There are situations in which home and business owners face issues involving contamination. This can include circumstances in which a home or business is the site of some sort of biohazard. When this type of condition arises in a home or business, an owner must recognize the importance of obtaining the professional assistance of an experienced, reputable disinfection specialist. There are a number of important facts and factors a home or business owner must understand when it comes to professional disinfection services.
The Differences Between Cleaning, Sanitizing, and Disinfecting
The first fact a person must understand when it comes to professional disinfection services if the important different between cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting. The reality is that a considerable number of people do not understand the difference between cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting. The differences between this trio of endeavors are profound. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention delineate the differences between these three activities:
- Cleaning: Cleaning is the removal of some germs through the use of water and some type of detergent. Some hazardous pathogens are physically eliminated via the cleaning process.
- Sanitizing: Sanitizing involves the use of specialized agents that reduce the number of germs on a surface or object. Sanitizing does not kill all dangerous pathogens, however.
- Disinfecting: Disinfecting kills virtually all germs. Disinfecting eliminates pathogens to such a level that they no longer present a health threat to a human being.
The focus of this presentation is on disinfection, specifically professional disinfection when a biohazardous situation of some sort arises in your home or business.
What Pathogens Are Killed by Disinfection?
Generally speaking, disinfectants are capable of killing different types of germs. With that said, certain types of disinfectants are designed to kill specific germs and yet not others. There are disinfectants capable of killing a broader spectrum of pathogens.
One area in which benefits are realized by hiring a professional disinfection service is that such a company has access to commercial grace disinfecting agents. This type of specialist understands fully what specific disinfectants work on particular types of hazardous pathogens.
Examples of more prevalent bacteria and viruses that a disinfection service is called upon to combat, to eliminate, include:
- Parvovirus
- Norovirus
- Rhinovirus
- Influenza
- H1N1
- Swine flu
- Staph
- Scabies
- Tuberculosis
- E. Coli
- Salmonella
- Listeria
- MRSA
- C. Diff
This truly is a proverbial “short list” of the germs that can be effectively killed through the use of an appropriate disinfectant.
The Disinfection Process and Comprehensive Biohazard Remediation
More often than not, when a professional is called in to assist with the thorough disinfection of a home, business, or other location, killing germs is part of a larger, comprehensive biohazard remediation effort. The process begins with begins with cleaning. In many cases there will be a need for cleaning before disinfection can occur. For example, if some type of incident has occurred like a sewage backup or the presence of rodent droppings, hazardous biological material needs to be eliminated prior to initiating the actual disinfection process.
Once cleaning and disinfecting is done, a comprehensive process may also include deodorization. There are a myriad of situations in which something occurs in a home, business, or other location that involves some type of biohazard and germs that necessitates disinfection and also the elimination of foul odors.
Important Industry Specific Disinfection Services
In addition to residential disinfection and business disinfection more generally, there are some specific industries in which disinfection services more frequently provides professional assistance. These include:
- Medical and healthcare
- Daycare and preschool
- Other schools and educational centers
- Gym and fitness centers
- Hotels and other lodging properties
- Transportation (planes, busses, etc.)
Safe, Approved Disinfecting Agents
Professional disinfection services utilize safe, approved disinfecting agents. These are agents that have received clearance by such agencies as the EPA. A primary objective is to ensure that the elimination of dangerous germs is accomplished in a fully safe manner. Professional disinfection services will not eliminate one type of threat and expose a home or business owner to another type of danger in the process.
Protecting Against Future Germ Growth
A company providing professional disinfection services is also able to take advantage of powerful disinfecting agents that not only eliminate existing germs but provide protection against a recurrence of a problem in the more immediate future. There are commercially available disinfectants accessible to companies providing disinfection services that can protect against a recurrence of a contamination issue for upwards to 90 days. If dealing with a virulent flu virus, this type of protection would get a home or business owner through the season.
Top of the Line Technology
Finally, when considering the importance and benefits of hiring a professional that provides disinfection services, these specialists utilize top of the line technology to completely eliminate harmful viruses and bacteria from a home, business, or other location. This includes sprayer technology that can fully disinfect a room or other contaminated area by providing 100 coverage of all surfaces and objects.