Disinfecting

Environmental Services (EVS) in Health Care: What You Need to Know

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What are Environmental Services in Health Care

Environmental services (EVS) health care personnel are tasked with helping to stop healthcare-associated infections from spreading. They work with colleagues to prioritize areas that pose immediate health risks, following the appropriate guidelines for cleaning and disinfecting along the way. Environmental service personnel, including many of the individuals who work for and with Corvus Janitorial Systems, have an important role to play in the prevention and minimization of healthcare-associated infections. They help keep medical professionals like doctors, nurses, and assistants safe. And they help protect patients, loved ones, and other visitors, as well.

Where Environmental Services are Prioritized

EVS is important in any setting where infections may linger and spread. Among others, this includes:

· Hospitals
· Outpatient clinics
· Surgical centers
· Walk-in treatment centers
· Primary care doctors’ offices
· Senior centers
· Obstetricians’ offices

These are the places where infections collect, and with near-constant traffic, it can be difficult to keep them properly cleaned and sanitized without professional help. Focused on sanitation, EVS team members clean the patients’ rooms, waiting areas, procedural rooms, surgical suites, and other areas where germs may linger and easily spread. Environmental service positions are the primary defense against serious infections that tend to linger on high-touch surfaces throughout different medical facilities.

Other Locations and Areas Where Environmental Services are Useful

Environmental services are particularly useful in health care and medical settings, especially when the world is battling a deadly pandemic. But these incredibly valuable services have been around long before we faced our first shutdown. And they’ve been used successfully in other areas, too. A few other uses for environmental services:

· The hospitality industry
· Schools and daycares
· Office buildings
· Production factories
· Food manufacturers
· Community cleanup
· Disposal services

A career in environmental services offers many different meaningful pathways. But one that focuses on healthcare and improves the lives of medical professionals, first responders, and vulnerable patients may be the most rewarding. And the availability of environmental service hospital jobs is projected to continue increasing for the foreseeable future.

Environmental Services Tasks

Each visit might be different depending on the type of facility and their needs. But many healthcare facilities need the same thing: regular deep cleanings and high-level sanitation. Because many infections spread easily and quickly, healthcare facilities require a higher level of care and greater attention to detail. Some of the most common environmental services tasks in healthcare settings might include:

· Regularly mopping, vacuuming, and sweeping all of the floors
· Washing the windows and dusting the furniture
· Washing and replacing bed linens
· Properly disposing of waste and other hazardous materials
· Emptying trash cans and restocking supplies
· Disinfecting the rooms, equipment, and supplies with high-level sanitizers

During COVID, these services might be more intensive or scheduled more regularly. They might also set limitations that didn’t exist before, like requiring that you come to clean and sanitize the facility at night while patients are sleeping, on the weekends, or on a holiday. Health care doesn’t take days off. While a job in health care environmental services can be challenging, it is also incredibly and uniquely rewarding.

Electrostatic Spraying in Health Care Settings

One high-level sanitation method that is particularly useful in health care environments is electrostatic spraying. This powerful disinfecting technique is often used to promote health and safety in sensitive or high-traffic spaces, like hospitals and airports. Electrostatic spraying works by applying a positive electric charge to a liquid disinfectant. The resulting spray reaches its target almost instantly and sticks to it. This type of treatment is highly useful in risky and highly populated settings because it offers a deeper and more efficient and effective clean.

And because it is a fine spray instead of a concentrated wipe or a cloth, it makes it easier to target hard-to-reach or otherwise difficult spaces, like the tiles tucked in the back corners of bathrooms, high supply closet shelves, and various other surfaces. An environmental services provider with electrostatic spraying equipment can achieve 360-degree coverage of any area they need to treat. So not only are the high-touch surfaces better targeted and disinfected, but the corners, nooks, and hard-to-reach crannies won’t be missed either.

Requirements for EVS Personnel in Health Care Settings

During and after COVID, the operators of health care facilities might be stricter with their guidelines for how environmental services are performed. For example, they might require that anyone in the building wear sanitary clothing or disposable isolation gowns, masks, goggles, or face shields, gloves, and other protective gear. EVS is, essentially, the first defense against infection control. As such, they’ll have stricter guidelines to adhere to than janitorial service providers in other settings might.

As a general rule, environmental service providers in health care facilities might also be required to sanitize their hands both when they enter and leave exam rooms. When patients are discharged or moved to different rooms, EVS health care providers will clean and sanitize each surface to prepare for the next patient. As the patients are moved around, there might be some overlap, and EVS providers should remember to respect the patients’ privacy. It is an EVS provider’s job to help patients feel safe when they are at their most vulnerable. Be compassionate, respectful, and kind if you do interact with any of the patients during your work.

Corvus Janitorial Systems

If you are a professional looking to start your career in environmental services or you’re an owner or operator of a health care facility, reach out today to see how we can help. For our franchisees, we offer training, support, and numerous other business-building advantages. For our clients, we provide high-level and reliable cleaning and sanitizing services. We offer peace of mind where and when you need it most.

Our high-quality services, proven systems, and dedicated teams are all here to ensure that we contribute positively to the lives of our clients, their employees, patients, and loved ones, and the community at large. Contact us today to request a free quote.

Is Electrostatic Spraying Right for Your Office?

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Electrostatic spraying is a powerful disinfecting technique that is often used to promote health and safety in public spaces. It has long been used in settings like airports and medical facilities as part of a highly effective and efficient disinfecting strategy. But how do you know if electrostatic spraying is right for your office? Or if typical cleaning and disinfecting services and strategies are enough? Here are a few things to consider when it comes to this high-level disinfecting method:

How electrostatic spraying works

Electrostatic spraying works through the application of a positive electric charge to a liquid disinfectant. This combination creates a spray that reaches its target almost immediately and then sticks to it. Compared to traditional cleaning and disinfecting sprays, this method is much more effective. Instead of spraying specific areas directly, electrostatic spraying allows the service provider to achieve 360-degree coverage of the area they are treating. This means that it’s easier to hit high-touch surfaces and all of the corners and crevices that would otherwise be difficult to reach and might get missed.

Why your facility might need it

If your facility has many high-touch surface areas or sees a lot of traffic each day, you should consider electrostatic spraying your office. Electrostatic spraying is ideal for facilities like office spaces, schools, and medical facilities because these are high-traffic settings with many different high-touch surface areas. We can use this incredible and innovative disinfecting method to reduce the transmission of COVID in your facility. Along with things like wearing masks, frequent hand washing, and maintaining the appropriate distance, we can do more.

There are several important ways that we can ensure that we’re meeting safety precautions, protecting each other, and controlling the spread of COVID. With employees back in their workspaces and students back at their desks, social distancing needs to be met with additional efforts. Anyone who can’t work from home or engage in remote learning shouldn’t have to be scared or uncomfortable in shared spaces each day. If your facility is open, you have individuals coming in and out, and you have high-touch surfaces that need extra attention, you need electrostatic spraying.

Where else electrostatic spraying is used

Even before the COVID outbreak began, there were several different types of businesses and locations that made use of electrostatic spraying. One that we mentioned already: airlines. Imagine the number of individuals that walk through just one airport in a day (pre-coronavirus). Imagine the number of high-touch surfaces that they have to disinfect, from seats, belts, bathrooms, and armrests to storage bins, tray tables, and waiting areas. In any airport, there are plenty of areas that require a deep level of cleaning and disinfecting. But it’s not just airlines that use this high-level disinfecting method.

Electrostatic spraying has also long been used in medical facilities like hospitals and clinics, sports and athletic facilities, and other high-traffic areas. If it’s the method of choice in places where traffic is high and the stakes are higher, it’s clear that it should be the method of choice elsewhere, too. Employing effective cleaning and disinfecting services may be the sole choice that keeps your facility from closing during COVID-19 like so many others have already. Many office buildings and restaurants have had to close for a week or two at a time to clean and disinfect after someone tested positive. It’s better to be proactive, slow the spread, and avoid the shutdown rather than addressing it after the fact.

Peace of mind

When people hear the term “electrostatic spraying,” they tend to have several questions. The first one is usually what is it? Next: is it safe? Is there any way that it could be toxic or dangerous? Now that you know how electrostatic spraying works and where it’s used, let’s talk about toxicity. Most people are surprised to learn that electrostatic spraying actually uses fewer chemicals than more standard disinfection techniques. This is simply because electrostatic spraying is more efficient.

