Many of the cleaning practices used in healthcare settings can be used in residential homes and commercial buildings as well. We have to remember that germs, bacteria, and viruses are not only found in medical facilities they are everywhere people live, work, shop, eat, and gather. Think about how many people touch the same door handles, light switches, countertops, restroom fixtures, desks, and other surfaces throughout the day. We may not see the germs, but they are there.

One of the first things we can take from medical cleaning is having a proper cleaning routine and sticking to it. In healthcare facilities, cleaning employees are taught to work in an organized manner, starting with cleaner areas and moving toward dirtier areas to help prevent cross-contamination. This is something we can easily apply when cleaning residential or other commercial property. Paying close attention to high-touch surfaces such as door handles, light switches, phones, keyboards, faucets, countertops, and restroom fixtures. These areas are touched repeatedly throughout the day and should receive proper attention. Another important practice is changing cleaning cloths and gloves when moving between different areas, especially when moving from restrooms to kitchens or other common areas. We should never use the same dirty cloth throughout an entire building and assume we are making it cleaner.

Another practice we should carry over from healthcare cleaning is understanding the difference between cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting. Cleaning removes dirt and debris, while sanitizing reduces germs to levels considered safe. Disinfecting uses an appropriate product to kill specific germs on surfaces. As cleaning professionals, we need to understand which products we are using and when they are necessary. We also need to follow the manufacturer's instructions, use the correct dilution, and allow the disinfectant to remain wet on the surface for the required contact time. These practices are just as important in many commercial and residential environments.

Personal protective equipment (PPE) and hand hygiene are also important practices that should never be overlooked. We should carry those same habits into our everyday cleaning operations. We also need to understand bloodborne pathogens and what to do when we come across blood, bodily fluids, needles, or other potentially infectious materials. Just because we are cleaning a residential home or commercial offices instead of a hospital does not mean we are automatically free from these hazards.

I also believe that cleaning companies should take a closer look at how they train their employees and what standards they expect them to follow. They need to understand why certain procedures are important and how their actions can affect the people who occupy the spaces they clean. We should never stop learning better ways to clean, protect our customers, and improve the services we provide. Medical cleaning practices should not be viewed as something that only applies to healthcare facilities. Many of these same principles can improve the quality and safety of the services we provide in residential and commercial settings. The more knowledgeable we become, the better equipped we are to protect ourselves and the communities we serve.

Find a Professional Cleaning Service Through IJCSA:

https://www.ijcsa.org/Janitorial-Service-Directory-Find-A-Janitorial-Service-JanitorialServices