According to a new survey, after the ‘Stay Home, Stay Healthy’ period is lifted, about two-thirds of Seattleites say they’re willing to keep up social distancing for as long as required. Most city residents don’t envision anything resembling normal for a long time. Many respondents said they want one of two things to happen before distancing can be put to rest: a remarkable drop in COVID-19 cases or extensive antibody testing.

Governor Jay Inslee rolled out four phases to Washington’s re-opening plan, which are expected to last until at least July. Each phase will last at least three weeks before moving onto the next phase. Currently, we’re in the phase that initial stay-at-home with some modifications outlined at the end of April. This would include allowing low-risk construction, fishing, hunting, and park access. By mid-May, retail curbside pickup, auto sales, and car washes could resume with restrictions. Most aspects of car sales will remain virtual, including meeting with a salesperson to car features discussion and financing. Drive-in spiritual ministrations would be allowed given that there would be one car per household. Car windows must stay rolled up, and people aren’t allowed to get out of their cars. Churches aren't allowed to provide any materials, food, or beverages. Large group assembly is still prohibited, and all travel should be essential.

Latest Research Findings on COVID-19

A recent study by the National Institutes of Health reveals the virus that causes COVID-19 is stable for hours to days in aerosols and on surfaces. The virus was detectable in milk packaging containers, elevator buttons, stainless steel in 2 to 3 days. Survived on mugs, drinking glasses, dishes for up to 5 days, and up to 2 to 8 hours in soda cans, and water bottles. This study suggests that transmission of the new virus could happen via air and people touching contaminated surfaces and objects. It’s imperative that as more businesses open to the public, “high-touch” surfaces must be cleaned and disinfected thoroughly.

Dirtiest Spots in Your Office

Studies about the COVID-19 show that its lifespan on inanimate objects and surfaces, it is imperative for facilities managers to identify high touch areas in their premises that are prone to carry the virus and pass on to people who come in contact by touching them. Some of the most frequently touched surfaces in the office are the following:

• Elevator Buttons

How many people do you think press the buttons to call the elevator daily? The answer is a lot! If you think about it, almost everyone who works in the building, that's how many. You might want to try your elbow to get to your floor, you could also use a tissue paper to push the button then make sure to give your hands a quick wash with alcohol-based sanitizer or why not take the stairs.

• Door Handles

Everybody uses them to get around the office. The more people that do, the substantial variety of germs that can pass from one person another. It's essential that you wash your hands regularly with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds to help stop the spread. It's very helpful to have cleaning staff in the office to frequently wipe down and sanitize the door handles and knobs.

• Desktop

It's got remarkably more germs, about 400 times more, than a toilet seat. That's about 20,000 bacteria, viruses, and fungi per square inch. As you've probably observed, these disease-causing germs travel on your hands, moving to and from things as you touch them. Ultimately, proper handwashing is often the key to stopping the spread of contamination.

• Computer Mouse

Your hand is on the computer mouse for a number of hours a day. This is indeed packed with dead skin cells, food particles, and dust. If you don’t keep your mouse and your hands clean, even bacteria that only survives for a few hours on hard surfaces will keep getting reapplied every day whenever you use it.

• Keyboard

You probably eat over it, spill drinks on it, and sneeze on it. And you never clean it. Even after that time, you had to check an important email in the middle of a puff pastry. Germs love the sticky fingerprints and crumbs you left on the keyboard. If you share a keyboard with a coworker, it could be even worse. Each person adds their own grime, oil, and snack tidbits.

• Telephone

The office phone maybe even worse than your desktop. Most folks only clean them when they're sticky. It's a good idea to stock up on disinfecting wipes in your desk drawer. Make it a habit to wipe the phone down regularly, especially if your office mates use it

• Water Dispenser

Water dispensers in the office aren't "safer" than regular tap water. Germs can get on bottles during delivery and transport. Your co-workers touch the cooler to get their water, several times a day. To avoid infection, why not bring your own water from home or buy it in bottles.

• Coffee Maker

Bacteria love to grow in the moist, dark insides of these machines. Just like most things that are subject to daily use, these coffee makers can be full of it if they aren't properly cleaned. Hot water isn't sufficient to sanitize the machine, harmful germs can build up to a point that it can actually make you sick.

• Coffee Mugs

Coffee mugs may seem safe to share, especially when they're washed and dried. The issue probably isn't the cups themselves, or the people who use them. It likely comes from when you try to clean them with less than pristine cleaning supplies used in the kitchen area.

• Kitchen Sponge

It's damp and absorbent, ideal if you want to collect and tend germs. Most new sponges will have bacteria build-up within 3 weeks. When you use this germy sponge, you transfer bacteria to other parts of the office. It’s best to replace the kitchen sponge biweekly.

• Microwave and Fridge Handles

Plenty of people put their lunch in the fridge and heat them up using the microwave. Each has to touch the door several times to open and close it, putting food in and taking it out. Those handles are some of the dirtiest spots in an office. Include it to your list of places to hit with a sanitizing wipe now and then.

• Restrooms

When multiple people share a bathroom facility, the environment can quickly lose their sparkling shine and clean smell. Apart from holding a paper towel in your hand when you turn the water on and off, as well as when you push the handle to flush the toilet. Everyone should close the lid to prevent bacteria from spraying out and proper hand washing should be observed.

Guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to keep our workplace hygienic and free from disease-causing germs are crucial for businesses to follow. Regularly cleaning and disinfecting is the key to ultimately eradicate the chain of transmission of COVID-19 and to protect your employees, patrons, and the public in general.

The Two-step Cleaning Process

Clean first before you disinfect! Germs can conceal underneath dirt and other material on surfaces where they are not impacted by the disinfectant. Dirt and organic material can also decrease the germ-killing ability of some disinfectants. Our team implements a two-step cleaning process to stop the spread of the virus and ensure protection from infection.

1. Cleaning:  Cleaning using soap solutions removes dirt, stains, grease, and germs on surfaces. Even though cleaning physically eliminates germs from surfaces, it may not necessarily kill them. They may tend to transfer to other surfaces. 
   
   

2. Disinfecting:  Disinfecting using approved disinfectants will kill germs inhabiting frequently touched surfaces and objects. It does not remove germs from surfaces but destroys them to further reduce the risk of infection.

Experience the convenience of hiring a professional cleaning service with Maria’s Green Cleaning today! Call us at (206) 973-3730 and know more why we have plenty of clients in Seattle, Bellevue, and Lynwood. Our friendly customer service team would be able to provide a quote that would best suit your needs. We are always ready to lend you some helping hands for any cleaning project!