COVID-19 Knowledge & Resource Center
As America reopens for business, be sure to make Mission Cleaning Supplies your one-stop-shop for the industry expertise, critical supplies, and hands-on support you need to properly clean and disinfect against the spread of infectious diseases.
Mission Cleaning Supplies wants to be your primary resource to guide you through the “new normal” of cleaning. We are here to serve the needs of front-line organizations protecting the health and safety of employees, customers, and communities.
Recommended Cleaning Protocols for Residential & Commercial Facilities
General Cleaning and Disinfectant Application Guidelines
- Remove dry soils (dust) from surfaces using a microfiber cloth. All high-touch surfaces must be cleaned before disinfectant application takes place. Dust, debris, and soils will deactivate disinfectants.
- Once dry soils and dust are removed, the surface must be thoroughly cleaned to remove any dirt, residues, caked-on food/spills, etc. Use a cleaning product approved for use on the surface being cleaned.
- Once the surface has been cleaned, disinfectant can be applied. We recommend that you use disinfectants found on the EPA’s List N of Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2. Follow instructions on the label for proper application procedures, PPE requirements, and dwell time.
What is a High-Touch Surface?
High-touch surfaces are surfaces that are handled frequently throughout the day, and by numerous people. These areas include doorknobs, light switches, phones, sink faucets, armchairs, fridge handles, etc. These surfaces can become contaminated by direct contact with your hands or through indirect contact with other contaminated objects, such as inadequately cleaned rags and sponges or improperly washed hands. Pathogens can stay on surfaces if they are not properly removed.
For example, hepatitis A and Rotavirus can survive up to one month on hard, non-porous surfaces, while noroviruses can survive up to 42 days on the same type of surfaces. With SARS-CoV-2, high-touch surfaces have been shown to play a role in the collection of the virus both directly (contaminated hands to the surface) and indirectly (contamination from the surface, then subsequent hand-to T-zone of eyes, nose and mouth).
Disinfection vs. Sanitization
When decontaminating surfaces, it is important to understand there are differences between disinfectants and sanitizers.
Disinfectants are used on hard inanimate surfaces and objects in order to destroy or irreversibly inactivate infectious fungi, bacteria, and viruses that are listed on the label.
Sanitizers are used to reduce, but not necessarily eliminate, bacteria and fungi from an inanimate surface to levels considered acceptable as determined by public health codes and regulations. Generally, sanitizers are used on food-contact surfaces and disinfectants on all other hard surfaces. Fabric and carpet can only be sanitized.
Government Links to Monitor
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory illness that can spread from person to person. The virus that causes COVID-19 is a novel coronavirus that was first identified during an investigation into an outbreak in Wuhan, China. For the latest updates, please see official communications from the following sources:
