Maintaining a Clean Environment in a Post-COVID World

5/17/2023 (Permalink)

People hanging up COVID masks

The COVID-19 pandemic opened our eyes to the need for deep and extensive home cleaning. Good indoor air quality and a clean-living space is crucial to good health, so it is important to consider all the dust, pollen, and microbes that can find their way into your home. This long list of contaminants can increase disease risk and trigger allergies. What can homeowners do to stem the tide of potential respiratory issues brought on by airborne viruses and other pollutants? Home-cleaning services provide a valuable solution for all household cleaning needs. We all try our best to maintain a clean home by dusting, mopping, and vacuuming, but to feel completely satisfied with your home’s cleanliness, residential cleaning services make the cleaning and sanitizing work go much faster and deeper. Along with general professional cleaning, floor-SERVPRO of South Nashville’s cleaning services and carpet and upholstery cleaning also offer the comprehensive services all homeowners want.    

Home Cleaning Services and a Healthy Home  

What are some of the common environmental hazards that homeowners face? Everyday life introduces dust, dirt, mites, and chemicals into a home and the potential for bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Most of those contaminants are not a significant health risk because routine cleaning takes care of them. However, as many people probably learned during the COVID-19 pandemic, contaminated air could easily make people sick.   

Disinfecting all surfaces and keeping them that way is crucial because we know how long infectious microbes can live on doorknobs, countertops, and similar surfaces. Establishing a routine of good cleaning habits can keep contaminants from getting out of control.   

Professional residential cleaning services handle air ducts, drapes and blinds, carpet and upholstery, ceilings, walls, and floors made from vinyl, concrete, slate, bamboo, and hardwood. All those materials can expose people to mold spores, viruses, and bacteria, especially the hard surfaces where microbes tend to live longer. Addressing these issues is how home cleaning services help clients manage common health hazards that can appear anywhere in the home.  

Some other challenges to maintaining a clean environment are not so easily handled. Mildew and black mold can sometimes be difficult to clean for the homeowner; therefore, they need expert help. Carpet and upholstery cleaning can mitigate some common health threats, namely dust and pollen. Cleaning up after a family member's illness may be a time to call professional cleaners if the disease is highly contagious, like COVID-19.  

Disinfecting and Prevention  

Viruses and bacteria vary widely in how well they can survive outside the human body. How long they last depends on whether they land on a solid or soft surface. Humidity and air temperature are also contributing factors to longevity. Cold and flu viruses may last from several hours to several days. Gastrointestinal viruses can last for two months. The same applies to many strains of dangerous microbes associated with diseases such as measles.  

Your cleaning company needs to disinfect all the most often-used surfaces in your home. At a minimum, all “high touch” surfaces should be disinfected. These surfaces include:  

• Remote controls  
• Light switches  
• Doorknobs  
• Controls on stove and microwave  

• Faucet and drawer handles  
• Kitchen counters  

Consider having your cleaning company steam-clean carpets and area rugs. Those soft surfaces can collect bacteria, viruses, and mold spores. Standard vacuuming and deodorizing will not destroy viruses or bacteria that cause staph infections. Towels and bedding should be cleaned regularly in hot water and soap after they have been used by someone recovering from the flu, COVID-19, or another respiratory or stomach bug.  

Residential cleaning services will routinely clean all surfaces but alert your cleaning service if you have specific areas or items that cause concern. They have comprehensive checklists, but it always helps to communicate with the technicians to ensure everyone is on the same page. One particular area that homeowners want deep-cleaned is the bathroom to maintain a healthy home environment. These spaces are typically damp and warm, ideal for mold, mildew, and germs. Clean all hard surfaces, including the toilet bowl, sink, floor, shower, and shower door.  

Biohazard Cleanup  

If a biohazard arises at home, it is critical to call on professional cleaners with the correct training and equipment. Sewage backups, for example, introduce viruses and bacteria that cannot be destroyed using a wet vacuum cleaner and some water mixed with bleach. The water from an overflowing toilet or backed-up sewer line will run into places not readily accessible to a homeowner or business owner. In rare cases where a very sick person stays at home for treatment, home cleaning services can be helpful, especially a service with training in biohazard cleanup.   

Keep Your Air Clean with Professional Help  

The lockdowns and the remote work during COVID-19 raised public interest in indoor air quality, which is a positive thing. Indoor air can expose us to various microbes and other unhealthy things unless cleaned and kept clean. Residential cleaning services help homeowners keep those health hazards under control. If you want a thorough and professional cleaning that sanitizes your home, call the pros at SERVPRO Southeast Nashville at (615) 331-0200 to schedule expert home cleaning services.