We have long since waited for the day when all businesses will open and when you will finally feel comfortable inviting friends and family back into your home. In Washington state, Governor Inslee announced that nearly all public businesses will reopen on June 30, 2021, if a certain percentage of vaccinations have been given out. In the United States overall, President Biden shared information from the CDC that American citizens no longer need to wear masks if they have been fully vaccinated. It seems that plans are in place to open the U.S. and to get businesses back to normal. 

The spread of this virus has been a wake-up call for businesses to disinfect their facilities, for people to wash their hands or use hand sanitizer and for homeowners to clean more often. This means that even though the mask mandate is being slowly relieved, most aspects of cleaning and disinfecting should and will remain in use to prevent the spread of other viruses and diseases. 

Bleach. 

Many people immediately jump to bleach as the cure-all formula for thorough disinfecting. There are many issues with this mindset because bleach can be more damaging than helpful at times. It emits a strong odor that can make you sick, it causes skin irritation and mixing it with other chemicals like ammonia is toxic which can sometimes lead to death. Although bleach is a disinfectant, it is usually unnecessary to use bleach for every surface and there are other disinfectant options that are just as effective without causing extra harm to you or your surfaces. In the way that bleach is used to whiten clothing in the washer, it can also cause unwanted discoloring of surfaces. 

If Not Bleach, Then What? 

There are many disinfectants on the market that are markedly safer to use than bleach, and some are even more effective. Usually, when touching a surface after it has been cleaned, it is no longer disinfected. MSNW’s janitors use an EPA-certified disinfectant called Goldshield which bonds to surfaces and lasts for 30-90 days even while people have touched the sprayed surfaces. This is due to its positive charge. The formula attracts microbes and bacteria which are killed on contact. It is water-based, so unlike bleach, it is safe to use on almost every surface type without ruining anything. Bleach has a strong odor, but Goldshield’s disinfectant has no odor and even prevents odors. 

Green Cleaning. 

Some disinfectants claim to be “green” which most of us assume means the formula is environmentally friendly or is made with ingredients that are better for our safety but the word “green” put on the label of a bottle does not equate to “good for the environment” or “good for humans.” Independent environmental advocacy groups are known to give approval to certain disinfectants for following certain environmental standards which is the only way to know how a disinfectant is environmentally friendly. Overall, general statements on labels need backing by facts which means another group needs to come in to check how the companies are meeting environmental standards. A company can make a blanket statement that does not state a specific fact, so this is something to watch out for when selecting a disinfectant product. 

Pre-cleaning. 

Disinfectants are different than general cleaning products. General cleaning products get rid of visible dirt and grime, while disinfectants are designed to inactivate or destroy microorganisms on surfaces. Disinfectants are used to help stop the spread of diseases and viruses, and often have a contact time which is the length of time the formula needs to stay on the surface before being wiped away or used. Pre-cleaning surfaces is essential when disinfecting because disinfectants will not remove visible muck. 

Follow Directions. 

For cleaners and disinfectants alike, you can buy concentrates which is a great way to store them without taking up too much space. However, this can be risky if you are not aware of the concentration of the solutions. Undiluted formulas may leave a residue that attracts dirt and bacteria and have a harmful impact on people, potentially causing breathing problems or skin infections. Always keep labels on all of your cleaning products and make sure that they are out of reach of children or pets. 

You will find that as long as you stay informed on cleaning and disinfection processes, your efforts will have the most effective impact that causes little to no harm to others.