Its higher transfer efficiency and reach mean that it works better and can do the job using fewer chemicals. This reduces the chemical exposure for your employees, patients, or students, and also for the environment. COVID may have brought electrostatic spraying out into the limelight this year, but it’s not a new technique. The technology used in electrostatic spraying was invented nearly 100 years ago. It has been used in the background in the auto industry, airlines, hospitals, arenas, and other settings for many years. It is just recently becoming more popular in other settings, too.

This extra step could help protect you until we have a vaccine

With the promising news that the COVID vaccine may be distributed early in 2021, it can be tempting to ease back or loosen up. But now is the time to be more vigilant than ever before. With COVID cases still going up in numbers in many states across the country, now is not the time to slow down. The best way to keep our businesses open and ourselves and each other safe and healthy is to follow all of the guidelines that are being set out for us.

Wear your masks, wash your hands, keep your distance, and stay home if you’re not feeling well. But make sure that you’re not stopping there. In both your home and your business, routine cleaning and disinfecting can help reduce the risk of exposure. Don’t leave the health and safety of your business, employees, clients, students, or patients up to chance.

Conclusion

While we are inching closer, we aren’t back to normal just yet, and we should all be playing our part in slowing the spread of COVID-19. Our high-level electrostatic spraying services will help protect both your business and the people who interact with it. Your employees, clients and customers, and all of their families deserve the peace of mind that comes with high-level cleaning and disinfecting services.

With our high-quality services, proven systems, and dedicated teams, we can help you make the most of your facility and stay safe and healthy until things return to normal. Contact us today for a free quote for electrostatic spraying in your office.

Deep Cleaning: What You Need to Know

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Due to the resurgence of COVID-19 cases nationwide, Corvus Janitorial is noticing more and more businesses implementing deep cleaning into their office routines. In fact, the CDC announced deep cleaning as an essential step in the effort to maintain safety in public spaces like your workplace, school, home, and business.

So what is it that makes deep cleaning different from ordinary, everyday cleaning? Read on to learn more about the process – and importance – of deep cleaning.

What is Deep Cleaning?

A deep clean is an organized and detailed clean of an area with the intent to reduce germs and control the spread of infection. It goes above and beyond regular cleaning to ensure those hard-to-reach corners and crevices that are oftentimes neglected in standard cleaning routines are being reached.

When a person is cleaning, whatever kind of space it may be, he or she is mostly focused on improving the overall appearance of that area. Cleaning does work to remove dirt and impurities – like germs and viruses- from a surface, but it does not actually kill them away. Impurities can only be killed by cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting the area.

While a standard clean is generally performed daily or throughout the week, a deep clean occurs far less regularly (think- spring cleaning). However strenuous of a task it may be, ensuring that your home and other public spaces have been disinfected is absolutely essential to controlling the spread of COVID-19. If the proper products are used, disinfecting can actually kill the virus that causes COVID-19.

Standard Cleaning vs. Deep Cleaning

Let’s compare cleaning a kitchen to deep cleaning a kitchen as an example. Cleaning the kitchen after dinner may look like something along the lines of clearing the plates, loading the dishwasher, wiping down the countertops, and sweeping underneath the table.

Deep cleaning the kitchen is a much more comprehensive process. In addition to the chores mentioned above, it would involve tasks such as clearing out the pantry and refrigerator, tossing away any expired food, and then wiping down the shelves with a disinfectant spray. One might use a clean toothbrush or similar tool to reach the corners and edges of the shelves as well.

Deep Cleaning Your Business

This time last year if you were to ask anyone his or her thoughts on disinfecting a doorknob each time someone opens and closes the door…most likely everyone would agree that it is a crazy and completely unnecessary idea. Now, the health and safety of your employees, as well as the vitality of your business, could depend on this very action alone.

Businesses and other workspaces contain several high-touch surfaces (desks, light switches, keyboards, phones, toilets, faucets, etc.) that, if neglected, can drastically increase one’s chances of contracting COVID-19. Since there are so many high touch surfaces to consider, businesses will generally hire professional cleaners to perform a deep clean.

Oftentimes professional cleaning companies will use advanced technologies like electrostatic sprayers to properly clean, sanitize, and disinfect. Whether or not your facility uses a commercial cleaning service, it is worthwhile to consider bringing in a professional for a disinfecting service. It will save a great deal of time, and you can rest assured knowing that one of the most powerful and effective disinfecting methods was applied to your workspace.

Tips and Tricks For Deep Cleaning Your Home

While businesses typically hire a janitorial company for their cleaning needs, deep cleaning your home can be done without help from professional cleaners. The thought of disinfecting your entire household is probably overwhelming, so it helps to break the project down into small, more manageable tasks.

Just like deep cleaning any public space, first and foremost you must disinfect the high-touch surfaces in your home. It is helpful to always have a supply of disinfectant products readily available. Clorox, Lysol, and Purell are common brands included on the EPA’s list of approved disinfectants. Wearing disposable gloves while deep cleaning these surfaces is a great preventative measure you can take. If a member of your household does contract COVID-19, it is best for him or her to stay in a separate bedroom and bathroom if at all possible.

Deep cleaning aside, wearing a mask outside your home and limiting the number of visitors who come into your home are the most effective ways to protect yourself and your family from contracting the coronavirus.

Conclusion

Deep cleaning our workspaces and households is a crucial step we must all take to reduce the risk of exposure to COVID-19. Simply cleaning up after ourselves will not be enough, so it is best to start adopting these practices now and to maintain them for as long as the coronavirus continues to affect our lives. For more information and resources relating to COVID-19, visit our coronavirus response page here.

Corvus Janitorial Systems

If you are looking for a commercial cleaning company that uses only the highest-quality products and proven techniques, Corvus Janitorial is it. For all of your cleaning, purifying, and disinfecting needs, trust Corvus Janitorial. Contact us today to learn more about how Corvus can help your facility.

Electrostatic Spraying: A Safe & Easy Step for Your Cleaning Routine

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Electrostatic spraying is a powerful disinfection technique that promotes health and safety in public spaces.

How Does Electrostatic Spraying Work?

Electrostatic spraying has gained a lot of attention as businesses, workplaces, and schools reopen. These large, indoor spaces have several high-touch surface areas that, if improperly cleaned, can induce the transmission of COVID-19. A detailed explanation can be found here, but essentially electrostatic spraying works by applying a positive electric charge to a liquid spray. The liquid spray then passes through a nozzle and sticks to a surface containing a negative electric charge. Most surfaces are negatively charged, so the positively charged particles produced in the electrostatic sprayer will stick to these surfaces. While standard cleaning sprays disinfect the areas that the spray is directly applied to, electrostatic spraying provides complete, 360-degree coverage of the area. It ensures that the disinfectant reaches those hard-to-reach corners and crevices that are often neglected in standard cleaning routines.

Your Facility Needs Electrostatic Spraying

Just as individuals must continue to follow recommended safety actions like wearing a face mask, washing hands frequently, and maintaining a social distance of at least six feet, organizations must take the necessary safety precautions to protect individuals and control the spread of COVID-19. This fall we are seeing more and more businesses reopening their doors to customers, employees returning to workspaces, and students going back to school. Social distance restrictions are being lifted at a state and local level alike, but many people are still nervous about contracting COVID-19 in public spaces. Shopping in stores or eating at restaurants can be avoided, but someone who is an employee or a student might not have the option to work from home or learn remotely. It is crucial that all facilities, whether they are deemed essential or non-essential, keep this in mind as they are operating through these times.

Follow CDC Guidance

We know that when the coronavirus lives on an object or surface, it can take anywhere between a few hours to several days for the virus to die naturally. Traditional cleaning methods, like using soap and water, can decrease how much of a virus is on a surface, but in order to completely kill a germ on a surface, a disinfectant must be applied. Fortunately, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed that the virus that causes COVID-19 can be killed with proper cleaning and disinfection. The cleaning and disinfecting guidelines they published emphasize that both a cleaner and disinfectant must be used to best reduce the risk of exposure to the coronavirus.

Don’t Just Take Our Word For It…

An electrostatic sprayer is beneficial no matter what the size or scope of your facility might be. Take airlines, for example. This industry was immediately affected by the stay-at-home orders and travel restrictions implemented in response to COVID-19. There are many high-touch surface areas on an aircraft (overhead bins, seats, armrests, tray tables, etc.) that require deep cleaning and disinfection. Major airlines, such as Delta and American Airlines, are using electrostatic sprayers to ensure that the aircraft is sanitized and their passengers’ are safe.

