BUSINESS
DIY Deep Clean
PRACTICE ROOM
DIY Deep Clean
Deep cleaning your practice room and waiting areas before starting to see clients again provides reassurance for both you and your clients. You can bring in a cleaning company or follow our DIY approach…
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SING a professional company to deep clean your practice room and associated areas such as the kitchen, toilet and waiting areas is likely to cost in the region of £300-£400, but may be higher as businesses seek to capitalise on demand and make up for a shortfall in revenue. If you have a regular cleaner, it can be worth asking if they can undertake the job provided you are sure that they will do it thoroughly. Deep cleaning involves more than the usual whisk round with a duster and a Dyson. Everything in the room, from the ceilings to the carpets must be cleaned and disinfected. If you have the time and enjoy cleaning or would rather spend twenty or thirty pounds on cleaning materials, it’s possible to tackle it yourself. It can also be a valuable opportunity to reconsider traffic flow and do some decluttering and reorganising at the same time. Start by making a checklist and gathering your deep cleaning kit together. Wear disposable or reusable gloves, disposable cloths, rags, old towels or wipes, a scrubbing pad, a bucket and soap that has anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties, and another with clean water a household disinfectant, such as the Dettol antiviral spray and a stable stepladder. Consider
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wearing disposable coveralls and eye protection to protect against splashes. You may prefer a more natural or ecological approach, but this is one occasion where disposability trumps environmentally friendly, as it’s about providing reassurance to your clients. If possible, empty the room of furniture and all those things that have been shoved on a shelf or dumped in a cupboard. Take down curtains or blinds and wash them too. If you have a window, clean it then keep it open while you work. Start up high and wash the ceilings, lighting and
walls down with soapy water. Repeat this with water which contains a disinfectant, or use the disinfectant spray, then the clean water. Clean the windows, windowsills, doors and skirting boards the same way, then repeat the process for any furniture that is still in the room as well as the toilet, sinks, tiles, grout, kitchen units and worktops, reception area, chairs, shelving and your treatment couch. Pay particular attention to frequently touched surfaces such a door handles, light switches, chair armrests, countertops, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, taps and sinks. Clean carpets using a carpet cleaner, which can often be rented from supermarkets or dry cleaners. As you being to move the furniture back in, think about how you and your clients will move about the room. Are there ways you can change the layout to allow for social distancing before and after a treatment? Consider whether you need to return everything to the room or whether you can get rid of some items that are no longer needed. Clean your computer, keyboard, mouse, cables, router and any remote controls using the manufacturers’ recommended wipes or an alcohol based wipe that is at least 70% alcohol. Dry thoroughly before reuse and you’re good to go. Launder all your towels and couch covers and consider replacing the latter with disposable covers for now. Keep two special bins in the room to collect used towels and used disposable products. Remember to wash your hands every 30 minutes or so during your deep cleaning process. n
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