How Frequently Should I Disinfect Surfaces for COVID?

To answer this question, we first need to know a little about how the virus that causes COVID functions on surfaces. We know the coronavirus spreads through the air, but it can also land on surfaces like tabletops and door handles. It can survive on these surfaces for up to 17 days, so it’s possible for people to become infected if they touch those surfaces and then touch their nose, mouth, or eyes. While most cases show that the risk of infection from surfaces is low, it’s still necessary to clean high-touch surfaces with particular attention and care. High-touch surfaces include places like doorknobs and handles, stair railings, sinks and faucets, light switches, countertops, tables, telephones, and computer keyboards. These things should be cleaned multiple times a day to reduce the risk of virus transfer.

How Frequently Should I Disinfect Surfaces for COVID

According to the CDC, the most reliable way to prevent infection from surfaces is to regularly wash hands with soap and water or use a hand sanitizer. Cleaning and disinfecting surfaces can help reduce the risk. The CDC offers guidelines on when to clean and when to disinfect. In general, if no one who has tested positive for COVID-19 has been in the space, cleaning once a day is enough to remove viruses that may be present on surfaces. Here are some other considerations when determining how frequently you should clean and disinfect surfaces.

When to Clean and When to Disinfect

You may want to clean more frequently, such as several times a day, or clean and disinfect an area if it is a shared space with high traffic – large numbers of people use or pass through the area. If the shared space is poorly ventilated, or does not provide access to hand washing or sanitizing, you should clean more often than just once a day. And finally, if the space is occupied by people who have an increased risk of severe illness from COVID, consider cleaning and disinfecting, or cleaning more often.

Further, if someone who has been sick with COVID or tested positive has been in the building within the last 24 hours, you should clean and disinfect it.

Types of Surfaces

If an infected person has had contact with your space, it’s best to enlist the services of an industry professional like Enviro Safe to disinfect after exposure. Regular janitorial staff may not be properly trained in infectious disease clean-up, and that can be a liability for your business. But if you do have to handle the situation in-house, here are some steps to follow in approaching different types of surfaces.

Consider the type of surface you are cleaning and how often it is touched. Is it a high-touch surface like a tabletop or doorknob? The more people who touch a surface, the higher the risk of contamination. These surfaces should take priority in being cleaned at least once a day. You may elect to clean more often or follow cleaning with a disinfecting regimen if any of the above conditions (poor ventilation, no access to handwashing supplies, high-risk population) are met in your space. Note that many cleaning products also contain disinfectants. If you choose to use one of these, make sure it is on the EPA’s list of approved products.

1. Soft surfaces – carpet, rugs, curtains

Clean these types of upholstery fabrics with soap or detergent and water. Launder them if possible on the warmest water setting. If you need to disinfect, use a product from the EPA list approved for soft surfaces. Vacuum carpets as usual.

2. Laundry – clothing, towels, linens

One thing to note here is that according to the CDC, it is safe to wash laundry from a sick person with the laundry of other well people. Be sure to use the warmest appropriate water setting for the items and dry them thoroughly. Wear gloves and a mask if handling items that have been in contact with a sick person.

3. Electronics – tablets, touch screens, keyboards

Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning the device, but as to how frequently you should disinfect these surfaces, again follow the CDC guidelines of once a day for COVID. You can put a wipeable plastic cover on high-touch electronic surfaces, which makes cleaning and disinfecting easier.

4. Outdoor surface areas

If your facility includes an outdoor area that people tend to gather or use, you can follow similar practices in cleaning surfaces such as benches, railings, play structures, etc. These high-touch surfaces made of plastic or metal should be cleaned regularly (at least once per day). Wooden surfaces like benches or picnic tables do not need to be disinfected; in fact, it’s not recommended.

How Frequently Should I Disinfect Surfaces for COVID

How frequently you should clean and disinfect surfaces for COVID depends on several factors, but in general, aim to clean once a day. If your building or space hosts an at-risk population or has some deficiencies in the ventilation or personal hygiene supplies, consider cleaning multiple times a day to reduce the risk of contamination from high-touch surfaces. While the risk of catching COVID from touching a surface is low, the fact that the virus can survive on surfaces for a few weeks still makes it necessary to regularly clean and in some cases follow up with a disinfectant. Consistent handwashing is still your main ally in protecting yourself from the virus, whether via surfaces or through the air.