Is Electrostatic Spray Toxic or Dangerous?

There is no need to worry about electrostatic spraying being toxic or dangerous. Electrostatic sprayers require fewer chemicals than standard disinfection techniques. This is due to their vastly higher transfer efficiency – it requires fewer chemicals to properly disinfect, leading to less chemical exposure for both humans as well as the environment. While electrostatic spray technology has only recently been used in the cleaning industry, it is not new by any means. The technology was invented in the 1930s to improve spray disposition and was made popular by the auto industry in the 1940s. Electrostatic spray is completely safe for the person applying it as well as the occupants within the area it is being applied to.

Take the Extra Step

As state and local officials continue to ease social distancing restriction, day-to-day life is becoming seemingly more normal. It is important to understand that the coronavirus is still very much out there, and we must do everything in our power to stop the spread. Corvus Janitorial is offering electrostatic spray services for high-level disinfection that will protect your business and give you peace of mind as you reopen.

Corvus Janitorial Systems

If you are looking for a commercial cleaning company that uses only the highest-quality products and proven techniques, Corvus Janitorial is it. For all of your cleaning, purifying, and disinfecting needs, trust Corvus Janitorial. Contact us today to learn more about how Corvus can help your facility.

Understanding Dwell Time and Why It’s Important

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The words “dwell time” have been thrown around quite a bit more this year than in any other year in the past. Dwell time, or contact time, is the appropriate amount of time that a disinfectant has to remain visibly moist on the surface being cleaned to effectively kill the germs, viruses, or bacteria you’re combating. One common disinfecting mistake is spraying the disinfectant and wiping it away without giving it any time to work its magic.

Without adhering to the right dwell time, the disinfectant won’t have enough time to do its job, which is to disinfect and kill the targeted pathogen. While the disinfectant may kill some of the bacteria or germs on the surface, it won’t be nearly as effective as it would be if you had followed the suggested dwell time. In many cases, this bad habit leaves behind surfaces that aren’t disinfected at all. So, let’s clear up some of the mystery behind dwell times:

What is the right dwell time?

The right dwell time will vary depending both on the disinfectant you’re using and the goal you’re trying to achieve. For example, a regular household disinfectant that’s meant to kill germs that cause the common cold may have a much different dwell time than a stronger disinfectant that’s approved for use against the coronavirus. And the dwell time for different disinfectants can range drastically, lasting anywhere from a mere 30 seconds to 15 minutes.

But there’s good news: you don’t have to do the math or work too hard to find the answer. The dwell time of your disinfectant should be listed right on the label! If it’s not, you can find the dwell time by searching for your disinfectant on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) website. Disinfectants approved for fighting fast-spreading viruses like COVID will likely have shorter dwell times. This may seem counterintuitive, but trust the process; a single-minute dwell time simply means less time waiting around and more time protecting your loved ones, employees, and customers.

Which disinfectants should I be using?

If you already have disinfectants at home, check the label or the EPA’s website to see if they are approved for use against COVID-19. Otherwise, finding the right disinfectants has been a bit challenging for many over the last few months. Just like finding toilet paper was in April. Clorox and Lysol are two of the most common household disinfectants and they are generally effective against COVID (always double-check the specific product before use), but if they have a longer dwell time, they may not be your best option.

One favorite this year has been Diversey’s Oxivir TB Wipes. These have a dwell time of one minute and are approved for use against COVID pathogens. While the shorter contact time makes effective disinfecting easier, there’s one other thing to keep in mind: make sure the surface doesn’t dry before the dwell time is up. If it dries, you’ll have to reapply. Diversey wipes (when used appropriately) tend to keep the surface wet for the required dwell time, so this shouldn’t be a problem here if you can get your hands on some.

What is the shelf-life of diluted disinfectants?

While many effective disinfectants come ready to use, others may need to be diluted with water. These are typically used in the old-school-style of disinfecting that involves filling a bucket with the diluted disinfectant and dipping towels or rags in it. They’re effective for a variety of surfaces, but they have a short shelf-life once you alter them. Your disinfectant’s label should give you the right time frame that you have to use it in before disposing of what’s left.

Are dwell times really that important?

When it comes to cleaning and disinfecting, there are plenty of opinions and suggestions floating around. Dwell time isn’t one of them. Following the appropriate dwell time is a requirement for effective disinfecting. The EPA puts in a lot of work to test and confirm the effectiveness of different disinfectants so that we don’t have to. If the end goal is thorough and effective disinfection of any surface, letting the disinfectant dwell for as long as the label specifies is crucial.

Corvus Janitorial Systems

While we’re sharing space with COVID-19, following the appropriate cleaning and disinfecting procedures is more important than ever. If figuring out the ins and outs of effective office or business cleaning feels overwhelming, we’re here to help. We understand the appropriate dwell times of common disinfectants, use high-grade chemicals and procedures, and offer a variety of advanced services specifically designed to fight fast-moving viruses like COVID.

If your workplace is in need of commercial cleaning and/or disinfecting services, contact your local Corvus Janitorial Systems team for a free consultation and quote.

What to Think About Before Going Back to School

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Disinfection is an important step in your back-to-school checklist, but it isn’t enough on its own. If other precautions, like wearing masks, physically distancing, and practicing good hand hygiene aren’t followed, it won’t do much. Educators and leaders in the public health space are diligently working to put together programs that’ll help schools across the country reopen safely and responsibly. While they develop these programs and guidelines, here are a few things to keep in mind as you get ready to reopen your school:

Implementing general safety measures is key

As we all adjust to new rules and ways of living, establishing, and maintaining effective communication is crucial. Over the coming months, guidelines and best practices may change to adapt to new needs. Continuing to communicate with important local officials and other educational institutions in the area can help you stay on top of these changes and keep everyone healthy and safe. Make sure to put a plan in place for handling future closures in the case of a new outbreak.

With cold weather coming, many health officials have speculated that COVID-19 cases will increase as flu season hits. As schools and businesses begin to reopen across the country around the same time, additional cases are inevitable. Have a comprehensive plan in place for everyone to follow. It’s also important to develop a separate plan for at-risk students. Students with pre-existing health conditions should be provided with resources that’ll help them succeed at home instead of on-site.

Promoting healthy hygiene practices can help stop the spread

Healthy amounts of proper handwashing may be our best defense against the spread of COVID. This is an easy and effective way to remove germs and protect against infection. Another important hygiene practice is to avoid touching your mouth, nose, or eyes. Ensure everyone is covering all sneezes and coughs. We’ve heard a lot about this throughout the year, but this isn’t always something that comes naturally to students, especially young ones.

Take the time to educate your students on proper healthy hygiene practices before you reopen, and keep educating them after they arrive. Spend extra time on this with your younger students. Put up signs in the hallways, bathrooms, classrooms, and common areas. If you can, encourage students and employees to wear face masks or cloth coverings.

Checking for COVID symptoms will help keep everyone safe

Be sure to put screening procedures in place for anyone entering your school, including all students and staff. If you operate a small enough school, forehead scanners drastically cut down the amount of time you need to take everyone’s temperature. But in most schools, this won’t work. Instead, asking each person if they’ve had any COVID symptoms, and having them fill out a check-in form, is more practical.

In the case of potential exposure, keep clear records. Encourage anyone feeling COVID symptoms or anyone that has been in contact with a COVID-positive person to stay home. Sometimes, COVID symptoms can sneak up on you. Keep a separate room or area to isolate anyone who shows COVID symptoms unexpectedly during the school day. Once they’ve been tested, you’ll either be clear to open the space back up (if they’re negative) or you’ll have to close off areas they’ve used (if they’re positive) and clean and disinfect these spaces before others can use them again.

Educating students, employees, and families will get everyone on the same page

While you may be on top of updates from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), local health officials and educators in your area, your students and their families may not have all of the information that you do. Inform students and families of enhanced cleaning and disinfecting measures, guidelines for safe social distancing, the requirements around face masks, your preferred screening procedures, and your plan for symptom identification. You can do this in a variety of ways:

• Post updates on your school’s website

• Send regular email updates to your students and their parents

• Create a social media page dedicated to reopening and staying healthy throughout the school year

• Develop webinars for students, families, and employees

• Send home flyers

Whether you choose to do one or several of these things, you’re not only helping to maintain a safe school environment. You are encouraging a safe environment at home, too.

You’ll need to intensify your regular cleaning and disinfecting procedures

While it’s difficult to monitor or control the actions of all of your students and employees, it’s easy to exercise control over the environment. By the time your school reopens, it should be effectively cleaned and disinfected. But it shouldn’t end there. Intensified cleaning and disinfecting procedures should be implemented after you reopen, too. While cleaning gets rid of the dirt, dust, some germs, and other materials that collect on surfaces, it won’t necessarily kill harmful bacteria or viruses. For that, you need disinfection, which does kill bacteria and viruses.

Focusing on high-touch surfaces doorknobs, desks, light switches, sinks, water fountains, and cafeteria trays can help drastically reduce the chance of these bacteria and viruses spreading. Keeping a surplus of supplies on hand and closing shared spaces like fountains and cafeterias can also help. If these areas can’t be restricted, increased cleaning and disinfecting can help here, too.

For everything from deep corners to high-touch surfaces, Corvus Janitorial has your cleaning and disinfecting needs covered. We use high-level techniques and tools along with COVID-approved chemicals to give you the best cleaning and disinfecting services available. Reach out to us today for a free quote for your cleaning, disinfecting, and sanitizing needs.

Opening Safely – General Guidance on Reopening Your Business

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This year, we’re in a position that none of us has ever been in before. Earlier in the year, nation-wide shutdowns and mandatory quarantines sent many businesses screeching to a halt. Over the months following the initial outbreak in the United States, we found ways to get our businesses back on track – either through remote work, staggered shifts, or other cautious scheduling and location measures.

Now, as the summer comes to an end and fall quickly approaches, most parts of the country are working to get back to normal and relax many of the strict measures we’ve had to put in place. Navigating the complexities of reopening your business in a post-COVID world can be tricky. Getting used to the new normal may also be a little tricky. But with an open mind, a caring heart, and a strategic approach, you can reopen your business safely and effectively. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

It’s important to adapt

Businesses both small and large have struggled to meet their clients’ and customers’ needs with all of the restrictions of the last few months. The businesses that will make it through – and even find ways to thrive – in this new world are the ones that understand how important flexibility and adaptability are. Pay attention to the evolving needs of both your customers and your employees.

If your employees have young children, understand that their childcare options may be limited for the foreseeable future. If they can get their work done from home, let them as often as you can. With fewer people interacting in your office space, this is a win for you, too. For your customers, make sure that you’re still meeting their needs. You may need to adapt to offer new services, products, or add-ons to stay as relevant as you were before the virus struck.

Follow the latest COVID guidelines from the most reliable resources

Relying on less-than-trustworthy third parties or social media feeds for your COVID updates won’t do if you’re looking to open your business safely and responsibly. Check for updates regularly with reliable sources like the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). They have several pages dedicated to safely reopening businesses, schools, and restaurants across the country. Here are just a few health and safety measures they suggest adopting:

• Conducting daily health checks

• Encouraging employees to wear cloth face coverings in the workplace (this is particularly important if the six-foot social distancing rule can’t be enforced or isn’t being adhered to)

• Creating best practices and policies for social distancing at work

• Providing employees with applicable and disposable disinfectants (sanitizers, cleaners, wipes, etc.)

• Improving your cleaning and disinfecting processes

If social distancing can’t be enforced the way things are currently, this is another area that may require you to be adaptable. Consider putting in plexiglass or other physical barriers, changing your office’s layout to separate cubicles or workspaces, closing shared spaces like the break room or conference room, and staggering work shifts.

You can use a COVID handbook to keep everyone on the same page

Clearly and descriptively letting your employees know (in writing) what’s expected of them is a good way to ensure that everyone is on the same page and understands the new rules. The proper procedures for handwashing, taking a sick day, keeping your distance, or wearing personal protective equipment can be left up to interpretation if they’re not clearly outlined.

Unfortunately, not everyone is taking this virus as seriously as they should be. Creating a COVID handbook makes it explicitly clear what is expected of your employees, as well as when they should stay home, and what the consequences will be if they don’t adhere to the new rules. Outlining and enforcing these new expectations will help you with reopening your business and can help keep yourself, your loved ones, your employees, and their loved ones safe.

Your cleaning and disinfecting needs will be greater than they were before

Whether social distancing and limited numbers of employees are possible or not, most decision-makers will need to ramp up their cleaning and disinfecting before reopening for business. That’s where Corvus comes in. A healthy workspace is a productive workspace. No one wants to go through all of the work involved in reopening their business just to have to shut down again because someone got sick. Our high-level cleaning and disinfecting services ensure a vibrant and healthy workplace that you and your employees can feel safe and confident spending time in.

Our focus is on cleaning corners instead of cutting them. We offer a variety of advanced cleaning and disinfecting services that have evolved even further to meet the challenge of this fast-moving virus. Among others, these services include:

• Electrostatic spraying

• Ultra-low volume fogging

• Refocused cleaning and chemical application

• Exposure cleaning and disinfecting to give additional attention to high-touch surfaces that are known germ spreaders

• Mindful office organization

• Increased frequency and strategic timing

Each of our services combines EPA-certified cleaning chemicals with state-of-the-art technologies and techniques to bring our clients true peace of mind. Electrostatic spraying and ULV fogging have been employed by major airlines, some of the most frequently visited locations in the world, to ensure the safety of those who pass through.

We bring only the best to your business and we are eager to help you reopen your business both safely and effectively. Contact us today to learn more about how Corvus can help you.

Cleaning and Disinfecting Tips: 10 Best Practices

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Whether you’re getting ready to clean and disinfect your home or your office, using the proper tools and techniques is more important than ever. The following 10 cleaning and disinfecting tips will help you ensure that your efforts are safe and effective:

Clean then disinfect

Cleaning and disinfecting are two different processes. Cleaning removes dirt, germs, and impurities from the surface. This may sound like enough, but it’s important to note that cleaning only removes surface germs, it doesn’t kill them. Decreasing the number of germs on a surface helps decrease the spread of infection, but for effective risk containment, it’s important to kill the germs, too. That’s where disinfecting comes in. Disinfecting doesn’t necessarily clean dirty surfaces, but it does kill the germs left on the surface after you’re done cleaning. Both are important in reducing the spread of infection.

Use the right tools

For routine cleaning and disinfecting, the CDC recommends wearing reusable or disposable gloves, cleaning with soap and water first, and disinfecting next. Many people will skip the gloves or skip over cleaning to go straight to disinfecting. Each of these steps is an important piece of the puzzle. Using the right tools in the right order is critical.

Choose the right chemicals

The same way choosing the right tools and using them in the right order is important, choosing the right chemicals is important, too. In the past, it was easy to pick up whatever cleaning product was closest. This was generally acceptable when we weren’t cleaning and disinfecting with the coronavirus in mind. But now, it’s important to choose chemicals that effectively kill the virus that is driving the current pandemic. The label on your cleaning product will tell you whether or not it is effective for use against SARS-CoV-2 – the COVID-19 virus. You can also find a list of EPA-approved disinfectants here.

Check the expiration dates

If you’ve had household disinfectants sitting under your sink for years, be sure to check the expiration dates before you use them. Some products last for a while after their recommended “use by” date. But when it comes to reducing the risk of infection in your home or office, it’s better not to take any chances. Expired cleaning products and disinfectants should be replaced before use.

DIY disinfectant

If you can’t get to the store, you can create your own diluted household bleach solutions with non-expired ingredients. First, confirm that your bleach has a sodium hypochlorite concentration of 5 or 6%. Then, mix five tablespoons (or one-third of a cup) of bleach per every gallon of room temperature water in your bucket. You can then use this diluted bleach solution for up to 24 hours. After that, you’ll want to start the process over. If you don’t have unexpired household bleach, you can also use alcohol solutions – just confirm that they’re at least 70% alcohol first.

Follow the instructions on your cleaning products

Too often, it’s easy to get distracted while disinfecting. When you’re cleaning with soap and water, the dwell time is less important. But when you’re disinfecting, it’s important not to spray a disinfectant and wipe it off too quickly or leave it on for too long. Your cleaning product will tell you how long you should leave it on the surface before rinsing or wiping it away. Following the instructions on the label will ensure that you’re disinfecting safely and effectively. But before you move into your disinfecting phase, be sure to break out those gloves, wear other skin protectors if necessary, and ensure adequate ventilation.

