CHTMAG.COM INFECTIONS FEATURE TILES AND SHOWER CURTAINS Keep tiles and grout in good condition and clean them often. Hygienically clean or launder the shower curtain frequently, depending on how often it’s used. KITCHEN Ensure food preparation surfaces are hygienically clean. Use separate chopping boards for meat (including fish and poultry) and vegetables. Wash and dry your hands after handling high-risk foods such as raw meat. Hygienically clean surfaces immediately after use. FLOORS Clean floors regularly to remove visible dirt with warm water and detergent. If soiled with vomit, urine or faeces, the floor should be cleaned using a disposable cloth and warm water, then disinfected. Make sure the floor is dry before allowing children on it. CARPET AND SOFT FURNISHINGS Periodically clean carpets and soft furnishings using a suitable product. Carpets and furnishings can be hygienically cleaned by steam cleaning. Curtains can be cleaned by laundering or disinfected by steam cleaning. PETS AND OTHER ANIMALS Keep pet food separate from human food. Always wash your hands after touching animals, their food, toys, cages and litter trays. Dishes, utensils and tin openers used for pet food should be stored separately. JUNE 2016 19 CLEANING HYGIENE TODAY So first of all, what is an infection? Well, according to medicinenet.com it’s: “The invasion and multiplication of microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites that are not normally present within the body. An infection may cause no symptoms and be subclinical, or it may cause symptoms and be clinically apparent. An infection may remain localised, or it may spread through the blood or lymphatic vessels to become systemic (bodywide). Microorganisms that live naturally in the body are not considered infections. For example, bacteria that normally live within the mouth and intestine are not infections.” Simple enough? If not the Simple English Wikipedia describes them as: “When another organism gets into a person’s body and causes harm.” They are usually caught through physical contact with another human being, or touching something they have just touched. In a world where people can travel anywhere in the world in a matter of hours, where hundreds of people cluster aboard trains like sardines and where some office buildings house thousands of people it is hardly surprising infections are flourishing. There isn’t an awful lot cleaning firms can do about airborne viruses but fulsome cleaning routines can certainly make a dent in the presence of microorganisms in a workplace, though it is impossible to eradicate them entirely. In fact, just killing them may not even be enough, experts advocate the removal of germs otherwise the remains will just be used as food by the next invading army. Still, prevention remains much easier (and much more practical) than cure. In fact the steps toward prevention are much simpler than you might imagine. The NHS gives this advice: CLOTHS AND SPONGES Use disposable cloths or paper towels when possible. Re-usable cloths should be disinfected after each use. Wash brushes in a dishwasher regularly or clean with detergent and warm water after each use. MOPS AND BUCKETS Use two buckets for mopping – one for detergent and the other for rinsing. Mops and buckets should be cleaned, disinfected and dried after each use. LAVATORIES Keep the U-bend and lavatory bowl clean by flushing after each use. Use a lavatory cleaner and brush every few days. Limescale should be regularly removed using a descaling product. Keep the lavatory seat, handle and rim clean by using a disinfectant. BATHS AND SINKS Hygienically clean baths and sinks frequently. Use disinfectant if they’ve been used by someone who is ill. SHOWERS Clean shower trays as above for baths and sinks. If a shower hasn’t been used for a long period, let it run with hot water before using it. Still, prevention remains much easier (and much more practical) than cure”
Cleaning & Hygiene Today June 2016
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