Being a business owner is stressful. Nowadays, business owners have a whole new slew of problems to deal with stemming from COVID. Not only do you have to worry about day to day operations to keep your business afloat, now you have to contend with a new priority: ensuring the safety of your customers and staff.
So, how do you go about running your business in the safest possible way with the least amount of complications? There are complicated legal guidelines on cleaning procedures and social distance requirements. While having written requirements from a legal standpoint can be helpful, oftentimes business owners are overwhelmed with complexities surrounding which requirements are applicable or implementing these new cleaning procedures.
Many business owners and managers are turning to professionals to assist with COVID cleaning. For the ones who have done this already or are considering hiring a professional, there are a few things to consider. This includes vetting companies to make sure you do not get scammed by a company that claims they can clean for COVID. So, what should you keep in mind?
How do you know the service is legitimate? – The CDC has a list of approved COVID cleaning products; make sure that the company you hire is aware of and uses the recommended products. Additional information can be found on their website about how, where, and when to clean. Any credible cleaning company should be well versed in this department. Anytime you do business with a cleaning company, you should do your research, check out reviews, and credible sites such as the Better Business Bureau website.
What kind of cleaning is going to make an impact? – The amount of cleaning that should be done can be determined by the area and level of use and foot traffic. Do you run a business with a lot of people in and out all day? If so, then cleaning the door handles and other common areas will be important. For example, restaurants have taken to disposable menus, cleaning booths and tables with disinfectant after a table leaves, and other measures to ensure a sanitized environment.
How often should your business be cleaned? – Your business should have basic cleaning done daily. This can be conducted by employees who have been trained on safe cleaning measures. These safety measures should include a list of surfaces, products to use, and safe cleaning practices (mask, gloves, etc.) In addition to the standard cleaning procedures your employees already perform, you can bring in professionals on a daily or weekly basis for a deeper clean. Most importantly, if your company has been exposed to someone with a confirmed case of the coronavirus you should have a proper, deep, disinfecting cleaning done immediately.
Now knowing a few of the basics, hopefully management can feel confident in selecting a cleaning service. This is important for many reasons but mainly to ensure the safety of staff and customers alike. When a business maintains a safe environment for everyone involved, it helps your company but it helps the community as well. No one wants to own the business known for causing a COVID outbreak!