Focus on high-touch surfaces

It’s easy to forget certain high-touch surfaces when we’re cleaning at home. After all, how often do you think about your computer keyboard or light switches? Viruses can live on these surfaces for several days, so it’s important to give them some attention. Other high-touch surfaces to give extra attention to:

• Tables
• Doorknobs
• Countertops
• Handles
• Phones
• Toilets
• Desks
• Faucets
• Sinks
• Showers

Wash your hands often

After you finish cleaning and remove your gloves, wash your hands. After you finish disinfecting, wash your hands. After using the bathroom, touching doorknobs, and before eating, wash your hands. Cleaning our homes and offices is important but it can’t distract us from keeping ourselves clean, too. Wash with soap and water often to reduce the spread of germs. Anytime you won’t have access to soap and water, carry hand sanitizer that is 60% alcohol or more.

Launder rags

If you’re using wipes to clean or disinfect, be sure to toss the old one and move onto a new one when you switch surfaces. If you’re looking to reduce waste, you can use rags instead, you just have to be a little more cautious. Use separate rags for separate rooms to avoid cross-contamination, watch for color changes that suggest it’s time to switch to a new one and wash them with hot water and detergent between uses.

Let Corvus Janitorial help

For highly effective commercial cleaning and disinfecting that follows CDC and EPA guidelines, call the experts at Corvus Janitorial. We offer a wide range of cleaning and disinfecting surfaces to help keep you, your clients, and your employees or coworkers safe and healthy. We offer after-hours services, increased frequencies, and high-level techniques. Contact us today for more information.

UV Light Cleaning and Disinfecting

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Before, during, and after the coronavirus outbreak, the main priority of Corvus Janitorial Systems is the health and safety of our customers and the community at large. Now that we all know how important advanced cleaning and disinfecting strategies are, we’re shedding light on some of the ways that our services help combat this virus, other viruses, and everyday germs and bacteria. One method that has been gaining a lot of attention recently is ultraviolet (UV) light cleaning and disinfecting.

There are several different options for UV cleaning and disinfecting, but some are riskier than others. Professional-level UV cleaning and disinfecting are ideal, while certain at-home devices and products (UV lamps as hand sanitizers, in particular) should be avoided. UV phone cases and self-cleaning water bottles, when used properly, are safer consumer devices to use at home. But what about UV cleaning and disinfecting at the office? Can UV light really work as a disinfectant? Is it safe? Read on to find out.

UV Light Cleaning and Disinfecting

What is UV disinfecting?

UV light has been used for decades to kill bacteria and viruses. Since mid-March, germicidal ultraviolet technology has been getting a lot of attention. It is so effective that it’s often used in hospitals, where high-level cleaning and disinfecting has always been a necessity. Cleaning professionals in medical settings use UV devices to reduce the spread of bacteria and bugs that are resistant to medication, as well as effective disinfection in surgical rooms. Now, many professionals are using (or considering) UV light cleaning and disinfecting in schools, offices, and restaurants. This can help reduce the spread of the coronavirus as these settings reopen and adjust to the new normal.

How does UV disinfection work?

This process involves using UV-C light to clean and disinfect. This man-made light is one of three classes of UV light. Like UV-A and UV-B, UV-C comes primarily from the sun. But UV-C is the one that doesn’t reach us because our atmosphere absorbs it first. UV-C lights are used in sanitizing devices to disinfect surfaces. The light in these devices is strong enough to demolish the genetic material in bacteria and viruses. Because this particular class of light doesn’t reach the Earth, we can’t achieve the same effects by simply increasing sun exposure.

One important thing to keep in mind is that this particular coronavirus strain has been around for such a short amount of time that researchers haven’t been able to perform sufficient studies on the efficacy of all of the applicable cleaning and disinfecting methods yet. But we know that it has worked on previous coronavirus strains, so the relevant scientific evidence suggests it would have the same effects here. Another thing to keep in mind is that this is an incredibly strong and potent cleaning and disinfecting method. UV light can damage your skin and eyes. As such, it should only be used on a surface or object that needs cleaning. Do not use UVC light on your skin, and handle with care (preferably by a professional).

Deciding if you need it

For months, we’ve all been practicing safe social distancing. We’ve kept six feet away from others, worn masks in public, washed our hands and sanitized more frequently. We have increased our cleaning and disinfecting procedures. Now that businesses, offices, and schools are reopening, we must continue to increase the measures that are keeping us and our loved ones safe and healthy. We weren’t all prepared for the outbreak when it began, but we can be prepared for how we address it now. By increasing the level, frequency, and efficacy of our cleaning and disinfecting processes, we can work toward a post-coronavirus world together.

This doesn’t necessarily mean that UV cleaning and disinfecting is a requirement. Ultimately, the choice is yours. There are human-safe UV light fixtures with low enough doses of UV-C lights to help reduce the spread of germs and viruses without damaging the skin, eyes, or causing other health problems. These are common in medical settings and are just starting to make their way into other business and commercial settings. But more research may be needed to confirm that the benefits outweigh the risks.

Corvus Janitorial

With a wide variety of cleaning and disinfecting service options available, Corvus Janitorial can help you keep your office clean and safe. We offer high-impact disinfecting services for workplaces, including increased frequencies and convenient timing. In addition to UV light disinfecting, our high-level disinfecting services include electrostatic spraying and ultra-low volume fogging. Major airlines are using these techniques to disinfect passenger planes. We also offer re-focused cleaning and chemical applications, exposure cleaning and disinfecting, and can help you with mindful office organization. No job is too big or small at your local Corvus Janitorial office. Call us today to get started with a free consultation.

CEO Shares Home Cleaning and Disinfecting Tips

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Good Morning Arkansas

Interview with Corvus Janitorial CEO Justin Douglas

Corvus Janitorial Systems’ founder and co-CEO, Justin Douglas, sat down with KATV ABC7: Good Morning Arkansas’ Alyson Courtney to discuss cleaning and disinfecting your home during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This interview aired on April 13, 2020.

Reporter:

Well, now more than ever cleaning services and cleaning thoroughly are vital. Cleaning expert Justin Douglas has been in the cleaning and janitorial business for more than 20 years and has some helpful tips to keep you from making some cleaning mistakes.

Courtney:

Justin, yes you guys are vitally important. The janitorial services that we just kind of took for granted for a long time. Really now, at the forefront of this pandemic, we need those cleaning services now more than ever. For people at home, what are some of the things that we need to keep in mind as we’re trying to clean our own homes?

Douglas:

Well, I think one of the big things that people need to be aware of is their schedule, what they’re cleaning, how often, and being aware of those high touchpoints. That’s where the germs and the disinfecting, of course, need to take place because everyone in your home is handling those items and objects.

Courtney:

There’re some mistakes out there that I’m sure that you notice as a professional in this business that a lot of us at home are making. Talk about some of those big mistakes.

Douglas:

Yeah, I think the biggest mistake that people are making has to do with the chemicals as well as the application of them. So, you want to clean a surface, but then you need to disinfect it. And when you’re doing that, you need to let the chemical dwell to have enough time to kill whatever it needs to kill–in this case, it’s a virus or bacteria. So, that two-step process is critical.

The other thing that I think people are making mistakes about is re-infecting areas that are clean. So, the frequency of cleaning those surfaces, how you’re cleaning them, again just being mindful of the fact that you may clean something in the morning, but it may need to be hit again in the afternoon and the evening as many times as possible. You know, avoiding re-infecting areas.

Courtney:

The dirtiest parts of our homes might not necessarily be where we think they are.

Douglas:

That’s right. I mean, what people have typically thought about cleaning–vacuuming the floors, trash–that, of course, is also still important, but you know, it’s become very different now.

I think that appliances are probably the dirtiest places in the house. And specifically, washing machines, dryers, and quite frankly, your trash bin because that’s where soiled materials are going to go. It’s just not a part of our regular routine so we’re reminding people that of course, you’re hitting the appliances as we said, but anywhere that soiled materials–rags, cloths, paper towels– that you’ve used to clean are going now needs to be cleaned too.

Courtney:

Let’s talk about the products that we use to clean and disinfect our homes. It’s been hard to find some of those products lately because everyone has gone out to get the Lysol and the disinfecting wipes. What should we be using and what should we use if we can’t necessarily find what we would typically like to use?

Douglas:

Yeah, so I think the supply chain is catching up. But certainly, people went out and bought in bulk and that’s understandable. In terms of a disinfectant, you want to be using an EPA certified disinfectant. The CDC is a great resource for people out there, and they have a list of all of these types of cleaning chemicals that you can use.

