility and how people are using that facility, some areas might require cleaning only, while others may need both cleaning and disinfection.

Smart disinfection—that is, targeting disinfectants to when and where they are needed most—can help conserve disinfectants and maximize protection for the people who use those spaces.⁶

Part of smart disinfection is to know the difference between cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting.

• Cleaning is the physical removal of dirt and debris from surfaces. Cleaning products cannot make claims to kill bacteria or viruses on surfaces.
• Sanitizers reduce the number of bacteria on surfaces, but cannot make claims against viruses, so they cannot be used to kill viruses.
• Disinfectants can be registered to kill bacteria, fungi and viruses on surfaces, including SARS-CoV-2.
• Some products are one-step cleaner disinfectants, meaning that they contain both surfactants and an antimicrobial ingredient, so they can clean and disinfect in the same step.

Going the extra mile

For extra assurance that all surfaces are disinfected, electrostatic spray disinfection can be added to and even replace parts of your cleaning and disinfection routine.⁶ For example, after cleaning high-touch surfaces in classrooms, you could use an electrostatic sprayer to apply a disinfectant quickly and evenly to all surfaces in the room. This could include hard-to clean surfaces like chairs and desks, or soft surfaces. Electrostatic spraying can also be used as a substitute for manual wipes and sprays in areas that are large and hard to disinfect manually, such as restrooms, locker rooms or cafeterias.

Choose the Right Partner

The right partner

1. Can provide best in class disinfectants.
2. Can support creating protocols for your facility.
3. Provides a trusted brand in disinfection.

CloroxPro^® is the right partner. Learn more about the products in the CloroxPro^® portfolio

References

1. Thompson D. Hygiene Theater Is Still a Huge Waste of Time. https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2021/02/hygiene-theater-still-waste. Accessed July 5, 2021.
2. Judkis M. Deep cleans and disinfecting mists might not keep us from getting the virus , but they sure make us feel better [Internet]. The Washington Post. 2020 [cited 2020 Oct 6]. Available from: https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/deep-cleans-and-disinfecting-mists-might-not-keep-us-from-getting-the-virus-but-they-sure-make-us-feel-better/2020/09/05/f428b8ee-e965-11ea-97e0-94d2e46e759b_story.htm. Accessed July 5, 2021.
3. Goldman E. Exaggerated risk of transmission of COVID-19 by fomites [Internet]. Vol. 20, The Lancet Infectious Diseases. 2020. p. 892–3. Available from: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(20)30561-2/fulltex. Accessed July 5, 2021.
4. Rosenberg E. Hygiene Theater or Hygiene Awareness? Looking Beyond COVID-19. https://www.cloroxpro.com/blog/hygiene-theater-or-hygiene-awareness-looking-beyond-covid-19. Accessed July 5, 2021.
5. Safety and cleanliness–make it or break it. https://www.deloittedigital.com/content/dam/deloittedigital/us/documents/offerings/offering-20200626-safety-cleanliness-covid.pdf. Accessed July 5, 2021.
6. Velez K. Smart Disinfection: Making the Most of Your Disinfectants. https://www.cloroxpro.com/blog/smart-disinfection-making-the-most-of-your-disinfectants/. Accessed July 5, 2021.