People spend a big chunk of their day in their workplace, and their wellbeing is crucial for any employer to cultivate a smooth workflow. Cleaning and disinfecting are critical for any workplace to maintain a neat and hygienic space for people to work in. But there is a difference between cleaning and disinfecting that you should know about.

In present times when the threat of Covid-19 is looming large, maintaining an infection-free office is imperative. Both cleaning and disinfecting are required to prevent the spread of viral and bacterial infections.

Difference between Cleaning And Disinfecting

Cleaning: It refers to the removal of the visible dirt. It involves using water and detergent to remove the dust particles and germs from the floor and other surfaces. However, this process may not kill all the germs. Workplace cleaning is usually done on a regular and more frequent basis.

Disinfecting: It kills all the infectious germs from any surface. It involves using chemicals that totally wipes the areas clean of both virus and bacteria, which cannot be seen through naked eyes. Hence, ensuring a hygienic environment. This process is usually carried out sporadically or when the area is exposed to any infection. However, any place has to be appropriately cleaned before being disinfected.

How to Disinfect Workplace

It is crucial to get the workplaces disinfected from time to time, especially during the ongoing pandemic. It is not enough to disinfect the floors and furniture. Things that are used frequently by people like computers, keyboard, mouse, telephone, water cooler, toilet surfaces, and doorknobs must be properly cleaned with disinfectants. You may use some simple ways to disinfect or hire commercial cleaning services to do the job.

To begin with, avoid cleaning hazards in the workplace, and wear proper gloves before you use any chemical. The use of hard substances can be irritants or cause allergies. Use the chemicals with care. You may also wear a mask if you find the odor of the substances too pungent.

All cleaning and disinfecting chemicals must be FDA or CDC approved. Using tested products avoids the risk of using fake ones. This, in turn, will make sure that the workplace is truly disinfected.

In order to kill the germs, you may use chemicals like hydrogen peroxide, chlorine, iodine-based antiseptics, and alcohols. When used in the right proportion, these substances will prove to be effective against viruses and bacteria.

Get commercial building cleaning regularly. And, in between the professional disinfecting, make sure you have the surfaces cleaned with a disinfectant. If you don’t have a product handy, you may use the following method.

- Add 1 tablespoon of bleach to 4 cups of water. Dip a piece of cloth and rub it on the surface. Allow the solution to stay for 3 to 5 minutes, and then rinse the surface with clean water.
- If you need to disinfect a more significant area and need more, add ¼ cup bleach to 16 cups of water.

Keeping in mind the current pandemic situation across the globe, just cleaning the workplace would be inadequate. For the sake of the workers’ good health, consider disinfecting the area along with workplace cleaning.