The role of commercial and industrial cleaning products during COVID-1

The role of commercial and industrial cleaning products during COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has opened people’s eyes to the importance of clean and hygienic spaces. When the virus first broke out, the advice was to wash our hands with soapy water regularly and clean and disinfect surfaces thoroughly and often, to keep the virus at bay.

The news would often report that when a confirmed COVID-19 case visited a particular business or premise, they closed it down for a deep clean. This shows just how important cleaning and disinfecting surfaces is in combating a disease as tricky as COVID-19, to keep everyone safe and healthy.

As we moved down the alert levels, and businesses and offices began to re-open, company leaders had a new problem to solve: what protocols to put in place to keep their workers and their customers safe. A large part of this was where, how, and how often, would they need to clean their premises.

A higher expectation of cleanliness

With an understanding of how the virus spreads and the steps you could take to help protect yourself, came a higher expectation of cleanliness. Workers who went back to the office wanted reassurance that their office spaces were being cleaned thoroughly, and customers visiting shops or restaurants wanted to make sure that it was a safe space.

No doubt your inbox was flooded with emails assuring you that businesses were following protocols set out by the government, including regular and thorough cleaning, so you could feel safe visiting their establishment. For some people, these types of messages and reassurances were very important. According to a 2020 Datassentials report, 80% of customers checked safety precautions before choosing to eat at an establishment.

For many industries such as hospitality and tourism, having a protocol in place which assures guests of the cleanliness of their accommodation is critical for their operation. As Phill Cordell, senior vice president and global head of new brand development at Hilton, puts it; “There's always been an expectation that it would be clean, but now the clean has a double exclamation point after it.”

Why it’s important to have the right products and practices to keep everyone safe.

When it comes to protecting yourself and others from a disease like COVID-19, or any other pathogen, not all cleaning products and practices are created equal.

Some products might not be as effective at killing germs as others, so you want to make sure you’re using the right one – and that you’re using them correctly.

For example, just cleaning a surface won’t be enough to kill the germs. You want to make sure it’s also disinfecting the area. But on the flip side, you can’t just disinfect the surface, as this doesn’t clean away all the grime and dirt where germs may be hiding – meaning they might still be able to spread. 

While there are products that both clean and disinfect, you want to make sure you follow the instructions provided to ensure they work as intended.

Another consideration is how often you clean a surface or area. While the New Zealand Ministry of Health guidelines are a little vague, high-touch surfaces such as door handles, light switches, tables and countertops, touch screens and EFTPOS machines should be cleaned ‘frequently’. Depending on how high-touch these surfaces are, you might need to clean them once a day or more often during the day. 

Finally, you want to make sure that the cleaning products or disinfectants you’re using are suitable for your environment. A hospital, for example, will need a higher grade cleaner or disinfectant product than, say, an office. And, for restaurants and cafes, it’s important to make sure that the products you’re using are effective but safe to use in areas where you’re preparing or serving food and drinks.

How ChemMate can help

ChemMate makes it easy to ensure your premises are kept clean and hygienic and your staff and customers are safe. We offer a wide range of bulk commercial and industrial chemicals and products, and our buying power means we’re able to pass lower costs onto you. So, even if you are having to clean a little more often, it stays affordable.

Alongside our wide range of cleaning supplies and accessories, we also provide full-service industrial cleaning and business maintenance.

So, if you’re looking for a single supplier you can trust for all your cleaning supplies and equipment, get in touch today via 0800 CHEMMATE or visit our website.