You know, in the event that you can’t get something at the store, there are home remedies. I think the thing that your viewers should be very careful about is mixing those home remedies, just as a disclaimer. But bleach is a disinfectant that you can use that the CDC is recommending and you need to dilute it with water correctly. And so is hydrogen peroxide.

Then, there are some more basic remedies, but I don’t think that they’re ideal for this sort of pandemic. White vinegar, for instance, has some disinfecting properties, but EPA certified disinfectant followed by bleach and hydrogen peroxide.

Courtney:

Let’s talk about disinfecting things that we bring into our homes. First off, we have our shoes on. Should we be leaving those outside? Then, as we bring in mail, packages, groceries, should we specifically be disinfecting each of those items?

Douglas:

Yes. And, I think that’s where people break down in terms of their vigilance, if you will. When groceries arrive, when packages come, I mean, frankly, it’s almost the only interaction we’re having with the outside world right now and I think people get excited. But the delivery people who are just as critical, I think, as janitors right now are out in the world and not social distancing.

So, what I think is really important is to set up almost a manufacturing line in your home. If you get home and you get packages, if you can leave them outside for a period of time, put them in your garage, put them somewhere safe. Quarantine those packages, quite frankly, for a period of time and then once that’s elapsed go out and disinfect it with a Lysol or a disinfectant. Then, also, get rid of the packaging that whatever you’ve ordered has come in. Or, if in the case of groceries, if you can take your strawberries from one of those plastic containers and put them into clean Tupperware, that’s what you really need to be doing. So, it’s the chemical, but it’s also the awareness about [the] order of operations for bringing outside objects into your home.

Courtney:

And Justin, are you guys still working as much and how does someone know when they do need a professional to come in?

Douglas:

We are an office cleaning company. Because so many of our customers are now quarantined and sheltering in place, we’re trying to provide home cleaning tips. You know, I think it’s a tricky situation that we’re in, obviously, that’s an understatement. But, for the time being, being aware of who is in your home and who’s not is probably the best and first line of defense. Therefore, if you can do your own cleaning at home, that’s probably the right thing to do. And you know, we’ve all got a lot of people at home these days, so you want to press your family into service and make it a team sport.

Courtney:

Justin, thanks so much for your time. I know you guys are certainly teaching us a lot as we learn to do it ourselves at home and make sure we’re doing it correctly. We appreciate you.

Douglas:

Thank you, it’s a pleasure.

Corvus Janitorial

If you’re looking for a commercial cleaning company that uses only the highest-quality products and proven techniques, Corvus Janitorial is it. For all of your cleaning, purifying, and disinfecting needs, trust Corvus Janitorial. Contact us today to learn more about how Corvus can help you.

The High-Level Disinfecting Method Trusted by Airlines and Hotels

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By now, we all know how important it is to give extra attention to high-touch surfaces and high-traffic areas. And that’s not just in your home and or your office space. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, the world’s busiest passenger airport, sees 107.4 million passengers each year. To keep up with the high demand, there are over 700,000 hotels and resorts across the globe. Settings like airports and hotels that see near-constant traffic can be hard to keep effectively clean and disinfected, but it’s not impossible if you know how to do it right.

These are a few settings where it’s incredibly important to keep everything clean and disinfected. High-traffic locations can easily spread germs and viruses to millions of people if they’re not properly maintained. Even if the coronavirus changed the way we do it, it’s clear from recent data that we’re not done traveling. So, what are the recommended cleaning and disinfecting procedures for places that see the highest amounts of traffic and have the most high-touch surfaces? The answer might be one you’re not very familiar with yet. Luckily, Corvus Janitorial is.

Disinfecting with Electrostatic Sprayers

Some of the largest airlines in the world are relying on high-level electrostatic sprayers to sanitize every flight and ensure their passengers’ safety. Delta is one of them, reporting that electrostatic spraying “provides a safe and effective way to thoroughly clean an aircraft cabin from floor to ceiling.” Next time you take a flight, you can find comfort in the fact that all high-touch surfaces, including your seat, screen, armrest, tray table, door, and restroom will be disinfected this way. They’ll be used in crew cabins, airline offices, and other settings there, too.

How Electrostatic Sprayers Work

The sprayers work by electrically charging and dispersing high-level liquid disinfectants via fine mists into the air and onto surfaces. This is a highly effective technique used to attack germs, bacteria, and viruses. For years, electrostatic spraying has been used in healthcare settings. Hospitals, nursing homes, and other care facilities have long recognized the benefits of employing this method to stop the spread of dangerous germs and infections. But since the coronavirus outbreak, airlines and hotels have broken into the space, too.

An Emerging Trend

Delta’s not the only one that has caught on to this germ-killing super method. Southwest Airlines is also making use of this highly effective method of disinfection, along with United Airlines, and Singapore Air. One of the largest lodging companies in the country, Marriot, has recently upgraded its cleaning procedures to include electrostatic spraying. Another large hotel chain, Hilton, is considering following suit. As we progress further into the year and travel becomes more widely acceptable again (and eagerly anticipated), it’s highly likely that we’ll see this list continue to grow.

Cleaning and Disinfecting for the Future

These high-traffic airlines and hotels are making use of one of the most powerful disinfecting methods we currently have available. And they’re using it in conjunction with other important cleaning and disinfecting methods. We can expect to see more options for virtual, contact-free check-ins, digital room keys, booking buffers, and limited shared spaces (where possible) going forward. The pandemic has changed a lot of things about the ways we all live. While many of the impacts are negative, increased comprehensive cleaning and disinfecting through methods like electrostatic spraying is a huge positive.

This potent disinfectant application is allowing airlines and hotels to take control back from the coronavirus. You can use it to take back control in your office, too. We can’t put our lives on hold forever. But as we begin to return to “normal life,” we might have to make some adjustments. From summer vacations to daily office life, small adjustments can get us back to where we need to be. Corvus Janitorial is offering electrostatic spray services for high-level disinfecting that gives you peace of mind when you need it. Use it to keep your office safe and to reduce the spread of both the coronavirus and other viruses, too.

Corvus Janitorial

If you’re looking for a commercial cleaning company that uses only the highest-quality products and proven techniques, Corvus Janitorial is it. For all of your cleaning, purifying, and disinfecting needs, trust Corvus Janitorial. Contact us today to learn more about how Corvus can help you.

How Coronavirus Will Change Your Office

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Now that restrictions are lifting, most of us are left wondering what post-coronavirus life will look like. The CDC is urging businesses, schools, and other facilities to follow updated practices as they re-open. Until we have a better understanding, an effective vaccine, and pre-COVID numbers, it’s up to us to ensure the health and safety of ourselves and the people around us. If you’re wondering how the coronavirus outbreak will change your office, there’s a lot here to consider.

Why Offices Employers and Employees Need to Adjust

We all need to continue doing our part in slowing the spread and ending this pandemic. If the numbers have gone down enough for your town to feel comfortable re-opening, that’s a good sign. But it doesn’t mean that we’re entirely in the clear yet. By following updating practices, keeping our distance, changing our office setups, and increasing our cleaning and disinfecting processes, we can keep ourselves and each other safe.

For the last few months, the majority of America’s workforce has been working from home. In a recent survey, 66% of workers reported that they’re not comfortable going back to their workplace the way things are right now. But if you work for a company that requires your physical presence at work each day now that restrictions are lifting, employers and employees will have to compromise. It’s up to employers to make their valued employees feel more comfortable, safe, and valued.

In the same survey, 64% of respondents would prefer the ability to wear a mask at work; 61% hope to maintain social distancing in the office, and 49% want to see limited numbers in workplace meetings. These are a few things that are easy to implement as offices reopen. And they’re a great start. But we all have to do more.

Why Office Spaces Need to Change

Most traditional office spaces have been set up in a way that doesn’t align with proper social distancing. After all, this is something that we didn’t see coming. But now, it’s time to adjust. Office spaces with open layouts, large conference rooms, shared workspaces, and a clear lack of division won’t survive the post-coronavirus world. Unless employers want to see their offices shut down again while their employees fight the virus at home, office spaces will have to change. They’ll need to create more space between cubicles or workspaces, break meetings into smaller groups, and operate at a reduced capacity until we know it’s safe again.

