For Brie's Breezy Clean, keeping homes in Minneapolis sparkling isn't just about dust and grime — it's also about protecting our cleaners and our clients from invisible risks like bloodborne pathogens. It’s easy to assume “that only happens in hospitals,” but the reality is we can encounter potentially infectious materials when taking out trash that may hide used sharp objects, cleaning bathrooms, changing bedding after someone has been sick, or wiping up blood from a cut in the kitchen. OSHA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, sets the safety standards we follow, and we’ve been learning from their Bloodborne Pathogen course. This training exists because viruses like Hepatitis B (HBV) and HIV can be present in blood and certain body fluids and can cause serious, sometimes life-threatening disease. When our staff understand what bloodborne pathogens are and how they’re transmitted, they’re empowered to protect themselves and every family we serve.

Even as a residential-focused company, we at Brie's Breezy Clean use universal precautions. This means we assume that all blood and most body fluids could be infectious, and we respond accordingly every single time—no guessing based on how “safe” a home looks or how well we know the client. In practice, this means we always wear the right personal protective equipment, such as gloves, and when there is a risk of splashing, we also wear masks or eye protection. We never manually compress trash bags, we avoid splashing when cleaning up, and we use tools like tongs, spatulas, and disposable towels for cleanup whenever needed. Any affected area is cleaned and properly disinfected, and potentially contaminated laundry is handled with extra care.

We also make training a core part of our safety culture (even if, right now, that “staff” is just me!). It’s not enough to know there is a risk — we focus on exactly what to do in the moment. That includes recognizing situations where bloodborne pathogens may be present, following a clear step-by-step cleanup procedure, and knowing what to do if exposure occurs: immediately stop working, wash the affected area, report it to a supervisor, and seek medical guidance. We also recognize the importance of vaccines, such as the Hepatitis B vaccine, and follow OSHA’s rules so vaccination can be used as an important protective tool.

I hope this gives you a sense of the level of care we give to both our team’s health and your own. We work hard to ensure cleaners feel protected and informed so they can confidently and consistently do their jobs, helping families maintain clean, sparkling, joyful homes. In a city like Minneapolis, where we all share spaces and communities, it’s more important than ever to combine good cleaning practices with infection control. That commitment to both safety and cleanliness is what makes our service genuinely professional.