Avoiding Cross Contamination in Your Commercial Cleaning Company

When an employee comes to work sick, that illness can quickly make its way around the office. Cleaning crews can be part of the problem or the solution, depending on how well they understand and address cross-contamination.

Cross-contamination is when germs move between people in shared spaces. It most often happens when a sick person touches something and then someone else touches the same contaminated surface. It can also happen unintentionally during the cleaning process, like when a janitor cleans a toilet and then washes a countertop with the same cloth.

If your janitorial crew plays a part in the spread of viruses and bacteria in a building, it can result in real losses for your clients and, potentially, cancelled contracts for your business.

• In office buildings, illness has costs associated with paid sick days, healthcare, and decreased productivity.
• In schools and healthcare settings, illness can affect government funding tied to absentee rates or healthcare-associated infections.
• In food-service settings, a salmonella or e-coli outbreak can seriously damage a company's reputation and bottom line.

Make sure your contract cleaning company is part of the solution by using these best practices to prevent cross-contamination.

Avoid Cross Contamination with Smart Processes

Outline a clear cleaning process for your employees so they don't accidentally spread germs or miss any areas of a room. Cleaning from top to bottom allows gravity to move anything not captured in the cleaning tool to the floor so it is removed in the final step.

Here is an example of a simple process:

• First, wipe down all surfaces with cleaning solution.
• Next, use spray disinfectant on high-touch areas, like desks, phones, door knobs and push plates, elevator buttons, counters, railings, and all bathroom surfaces. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for appropriate dwell time before wiping off the product.
• Finally, clean the floor, mopping or vacuuming from the farthest inside point of the room back out the door, throwing away your gloves as you leave the room.

Don't take the common mistake of cleaning multiple areas with the same tools or supplies. Bacteria and viruses can take up residence on things like cleaning cloths or mop heads, which can then easily spread those things around if they are used again and again.

Train your cleaning crews to segregate equipment—having a set of color-coded microfiber cloths and mops used exclusively in the restroom or lunchroom, etc. Also, store cleaning tools using the same method of separation so a kitchen mop doesn't end up touching a bathroom mop.

Avoid Cross Contamination with Color Coding

You can't always be on-site with your cleaning crews to check that they are properly segregating equipment. Plus, janitorial companies often have employees for whom English isn't their native language. Implementing a color-coding system can address both of these issues.

Choose products that come in several colors (most commonly red, yellow, blue, and green).

Color coding can prevent spreading contaminants by using the wrong tool in the wrong area. Janitors can see at a glance what should be used where, regardless of language barriers.

Color coding can also be applied to cleaning equipment such as mop handles and colored mop buckets. Of course, a system is only as strong as the training behind it. Be sure that everyone on your team knows and understands the color system. In the case of language issues, consider using pictograms in addition to text to explain the colors.

Avoid Cross Contamination by Switching to Microfiber

Ordinary cleaning cloths are often made of large cotton fibers. Microfiber cloths, on the other hand, are typically made from polyester or polyester blends and have fibers that are smaller than a strand of silk.

When a traditional mop or cloth touches a surface, it becomes contaminated. As soon as you put it back into the water or move it around the room, it contaminates the water and the next surface.

The unique construction of microfiber allows it to attract up to 99% of particles—about three times more than cotton. It has a positive charge (like a magnet), which attracts dirt and germs, and is super porous so it holds the particles tightly. In short, microfiber picks up and removes contaminants rather than redistributing them around the room like cotton.

Although it will require a financial investment, switching to microfiber wet and dry mops, cleaning cloths, and dust wands will vastly improve the quality of your work. It will more successfully remove illness-causing pathogens and greatly reduce your cross-contamination risk.

Look at Other Tools

There are other tools that can also help reduce cross-contamination:

• A flat mop with a built-in tank that squeezes out the water is a better option than a traditional mop with a basic bucket. It holds dirty water, increasing the risk of spreading contaminants around.
• Spray-and-vac systems provide an alternative to mopping. It dispenses fresh cleaning solution for each application, then sucks up the solution. This eliminates the spread of contaminants via a mop head.
• HEPA-filtered vacuum cleaners capture 99.9% of particles, far more than traditional vacuums.
• Choose certified green cleaning products over hazardous chemicals whenever possible to maintain a healthier and safer environment. 

Preach Hand Hygiene

Proper hand hygiene is the simplest and most important way of preventing cross contamination. Teach your staff to wash their hands properly and at the appropriate times (after using the washroom, eating, touching a surface with bare hands, etc.).

What's more, talk to the facility owner or manager about how you can help them promote hand washing among building occupants. Ideas include offering hand hygiene supplies (soap, towels, hand sanitizer) and providing signage that encourages handwashing in every restroom, lunchroom, and breakroom.

The most essential element of a program to prevent cross contamination is training. Make sure everyone knows your processes, tools, and expectations. Ask supervisors to keep a close on workers in the field to be sure best practices are being used on a daily, ongoing basis. Revisit your training on a regular (at least annual) basis to keep the issue top-of-mind.


Article by Cleaning & Maintenance Management.