The CDC is recommending:

• Hazard assessments in the workplace
• Cloth face coverings at work (or more drastic protection measures if the area is deemed hazardous)
• Keeping six feet of distance between each individual
• Immediately sending symptomatic employees home
• Increasing air circulation in shared spaces
• Cleaning and disinfecting routinely

What the Post-Coronavirus Office will Look and Feel Like

The good news is that many offices are already implementing a lot of the changes we’ve talked about. In the short-term, many are occupying their offices at a reduced capacity. Some are suggesting that employees alternate their schedules so that only 50% of them are in the office at the same time. This would mean that in one workweek, 50% would be working in the office while the other 50% work from home. The following week, they’d switch. Large meetings are being canceled, moved to virtual, shortened, or broken up into smaller groups. Temperatures are being checked at the door. Face masks are being worn throughout the day.

Another change you’ll notice immediately is that your cubicle probably won’t look the way it did three months ago. At least some of them won’t. Ones with thick, high walls may remain. But others that serve as flimsy dividers that end at your chin will likely be improved or replaced. The same way fast-food chains, convenience, and grocery stores have implemented shields made of plexiglass or similar materials, we can expert similar enclosures from our office cubicles.

These are excellent changes to make until we have more substantial processes to rely on. But now that we know how quickly a simple virus can come along and shake up the whole world, we have to consider long-term changes, too. For experts, businesses, and many others, long-term requirements are clear. And one of the largest ones is updated and increased cleaning and disinfecting procedures. This is where Corvus Janitorial and our incredible franchisees come in.

The Bottom Line

For the foreseeable future, it’s important to follow the CDC’s updates closely. Changed office spaces, reduced capacities, consistent use of masks and social distancing, and increased cleaning and disinfecting procedures are all current recommendations. Almost all offices will need more cleaning and disinfecting services now that the scope of work has changed. What used to be a schedule of casual vacuuming, dusting, and light cleaning for many companies has now evolved into a true medical need. We need increased attention and care to keep ourselves, workers, our families, and our communities safe.

Corvus Janitorial can help meet these goals and mitigate the spread of the virus by providing more thorough, regular disinfection programs. Both the methods and the frequencies must be updated. In an ongoing effort to help fight against the spread of COVID, we’ve implemented a high-impact disinfection system with highly effective techniques that have been proven in other settings. These systems have been used in hospitals, clinics, and airlines to thoroughly and properly disinfect high-touch and high-traffic areas. We’re thrilled to be bringing these systems to your offices to keep you, your employees, and your families safe.

Our new disinfection processes include:

• Electrostatic sprayers
• ULV fogging
• UV light disinfection

Electrostatic sprayers use an electrical charge to apply a high-quality coating, cleaner, or disinfectant to the chosen surface. This makes it easier to cover more surface area, disinfect hard-to-reach areas, and eliminate any human error involved in manual disinfecting. This way, all surfaces are properly disinfected, not just the high-touch ones. Additionally, when disinfectants are applied this way, they don’t have to be wiped down. This eliminates the dwell time and increases its effectiveness.

ULV fogging is another service that is used by major airlines. This is a similar process, in which a pump and blower are used to atomize the cleaner or disinfectant and spread it in the air. This allows for greater coverage, disinfection or larger areas, and an efficient, effective process. Lastly, UV light disinfection stops germs, bacteria, and viruses in their tracks. Without the use of chemicals, this method relies on wavelengths of UV light that give you rapid and effective results. Our cleaning and disinfecting processes are a step above the rest. Call us today to see what we can do for you.

About Corvus Janitorial Systems

Founded in 2004 to make people’s lives better, Corvus is a full-service commercial cleaning franchisor that offers cleaning services through reputable local Franchisees. Corvus has been guided by its mission to transform people and transform places by consistently delivering independence, security, and freedom to Franchisees who deliver high-quality cleaning to offices, educational buildings, medical buildings/offices, recreational centers, industrial parks, and other spaces. The company has 17 regional support offices across the United States with nearly 900 Franchisees. For more information regarding Corvus, visit corvusjanitorial.com or corvusjanitorial.com/franchise for franchise information.

Corvus Disinfecting Programs: Electrostatic Spraying

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Corvus Janitorial System and its Franchisees have been honored to participate in the fight against COVID. We are working to make workspaces clean, healthy, and safe. In an ongoing effort to support that mission, Corvus is pleased to announce its HIGH IMPACT DISINFECTING program. This disinfection process is centered around the use of ELECTROSTATIC SPRAYING systems, a highly effective technique employed to attack germs, bacteria, and viruses. Already in use by major airlines to disinfect planes between flights and also employed by medical and hospital type environments, Corvus is thrilled to bring this service offering to our valued customers.

What is Electrostatic Spraying?

Electrostatic spraying is a method of applying a coating, cleaner, disinfectant, or other liquid to a surface by applying an electric charge to the liquid solution. Electrostatic spray technology was invented in the 1930s to improve spray disposition. It was popularized in the 1940s by the auto industry, where it was used to more efficiently paint cars and trucks. In the 1980s, the technology emerged in the agriculture industry as a method to apply pesticides to crops. Over the last few years, electrostatic spray technology has found its way into the cleaning industry as an efficient new way for cleaning professionals to apply cleaners, sanitizers, and disinfectants across facility types and surfaces.

How Does Electrostatic Spraying Work?

At the most basic level, electrostatic spraying works by applying a positive electric charge to a liquid as it passes through a nozzle. The liquid is then sprayed onto a surface that is grounded or has a negative electric charge. Excess protons in the positively charged atoms of the spray are attracted to the electron fields of other atoms, causing those atoms to become polarized.

As Coulomb’s Law states, opposite charges are attracted to one another and similar charges repel each other. In essence, this means that a positively charged liquid is attracted to a neutral or negatively charged target surface. At the same time, as each particle of the liquid carries a positive charge, the particles naturally repel each other, creating a wider dispersion. As the liquid passes through the nozzle, it becomes atomized into a fine spray. The droplets disperse from each other, becoming finer and finer, and seek out a negatively charged surface to bind with.

Electrostatic spraying provides a full, even coat of liquid across a surface. The droplets will cover the entire visible area, including the underside and backside of surfaces. Surfaces that have already been covered by the disinfectant will repel additional spray, maximizing the efficiency of delivery. Conventional sprayers use air pressure to break down the particles in a liquid solution. This leads to a high spraying velocity that can cause overspray. Electrostatic sprayers do not use air pressure in the atomization process. This leads to a vastly improved transfer efficiency, which limits chemical consumption as well as the release of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) into the environment.

Electrostatic Spraying vs Traditional Disinfecting Techniques

Electrostatic spray technology provides many advantages during the disinfection process. In order to properly disinfect a surface, it must be fully coated with the disinfectant and needs to remain wet for the proper dwell time, usually around 10 minutes. Traditional methods of disinfecting, such as spray and wipe, mopping, and cloth applications are not only time consuming – they also lend themselves to human error. To truly disinfect an area, all surfaces must be disinfected. Traditional disinfection methods require the cleaner to manually apply and remove the chemicals, which can take a lot of time and requires acute attention to detail. Additionally, hard to reach areas are often overlooked, though they could still be soiled and carry dangerous germs and pathogens.

Electrostatic sprayers eliminate these barriers to effective disinfection. Because they are able to cover a large surface area relatively quickly, they are both time and monetarily efficient. Surfaces that are hard to reach by the human hand are easily reached by an electrostatic sprayer. This enables cleaning professionals to disinfect every surface in a room rather than just “high-touch” areas. Traditional disinfection methods, particularly spray and wipe, are rendered ineffective if the disinfectant is not allowed to dwell on a surface long enough.

Oftentimes, a surface will get sprayed with a disinfectant and wiped down almost immediately. This is a problem, as disinfectants need time to work properly. The proper dwell time varies by chemical, but 10 minutes is a good rule of thumb to reference. Disinfectants applied with an electrostatic sprayer solve the problem of inadequate dwell times. After applying disinfectant with an electrostatic sprayer, the surface does not need to be wiped down. In facilities such as childcare facilities, schools, and healthcare facilities where germs can spread like wildfire. Disinfection is of utmost importance to them, and electrostatic disinfection techniques are a game-changer.

Electrostatic Spraying in the Cleaning Industry

As mentioned above, traditional disinfecting spray equipment and methods come with a suite of issues. In addition to allowing for a proper dwell time, making hard to reach areas easily accessible, and shortening the time it takes to disinfect an area, electrostatic spray technology also addresses transfer efficiency problems. Transfer efficiency is a measure of how much chemical reaches a surface versus the percentage lost to the floor and surrounding environment. Just as the agricultural industry adapted electrostatic spray technology from the auto and painting industries, the commercial cleaning industry has adapted it to suit its needs. Because almost any liquid can be electrically charged, electrostatic sprayers are highly versatile in their applications.

