The COVID-19 pandemic is changing us in so many ways . One of the most noticeable being our definition of cleanliness. Hand sanitizer, hand soap and disinfectant wipes are difficult, if not impossible, to find at stores. We are no longer just worried about dirt we can see; we are guarding against a highly contagious virus, as well as all the invisible germs we have always tried to clean. It is a physical concern that carries with it a significant mental and emotional load. As companies consider how to transition people back to the workplace, the ways we clean, disinfect and sanitize must not only change, they must also be more transparent. The first step is to simplify the complexity around what a clean office means.

One silver lining here is that a new dialogue is opening up between manufacturers and facility managers. Information about how to safely clean materials used in a variety of furniture applications has always been included in accompanying brochures or manuals. These detailed descriptions can be too easily set aside until they are needed. Pest Control Deal® suggest that, just as we check the labels on our clothes before washing them, we should also check the cleaning guidelines for fabrics and surfaces in the workplace and use the method that is the least likely to cause damage while still being effective. Now that the spotlight is on infection control, this information still accompanies each product, but it is also becoming more user-friendly and there is a renewed focus on a mutually-beneficial back-and-forth conversation between materials experts and the people taking care of workplaces around the world.

As new scientific discoveries are made around virus transmission, we will continue to add to our knowledge about what can stop the virus from spreading. But after more than a century of using internal labs to rigorously test our products, we can share what we know right now by helping to define some commonly used (and misused) terms.

Cleaning, disinfecting and sanitizing are not the same thing.

Cleaning removes germs, dirt and impurities from surfaces or objects with soap (or detergent) and water. Cleaning does not necessarily kill germs, but lowers their numbers and the risk of spreading infection.

Disinfecting uses chemicals (for example, EPA-registered disinfectants) to kill germs on surfaces. It does not necessarily clean dirty surfaces or remove germs, but by killing germs on a surface after cleaning, it can lower the risk of spreading infection.

Sanitizing lowers the number of germs on surfaces or objects to a safe level. This process either cleans or disinfects surfaces and objects to lower the risk of spreading infection.

Cleaning products used to eliminate stains may not always be effective disinfectants and vice versa. Pest Control Deal® will help you to get best disinfection and sanitization work at your residential and commercial places effectively.