![multicultural family and friends enjoying a holiday meal](png/family%20during%20the%20holidays%20covid190f.png?itok=8gCQgylp)
![multicultural family and friends enjoying a holiday meal](png/family%20during%20the%20holidays%20covid190f.png?itok=8gCQgylp)
News of approved Covid-19 vaccines being delivered to the American people has breathed new life into our hope that we will soon return to normal. As we approach the Christmas and New Year holiday many Americans are contemplating small gatherings with their loved ones to celebrate having come so far in under one year. The best way to ensure your family gatherings are safe is to have your holiday gatherings virtually. But, if you have to travel, and visit family and friends for the holiday – we recommend following some basic public health safety precautions. Recently our certified PROS at COIT shared with our customers the best ways to prepare for their family and friends that might gather during this holiday season.
What is the difference: Cleaning, Sanitizing, and Disinfecting
Understanding the difference in cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting is important to keeping your guest safe when they visit your home. Most important to understand is that cleaning does not kill bacteria, viruses, or fungi more commonly referred to as “germs”. Instead cleaning is done to remove “germs” usually by combining water, a cleaning product, and scrubbing. Though cleaning does not kill ‘germs’ it is still a vital step in the process as removal of dirt and debris can make way for products and methods that do kill ‘germs’ to be more efficacious.
Disinfecting and sanitizing methods on the other hand refer to products that work by killing germs. These processes do not necessarily clean dirty surfaces or remove germs, but by killing germs on a surface after cleaning, it can further lower the risk of spreading infection. Sanitizers reduce bacteria on a surface by at least 99.9%. Conversely disinfectants kill a wider range of microorganisms including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and mold. These methods work great on all surfaces like natural stone including marble, granite, and limestone; upholstery, fabrics, and drapes; and carpets and area rugs on hard non-porous surfaces like stainless steel and the components of your HVAC system.
Prepping for Guest: Preventative Cleaning
Infection protection is for everyone! It is important to clean, sanitize, and disinfect thoroughly before, after, and even during your gathering. You will want to focus your attention on high touch surfaces. For ex.
These surfaces are touched frequently during a visit and should be disinfected frequently. Also consider leaving disinfectant wipes or spray (ex. Clorox disinfectant wipes, Lysol disinfectant spray) near these high touch surfaces so guest can aide in the efforts. Other, more obscure surfaces and items should also be cleaned, sanitized, and disinfected but perhaps less frequently. Those include:
You may also want to consider using professionals like the PROS at COIT that can help set a baseline zero and establish a maintenance program. Professionals can also use specialty tools like foggers and electrostatic sprayers that coat many hard to reach areas and ensure that the cleaning, sanitization, and disinfection were all thorough.
Best Practices when hiring a professional team:
HVAC and Indoor Air Quality
Having a properly cleaned and maintained HVAC System can help prevent the spread of Covid-19. A properly functioning HVAC system will provide the necessary recycles that you need in your home or business to provide clean fresh air and to ensure that the indoor air quality is at an acceptable level. Other ways to increase fresh air circulation in your home during the holidays include:
In addition to increasing air flow and ventilation you may also consider upgrading your HVAC filtration to a MERV 12 or better to capture more particulates in the air, or purchasing a free standing HEPA filtration device, which according to MD Anderson cancer center, if a HEPA system is run over a period of time, it can take out a big chunk of viruses — somewhere in the high ninetieth percentile (99.94 to 99.97%). And long enough exposure to the UV light in an air purifying device can disable some viruses, including COVID-19.
HVAC Maintenance is hard to do on your own. Having a professional service your HVAC system gives you the peace of mind to know that your system is operating at peak performance and keeping the air in your home clean and safe.
Other considerations
Local governments and officials have signaled that If you are hosting a holiday event that includes people outside your household, consider:
However you choose to celebrate this holiday season the PROs at COIT want to help you and your family stay healthy. Call us today for to schedule a clean or HVAC maintenance today.