CLEANING & HYGIENE
Regular deep cleans are also important. This involves conducting a thorough clean by moving all furniture away from the walls to make sure no areas are being missed from the cleaning routine. Ideally, deep cleans should be carried out at least twice a year by a professional cleaning company. They will have access to specialist multi-purpose biocidal cleaners which can decontaminate surfaces by killing bacteria, fungi, spores, yeasts and viruses.
AFTER AN OUTBREAK
While a routine cleaning regime can help to keep infection under control, outbreaks can still occur, even in warmer weather. An outbreak of a harmful disease, such as norovirus, needs to be dealt with as quickly as possible to minimise the risk to residents.
Ultra-low volume (ULV) disinfectant fogging is a method of disinfection, carried out by a specialist, which enables the treatment of large areas in a short space of time. It works by generating a mist of disinfectant, which settles on top of, underneath and on the sides of objects, soſt furnishings, furniture and hard-to-reach areas, offering maximum surface area coverage.
Fogging is oſten used to combat infections, as it has a fast-drying time and can significantly reduce the number of pathogens present when compared to manual surface cleaning alone. It can also be used in conjunction with routine and deep cleaning, to ensure all areas are fully sanitised, keeping residents safe.
It’s important that employees don’t become complacent following a visit from a professional cleaning company, as another outbreak could occur if standards are not maintained. Employee training and constant reinforcement of hygiene best practice is essential.
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WHERE TO BEGIN?
With the wide range of different cleaning techniques and services available, it can be difficult to know where to begin. Cleaning a large facility can be time-consuming, and needs to be balanced alongside caring responsibilities. Managers may therefore need to prioritise their efforts on areas that require attention most urgently.
Care home managers may consider having a “Hygiene Healthcheck” consultation, which can analyse the contamination levels present across their premises via a heatmap. This will help to determine an appropriate cleaning regime, with a clear focus on contamination-prone areas. It will also help specify the required frequency of deep cleaning, tailored to your facility, and how specialist disinfection should be implemented to enhance everyday infection control measures.
FINAL THOUGHTS
With winter not too far away now, care home managers should take the time to make sure there is an effective cleaning regime in place, and that all their employees are adhering to personal hygiene best practice. This will ensure their team is fully prepared for when the temperature drops, and the risk of winter illnesses increases.
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