Since the beginning of 2020, the emergence of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, has changed the way we live and work in Singapore—it has never been business as usual.
With strict and aggressive preventive measures in place, many businesses are imposing remote work except for organisations with proprietary systems and sensitive job orders that require employees to be on-premise, even if it means shifting schedules.
As champions in office carpet cleaning services in Singapore, our objective is to help everyone stay safe and healthy in the office while sharing common workspaces.
In a previous article, we talked about the ways to sanitise your home during the COVID-19 outbreak, and today, we are covering the basics of creating a healthy and sanitary workplace which includes tips on how to clean your office, whether or not there is confirmed/suspected COVID-19 infection.
When There is Confirmed/Suspected COVID-19 Infection
According to the World Health Organisation, COVID-19 seems to behave like other coronaviruses in a way that they live on surfaces for a few hours or up to several days. Like the common cold, the virus can also spread via droplets from sneezing or coughing and/or by touching a contaminated surface.
Therefore, if there is someone in your property with confirmed/suspected COVID-19, your office should be cleaned and disinfected thoroughly, particularly their workstation.
While cleaning, make sure to wear the proper personal protective equipment which includes disposable gloves, apron, and shoe covers, and avoid touching other surfaces to avoid the risk of further contamination. Such dangers further illustrate the benefit of hiring upholstery cleaning services.
The following measures should be taken whether or not your workplace is infected with COVID-19.
How to Clean Your Workplace During the COVID-19 Outbreak
Cleaning and disinfecting high-touch surfaces more frequently should be a priority in the workplace. These include the doorknobs, handles, light switches, biometric security systems, table surfaces, equipment, and any shared areas where you often congregate. Hiring professional upholstery cleaners should be a consideration as well.
You should have soap, disposable wipes and hand sanitisers in place as well as no-touch trash cans for safe disposal. Proper hygiene and adequate cleaning procedures should keep everyone safer during the virus outbreak.
- Observe Proper Cleaning Procedures
Gather Your Cleaning & Disinfecting Supplies: While there are many disinfecting products that ‘kill 99.9% of germs’ in the market, one easily-accessible solution is household bleach and water: mix 5 tablespoons of bleach with a gallon of water for surface and upholstery cleaning or 4 tablespoons bleach per quart of water for spray applications.
Aside from these cleaning products, you should keep the following in handy: hand soap, laundry detergent, dishwashing soap and miscellaneous items such as microfibre cloths, sponges, trash bags, disposable PPE, etc.
Clean Your Upholstery: Wearing outdoor shoes can contaminate your office floors; if possible remove shoes or require the use of shoe covers upon entry. You can prepare your floors or carpets by engaging professional carpet cleaning services in Singapore to ensure that your upholstery is cleaned right from the edges and into the corners.
Besides the floors, make sure to clean and sanitise your couches, office chairs, and other small furnishings such as mats, rugs, etc. Vacuum these items and if soiled, have them washed at the highest recommended temperature.
Disinfect Your Devices: Your computers, laptops, and other office equipment have to be cleaned and disinfected, too. Disinfecting them with wipes is hands down, the best way to clean them. But, you can always wipe them with an alcohol solution of at least 70%.
Pay special attention to the screens, keyboards, mice, and anywhere dust and dirt tend to accumulate. A once-daily disinfecting should be encouraged in the workplace.
- Practice Social Distancing & Allow Sick Employees to Stay at Home
In the workplace, make sure to avoid physical greetings and maintain a distance of at least 2m away from everybody else. Encourage everyone to play their part in the surface and upholstery cleaning as well.
If any of your employees are sick, allow them to stay at home to avoid infecting others. The same goes if any of their family members are sick. Moreover, if teleworking is not an option, you should at least try staggering shifts in the workplace to minimise contact among your employees. It’s also a good idea to cancel all in-person meetings and other non-essential events for as long as necessary.
The full impact of the coronavirus worldwide remains unknown. While it’s the case, however, we can all play our part by practising precautionary measures both at home and in the workplace.
As you learn new information, make adjustments accordingly and keep everyone in your business informed. Our cleaning technicians at Clean Care Singapore are on standby so you can book a one-off or regular upholstery cleaning services for your office.
Get in touch with us today to schedule an appointment.