Flu Season May Be Forever Changed

FLU SEASON MAY BE FOREVER CHANGED FOR THE CLEANING INDUSTRY

The pandemic will likely change our yearly rhythm in the long term

by Afshin Cangarlu

Anyone who is in the cleaning industry understands that flu season has always been considered the “busy” season. Much like accountants during the month of April, it’s the time when our services and expertise are called on the most often.

As professionals in this industry, we’ve spent the fall and winter months educating our clients and the public on ways to keep offices, restaurants, and retail spaces safe and how to reduce germs.

But the COVID-19 pandemic has forever changed the way our society defines what “clean” means, and that will likely lead to a change in our yearly rhythm. It is quite possible that, moving forward, flu season may be just one of a handful of similarly busy times for the cleaning industry.

THE PUBLIC IS MORE EDUCATED ABOUT GERMS

This all starts with the public, who are now more educated about germs and cleaning than ever before. Since March of 2020, there have been tens of thousands of interviews with cleaning and health experts circulated by media outlets around the world.

These experts have explained, in detail, the importance of keeping surfaces clean. People learned about “high-touch points” like computer keyboards, door handles, and light switches. They also learned the difference between cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting. These lessons have been repeated over and over again for the past 20 months.

The proper ways to clean are now much more top of mind for the average person, who is likely to keep more stringent cleaning habits in a post-pandemic world as a result. This general awareness will likely cause the demand for commercial cleaning to rise — outside of the traditional flu season.

FLU ISN’T THE ONLY THING TO WORRY ABOUT

Flu season has always been an important time for cleaning because the flu is one of the most well-known and deadly viruses. While many people were already aware of the dangers of flu, the COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated just how many viruses can truly wreak havoc if they are allowed to spread.

Business owners are far more likely to take germs seriously moving forward. They will have employees and customers who are educated on the many risks associated with germs and will demand cleaner workspaces.

According to the CDC, this year’s flu season is expected to be particularly tough on citizens of North America. This is due, in part, to a reduced immunity to the flu within society. Social distancing and masking measures helped to all but wipe out the flu in 2020 but will also have contributed to this reduced immunity. Now, companies will be faced with the task of defending their spaces against both the coronavirus and the flu.

The variety of viruses and bacteria that could lead to illness will likely inspire business owners to pay more attention throughout the year, not just during flu season.

CLEANING IS NO LUXURY

Before the pandemic, cleaning companies were seen largely as a luxury for most businesses. They were considered nice to have if you could fit that cost into the budget. These days, the services provided by cleaning companies are recognized as absolutely essential.

As offices around the world try to lure people back into the workplace, they will have to provide a clean and safe environment. Customers are now likely to inquire about cleaning habits or look for posted signs around restaurants and in stores. This new standard will stretch far beyond flu season and is expected to be a norm for the foreseeable future. It will no longer be acceptable for a business to hire commercial cleaning companies simply on a seasonal basis. Business owners will likely start viewing cleaning companies as a yearly utility cost, much like electricity and the internet.

This new focus on cleanliness and sanitation is obviously good news for the cleaning industry from a financial standpoint, but we must work hard to meet the increased demand. It is extremely important that we train our teams to value consistency and continuously strive to keep high standards.

Commercial cleaning got a chance to play a major role during the pandemic, providing a service that has helped to keep people safe and healthy. Now, as we move forward and look ahead, our industry will likely be called on to continue this increased role every month of the year. /

Afshin Cangarlu is the CEO of green commercial cleaning franchise Stratus Building Solutions.

