Staying Safe on Campus During COVID-19
In the wake of the pandemic, colleges and universities are tasked with keeping students, faculty and staff safe. Familiar safety measures include reducing population density, promoting social distancing and requiring everyone to wear masks in public. Institutions can also improve indoor ventilation systems, conduct frequent COVID-19 testing and isolate infected individuals to further ensure a safe environment.
So what can you, the student, do to ensure the safety of yourself and those around you? You can start by keeping your personal environment – your dorm room – clean and disinfected.
Universities and colleges go to great lengths to ensure students are provided with a clean and disinfected dorm room. We should know – we’ve been hired to clean dormitories throughout upstate New York. However, once we are finished, it is up to the student to maintain a high level of cleanliness.
As if the stress of successfully pursuing a college education wasn’t enough ... now students have to contend with a pandemic! (And don’t get us started on messy roommates!) We understand the challenge, and want to provide you with some tips to keep your room safe and clean.
Cleaning vs. Disinfecting
Let’s start at the very beginning: Knowing the difference between cleaning and disinfecting. When you clean, you are removing contaminants from a surface. Disinfecting then kills remaining germs on a surface.
To clean surfaces, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends using soap and water. If you choose to use other cleaning methods, we offer tips for environmentally friendly products. When using manufactured cleaning supplies, be sure to read the product’s instructions for use first. You may be surprised by what you read.
Disinfecting products typically require leaving the product on a surface for several minutes to work best. By cleaning the surface first, you reduce the number of germs, dirt and impurities. The disinfectant then kills remaining germs. Both steps ensure the surface is rid of any germs that can cause illnesses.
Tips for Cleaning and Disinfecting
Hopefully the school has hired a cleaning company to disinfect your dorm prior to moving in. That said, it’s better to be safe than sorry, so you should clean and disinfect it, too. First and foremost, make sure you have all the needed supplies ready and available. This includes:
Gloves
Masks
Sponges
Broom/Mop
Microfiber clothes
Dusting clothes
Paper towels
Cleaning products (i.e. soap, disinfectant wipes/spray, etc.)
Open all windows so that your space is well ventilated and wear your mask and gloves while cleaning and disinfecting. Start from top to bottom, left to right. This will ensure that any germs or dirt that falls from higher levels will get cleaned. Make sure to move and clean behind and under any furniture in your dorm room. Do not forget to get inside any closets or furniture with doors.
Creating a schedule to repeat these tasks on a regular basis will help maintain a safe and healthy dorm environment.
Learn Your School’s Guidelines
Even though you perform these cleaning and disinfecting practices, not all individuals will. That is why proper self-hygiene is just as important. Maintain proper social distancing, wear your mask and wash your hands regularly, especially when returning from common areas. It’s also important to learn your school’s COVID-19 policies and procedures. If you have a roommate, make sure they are aware of them, too. You must rely on the people around you to stay healthy.
Cleantec aims to offer helpful information to our clients and friends. We currently serve all of New York, including the Syracuse, Ithaca, Manhattan, Rochester, Utica, and Buffalo regions. We also have operations in Palo Alto, CA; Denver, CO; Muscle Shoals, AL; Tampa, FL; and Sanford, NC. Give our sales professionals a call at (877) 469-0543 for a free consultation and quote regarding janitorial services. Learn how we can help your business achieve your cleaning needs.
Cleantec ensures all staff members are thoroughly vetted conducting background checks and drug testing. In addition to providing professional cleaning services, we are also a supplier of specialized cleaning products and green chemicals. Please call (315) 463-5353 to place an order.
