In the era of the COVID-19 pandemic, indoor air quality (IAQ) and healthy buildings have become more important than ever. We now understand that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is airborne and highly infectious in indoor spaces. Additionally, allergens, mold, and other pollutants can affect the air quality in your facility and, by extension, the health of your occupants. As a facility manager, the cleanliness of your building’s surfaces and the cleanliness of the air go hand-in-hand. Commercial carpet cleaning, upholstery cleaning, and regular in-house maintenance all contribute to improving IAQ in your facility. Here are five tips to maintain healthier buildings.
1 | Maintain your HVAC system
Pollutants like dust, pollen, and mold spores can travel through your HVAC system, constantly redistributing into the air. Invest in high quality air filters and change them regularly to filter out pollutants as the air travels through the HVAC system. These filters are given a MERV rating based on their efficiency at trapping tiny particles. The higher the MERV rating, the more effective the filter. Periodic professional duct cleaning also helps to remove contaminants that accumulate on the inner surfaces of your HVAC system.
2 | Damp-dust surfaces
Pollutants in the air eventually settle on surfaces in your facility. Dust and dust mites are potent allergens that accumulate faster the more people occupy the facility. Dry dusting kicks the dust back into the air, so it’s important to damp dust or use a cloth designed to trap the dust in order to remove it completely from the environment. Regular damp-dusting will minimize pollutants and allergens that contaminate indoor air.
3 | Use a HEPA filtration vacuum
Vacuuming with a low-quality vacuum will simply suck pollutants and bacteria out of the carpet and redistribute them into the air, where they eventually settle again on the carpet in a never-ending cycle. Always use a vacuum that has earned a Gold Level Certification from the Carpet and Rug Institute and is equipped with HEPA filtration. HEPA filters trap 99.97% of all particles down to .3 micrometers in diameter, including dust mite feces, dead skin, pollen, mold spores, and bacteria.
4 | Clean commercial carpet
Regular, high-quality vacuuming is the first step to keeping carpet clean and healthy, but periodic professional maintenance is necessary as well. Over time, dust, allergens, and other pollutants become embedded in carpet fibers, and untreated spills may begin to grow mold in the carpet backing. Professional commercial carpet cleaning methods that use high-pressure equipment, hot water, cleaning solutions, and agitation will address these issues and remove accumulated contaminants from your facility’s floors.
5 | Clean upholstery and textiles
Like commercial carpet, textiles such as upholstered furniture, area rugs, and curtains also accumulate dust and allergens. Vacuum these surfaces regularly with a HEPA filtration vacuum and schedule periodic professional cleanings to maintain their appearance and improve IAQ in your facility.
Contact us
During the COVID-19 pandemic, facility cleanliness and indoor air quality demands have reached new heights, but we’re here to help you maintain a healthy building. Reliable Floor Care offers professional sanitizing services using hospital-grade disinfectant applied with an electrostatic sprayer to eliminate 99.99% of germs and bacteria on all surfaces in your facility. Our available services include carpet and upholstery sanitation, high touch-point cleaning, and various scheduling options to suit your needs. Contact Reliable Floor Care today for more information on our professional sanitizing services, as well as our commercial carpet cleaning, upholstery cleaning, and commercial rug cleaning services.