What is deep cleaning?

Deep Cleaning Contractors: What’s the Fuss?

Following the rise of Covid-19, hygiene has become a top priority for businesses all over Australia. Nation-wide; shopping centres, venues and schools have been shut down for ‘deep cleaning’ in response to contamination. This phrase has been spread across our news feeds and become a new norm in Covid-19 vocabulary.

With many turning to deep cleaning contractors, it’s normal to be wondering, what exactly is deep cleaning?

Sydney restaurant Thai Rock – linked to a cluster of 85 cases – recently posted a video of the professional cleaning process. It displayed a cleaner dressed in a white hazmat suit, spraying mist with a large disinfectant sprayer. This is the image we’ve come to know as ‘deep cleaning,’ but it’s not the full picture.

Deep cleaning explained

What many people are unaware of, is that ‘deep cleaning’ is a general term being used to describe the process of cleaning and disinfection. There is no set standard of what constitutes a ‘deep clean,’ however, it is commonly accepted that the process is incredibly thorough.

Viruses such as Covid-19, are spread in multiple ways, including contact, droplets and airborne transmission. They are also capable of sticking to surfaces, where they can survive for hours, and sometimes even days. Deep cleaning is concerned with covering all bases – from carpets to blinds, and everything in between we normally forget about.

What we know as a ‘deep clean’ involves two major processes:

1. Cleaning - physically removing germs, dirt and organic matter from surfaces
2. Disinfecting - using chemicals to kill germs on surfaces

At a basic level, deep cleaning involves physically cleaning surfaces using detergent and a household or hospital-grade bleach solution. Deep cleaning contractors go a step further, and use additional methods such as steam cleaning, fogging, swab-checks and residual coating. 

• Steam cleaning: Steam cleaners release a hot vapour that can penetrate deeper into surfaces, and reach dirt, bacteria, mould and viruses.
• Fogging: Disinfectant fogging is a chemical application method. It involves spraying fine droplets of disinfectant in a fog and is used to access hard to reach places.
• Swab-checks: Some commercial cleaning services use swab-check to ensure that the cleaning process has been effective. A swab will be taken of multiple surfaces, and then sent to a lab to ensure the virus is no longer present. 
• Residual Coating: Residual coating is an agent often applied to high touch surfaces, post-cleaning. It provides an extra barrier of safety, with some agents claiming to protect against up to 200 touches.

Do I need deep cleaning?

Deep cleaning should not be limited to locations with positive cases of Covid-19. While the hazmat suits and spray guns may seem like a lot for regular routine; the main principles of deep cleaning are key to good hygiene.

The process of cleaning and disinfecting is incredibly important for maintaining a clean environment. Therapists should look towards implementing a 2-step or 2-in-1 cleaning process, particularly for high touch surfaces such as door handles, tabletops and the therapy bed.

For more information on covid-19 cleaning, read our blog on achieving a covid-safe clean.

REFERENCES

1. https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/covid-19-information-workplaces/cleaning-prevent-spread-covid-19
2. https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/covid-19-information-workplaces/industry-information/general-industry-information/cleaning
3. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-07-30/nsw-coronavirus-cleaning-explainer/12503582
4. https://www.smh.com.au/national/covid-busters-just-how-deep-is-a-deep-clean-20200807-p55jgc.html’