With improvements in the past decade in the portability and simplicity of use of electrostatic sprayers, they have become a reasonable, cost-effective, and practical tool for professional cleaners to add to their arsenals. Cleaners, sanitizers, deodorizers, and disinfectants can all be used with electrostatic sprayers. In the current pandemic climate, there has been a massive surge in interest and demand for electrostatic disinfection services. Many companies are utilizing the technology to keep their businesses running and their stakeholders safe. For example, United Airlines has implemented electrostatic spray disinfection on their aircrafts after each flight.

Disinfectants Used in Electrostatic Sprayers

Since most liquids can be used in electrostatic sprayers, many common disinfectants can be applied using the technology. For use against COVID-19 specifically, the EPA has released “List N: Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2”. All of the products on List N meet the EPA’s criteria for use against COVID-19. At Corvus, we use the hospital-grade disinfectant Q.T. Plus, which has demonstrated effectiveness on hard, porous surfaces against viruses similar to the 2019 novel coronavirus.

Conclusion

At Corvus Janitorial Systems, we understand that a clean and sanitary workplace not only protects people’s health. It also gives them peace of mind. With these needs in mind, Corvus has implemented the use of electrostatic sprayers into our service offerings. Call or email today to learn more about this exciting and effective service offering.

About Corvus Janitorial Systems

Founded in 2004 to make people’s lives better, Corvus is a full-service commercial cleaning franchisor that offers cleaning services through reputable local Franchisees. Corvus has been guided by its mission to transform people and transform places by consistently delivering independence, security, and freedom to Franchisees who deliver high-quality cleaning to offices, educational buildings, medical buildings/offices, recreational centers, industrial parks, and other spaces. The company has 17 regional support offices across the United States with nearly 900 Franchisees. For more information regarding Corvus, visit corvusjanitorial.com or corvusjanitorial.com/franchise for franchise information.

Corvus Guide to Reopening: Cleaning & Disinfecting Your Medical Office

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With more and more states lifting, or planning to lift, stay-at-home orders, business owners and office managers across the country are exploring the safest – and most practical – measures to reopen their facilities to employees and customers alike. Medical offices, such as doctor’s offices, dental facilities, and specialty clinics, should begin to see an uptick in foot traffic as in-person visits start to increase and elective procedures resume. It is critical that these facilities implement cleaning and disinfecting regimens that go above and beyond the pre-coronavirus standard.

As medical offices begin the process of reopening their operations, decision makers must determine how they can create the safest environment for their staff and for their patients. At Corvus Janitorial, we understand the vital role medical professionals play – both during this pandemic and outside of it – to ensuring that our communities are healthy, happy, and safe. With that in mind, we are here to provide advice on procedures that should be implemented in medical offices and facilities in order to successfully reopen in the safest, most sanitary way.

Perform a Deep Clean and Disinfection Before Opening the Office

According to Tommy Petagna of Corvus of New Orleans, “Before opening the office to staff and patients, both a thorough, deep clean and facility-wide disinfection should be performed. We’re seeing more and more of our medical office clients ask for this type of deep clean even before we recommend it”. Though they are often thought of as the same, cleaning and disinfecting are two distinct processes. During a general clean, the intent is to remove dirt and dust. This step must be completed before disinfection because germs can lurk in grime and soiled areas. Once an area is clean, it must then be disinfected.

Disinfection can be done in numerous ways. With COVID-19, the disinfection of all areas using commercial grade chemicals is critical. Typical disinfecting is done using EPA approved medical grade chemicals that are applied to a surface using a spray bottle (or as a mop solution for floors). The disinfectant is then given “dwell time”, which is time to sit on the surface and kill microorganisms. Though this method is effective at killing germs, it can be a time-consuming task to disinfect every surface in a facility, and hard to reach areas are often missed.

Disinfecting Techniques to Combat COVID-19

To address the issues with common disinfection methods, it is advisable to use a machine, such as an electrostatic sprayer or an ultra-low volume (ULV) fogger. This will ensure maximum coverage and effectiveness.

Electrostatic sprayers work by giving the disinfectant solution a positive electric charge. Because surfaces typically carry a negative or neutral charge, once the disinfectant is sprayed, the positively charged chemicals are attracted to the negatively charged surfaces and will bind to them. The droplets will cover the entire visible area, including the underside and backside of surfaces. Surfaces that have already been covered by the disinfectant will repel additional spray, maximizing the efficiency of delivery.

ULV fog machines work in a similar manner to electrostatic sprayers. ULV fogging works by compressing disinfectants through a nozzle that produces a fine mist or aerosol. The droplets that are produced are incredibly small and concentrated, therefore fewer chemicals need to be used. These droplets will linger in the air for approximately ten minutes, allowing them to bind to any visible surface area.

At Corvus, we have begun utilizing both electrostatic sprayers and ULV foggers in our service offering to customers. We believe these methods are both effective at eradicating viral pathogens as well as safe for use in our customer’s facilities and for our franchise owners. We are happy to provide a free quote for these services as either a one-time work or as a part of a routine, recurring service offering.

Routine Cleaning is Not So Routine Anymore

Though businesses are beginning to open back up, we are still nowhere close to “business as usual”. With stay-at-home orders being replaced with safer-at-home guidance, there is still the looming threat of COVID-19 community spread. Additionally, a high rate of asymptomatic carriers means that an individual who shows no signs of infection could visit your office during a routine checkup. Thus, inadvertently exposing your facility to risks. Because of the virus’s high infection rate and the number of potentially asymptomatic carriers, decision makers must account for this risk and take preventative, precautionary steps in their facilities.

Was your medical office being cleaned twice a week before the coronavirus pandemic? If so, it may be a good idea to increase that frequency to three, four, maybe even five times per week. In medical facilities, it is never a bad idea to be overly cautious. As these facilities are more likely to interface with individuals at a greater risk of developing severe COVID-19 symptoms, they must be even more proactive in their cleaning procedures than any other businesses. As society adjusts to a “new normal”, cleaning and disinfecting are more important now than ever before.

Reopening Reminders and Checklist

Your cleaning regimen is not the only facet of your office that is likely to change once you reopen. For example, some states and localities are requiring reduced on-premise staff, alternating work schedules for at-risk workers, or other social distancing procedures in the workplace. Below, we highlight some important items that all facility managers and decision makers should account for as they get back to business:

1. Prepare a list of obvious and overlooked high touch objects such as appliances in break rooms, telephone handles, sinks and basins, trash cans, and communal printers.

2. Thoroughly clean AND disinfect those high touch points with an EPA certified disinfectant allowing for a proper dwell time of the chemical (click here for additional resources)

3. Engage with your team to comply with an appropriate headcount for your office space as well as discussing protocol for potential distancing in office. Some states are mandating reduced concentration of personnel or alternating schedules, and it’s important to stay up-to-date on these regulations.

4. Engage an outside cleaning company or delegate your own personnel to provide a thorough top to bottom clean and disinfection regime prior to re-opening.

5. Prepare to have appropriate cleaning tools, supplies, and equipment such as clean rags or wipes, proper chemicals and clean, and well-working vacuum cleaners.

During these unprecedented times, it is crucial that we take unprecedented precautions to maintain the health and safety of everyone. When it comes to reopening medical offices, we, at Corvus Janitorial, strongly urge you to take the right measures in cleaning and disinfecting your office. Doing so will ensure the safety of your staff, your patients, and their families. If you are interested in a free quote or would like more information about the appropriate cleaning and disinfection of your medical office in preparation for reopening, please feel free to contact us today!

This piece is meant simply to inform, not to provide any legal or medical advice.

About Corvus Janitorial Systems

Founded in 2004 to make people’s lives better, Corvus is a full-service commercial cleaning franchisor that offers cleaning services through reputable local Franchisees. Corvus has been guided by its mission to transform people and transform places by consistently delivering independence, security, and freedom to Franchisees who deliver high-quality cleaning to offices, educational buildings, medical buildings/offices, recreational centers, industrial parks, and other spaces. The company has 17 regional support offices across the United States with nearly 900 Franchisees. For more information regarding Corvus, visit www.corvusjanitorial.com or www.corvusjanitorial.com/franchise for franchise information.