Commercial Disinfection Services

Cleaning, sanitizing and disinfecting are different jobs

Order matters. The CDC's guidance for cleaning and disinfecting facilities says to clean surfaces before sanitizing or disinfecting them, because dirt protects germs from the chemical.

When a building needs disinfection

For offices, gyms, businesses and community centers, the CDC says to clean high-touch surfaces regularly, clean other surfaces when they are visibly dirty, and, in addition to cleaning, disinfect areas where people have obviously been ill. Local health authorities may recommend specific steps during an outbreak. The CDC guidance is not meant for healthcare settings, which follow their own rules; see medical office cleaning for the OSHA rule that applies there.

How to check a disinfectant

• EPA registration number. Products that kill germs on surfaces are registered with EPA as antimicrobial pesticides. EPA says the registration number on the label is the best way to identify a product, and a three-part number (such as 1234-12-123) is a supplemental distributor product with the same composition as the two-part primary number.
• The right germ. EPA keeps lists of registered disinfectants for specific pathogens, such as List H for MRSA and VRE. The CDC says to use a product registered for the specific germ if it is known.
• Contact time. EPA says to "pay close attention to the contact time, which is how long the surface must remain wet." A wipe that dries in seconds may not meet the label.

Fogging and electrostatic spraying

The CDC says fogging, fumigation and electrostatic spraying "are not recommended as primary methods of surface disinfection." If a company proposes them, ask how surfaces will be cleaned first and how the label contact time will be met.

Safety rules your cleaners should follow

• Never mix products or chemicals (CDC).
• Wear the protective equipment the label calls for, such as gloves or goggles.
• Increase air circulation with open doors and windows, fans or HVAC settings while products are used.
• Store products away from food areas and out of reach of children.

Questions to ask a disinfection service

• Which products will you use, and what are their EPA registration numbers?
• What contact time does each label require, and how will you meet it?
• Do you clean surfaces before you disinfect?
• Which high-touch surfaces are on the list, and how often?
• Is disinfection part of the regular contract or a separate service?

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