The new normal – Disinfection for prevention

The global COVID-19 pandemic has shown us the importance of surface disinfection in the prevention of the spread of illness-causing germs on hard, non-porous surfaces.1 Cleaning and disinfection is now top of mind for almost everyone and research shows that more than 50 per cent of consumers think that increased cleaning and disinfecting in businesses and public spaces is here to stay.2

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CLEANING AND DISINFECTING

With this new focus on cleaning and disinfecting, here are some important considerations: • High-touch and high-traffi c areas are the most likely places to fi nd germs.3,4 Make sure to focus on these areas when cleaning and disinfecting. • Check whether you are using a cleaner, disinfectant, or a combination of both.7 Cleaners break down grease and remove organic material from surfaces. Disinfectants have chemicals that kill most germs.5 It is important to use the right product for the job – a cleaner won’t do a disinfectant’s job (and vice versa). The Public Health Agency of Canada now recommends using products that both clean and disinfect when cleaning public spaces.3 • Ensure that you read and follow the instructions for use on your cleaners and disinfectants: If using more than one product, ensure that they are safe to use together.5 Check the label for the contact time for your disinfectant. Don’t forget that the surface needs to be wet for the entire contact time.5,6

HEALTH CANADA-APPROVED DISINFECTANTS HELP PREVENT THE SPREAD OF GERMS

Using the right disinfectants in the right way is an important part of the “new normal”. Products that are approved for disinfecting hard surfaces in Canada have an eight-digit Drug Identifi cation Number (DIN) on their labels. Check for the DIN to confi rm that your disinfectant is approved and safe for use in Canada.3

DEVELOPING AN EFFECTIVE DISINFECTION PROTOCOL IS PART OF THE NEW NORMAL

Ensuring that you are following an enhanced disinfection protocol is vital as we move into the new normal. One way to think about it is to apply the “healthcare clean” concept to non-healthcare settings.7 The “healthcare clean” approach includes: • Cleaning and disinfecting high-touch surfaces (using a

Health Canada-approved disinfectant) • Cleaning and disinfecting non-critical equipment and surfaces between clients/patients/residents • Monitoring and auditing cleaning practices and providing feedback and education where necessary.8

CHOOSING A PARTNER IN DISINFECTION

It’s important to choose the right partner to help meet your disinfection needs; one that can develop a partnership that can go beyond providing products. Look for one who: • Can provide best-in-class disinfectants • Is capable in assisting with the development of protocols for your facility • Is a trusted brand in disinfection among consumers

Developing a partnership with CloroxPro® means much more than just cleaning and disinfection products. Clorox® is consistently ranked as a top, trusted brand, and CloroxPro® can provide education and assistance in setting up cleaning and disinfection protocols, in addition to providing you with effective products and equipment to help meet your facility’s needs.

Learn more about the trusted family of Clorox® products, including the Clorox® TurboPro™ Handheld Electrostatic Sprayer and Clorox® Disinfecting Wipes at cloroxpro.ca/ products/.

1. MacLeod, M. New normal: This is how COVID-19 could change cleaning forever. https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/coronavirus/new-normal-this-is-how-covid-19could-change-cleaning-forever-1.4884040. Accessed May 31, 2021. 2. Lieberman LR, Patnaik M, Bardi G, et al. Future of cleaning: Seeing is believing. Barclays Equity Research. Dec 8, 2020. 3. Government of Canada. Cleaning and disinfecting public spaces during COVID-19. https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/diseasesconditions/cleaning-disinfecting-public-spaces.html. Accessed April 14, 2021. 4. Public Health Ontario. Cleaning and Disinfection for Public Settings. https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/documents/ncov/factsheet-covid-19environmental-cleaning.pdf?la=en. Accessed June 11, 2021. 5. Public Health Ontario COVID-19 Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) environmental services for healthcare settings. https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/ media/event-presentations/pho-webinar-infection-prevention-control-environmental-services.pdf?la=en. Accessed June 11, 2021. 6. Health Canada. Guidance document: Disinfectant Drugs (2018). https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/hc-sc/documents/services/drugs-health-products/ drug-products/applications-submissions/guidance-documents/disinfectants/disinfectant-drugs/disinfectant-drug-eng.pdf Accessed June 1, 2021. 7. Gauthier J. “Hospital clean” versus “construction clean” – is there a difference? Can J Infect Control 2004;19(3)150-2. 8. Public Health Ontario. Best practices for environmental cleaning for prevention and control of infections in all health care settings. 3rd Edition. https://www. publichealthontario.ca/-/media/documents/b/2018/bp-environmental-cleaning.pdf. Accessed July 23, 2021.

© 2021 The Clorox Company