How To Keep Your Elevator Clean And Disinfected During the COVID-19. Get your elevators cleaned and disinfected if you want to keep the COVID-19 virus out of your building.
Because of this epidemic, it’s more important than ever to practice good hygiene and proper cleaning practices to minimize your risk of catching the infection yourself, but also to minimize the risk of infecting others when you do interact with them. Here are some tips to keep your elevator clean and disinfected during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Elevators should be cleaned regularly, but they should also be disinfected regularly. Twice a week is a good idea, especially during the pandemic.
If you don’t know what to use for cleaning and disinfecting elevators, contact your local professional cleaning service and ask for their recommendations. Remember that it’s not just about cleaning and disinfecting your elevator: it’s about taking care of all of your spaces so that people can feel safe in them.
EPA has approved many disinfectants that can be used in elevators. One example is chlorine bleach, which will destroy germs on surfaces if applied with a solution of one tablespoon of bleach per gallon of water.
Be sure to read the label for specific directions. You can also use an EPA-registered disinfectant that contains a quaternary ammonium compound, such as Lysol Power & Fresh or Clorox Toilet Bowl Cleaner with Bleach, for sanitizing hard surfaces and hands. Make sure you wipe off all residue with paper towels after treatment.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that during a public health emergency, you should avoid contact with people who are sick. This includes shaking hands or hugging them. If you can’t avoid contact with someone who is sick, be sure to wash your hands or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer afterward.
Cover your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing, then cover your mouth with a tissue when you throw it in the trash. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.
Do not share food and drink if others have been exposed to COVID-19. Clean contaminated surfaces with soap and water as often as possible. Wear personal protective equipment such as masks, gloves, goggles, and gowns while caring for those infected with COVID-19.
If you happen to be in an elevator during a pandemic, there are many ways for you to protect yourself from infection. If your building has touchless controls, as long as you don’t touch anything inside the elevator, then your risk of infection is very low.
However, if your building doesn’t have touchless controls and all elevators have buttons inside them that riders use then it is best not to use any elevators at all. There are other options such as using a different set of stairs or taking the bus instead but these options could take more time out of your day than going up to one floor.
Building managers should limit the number of people who are allowed into an elevator at one time. This will help prevent overcrowding that can lead to the transmission of respiratory viruses.
Hands are a major source of germs, so avoid touching surfaces with your hands or shaking hands with others inside an elevator. If you do shake hands, make sure you keep them away from your face and nose. If possible, avoid using the handrail in case it has been contaminated with pathogens on someone’s hand or if they’ve used their hand to cover their mouth while coughing or sneezing.
Many people may think that they can just use trash cans in public spaces without any issues. Trash cans can be a breeding ground for germs, bacteria, mold, and more if they are not cleaned out regularly.
The best thing you can do is remove them or cover them up as much as possible during the pandemic. If some cans need to stay, try washing them with a bleach solution (1/4 cup of bleach per gallon of water) once or twice per day. You can also place disinfectant wipes on the handle.
Sanitize high-touch areas such as buttons, rails, floors, and doors. Use a disinfectant or mix water, vinegar, and lemon juice in a spray bottle. Spray down surfaces that are likely to be touched by people.
Make sure to dry off with a paper towel before touching any surfaces again.
Signage should be placed throughout the elevator. Signs should be placed at eye level and are best placed in a central location. Placing signs can help prevent passengers from wiping their hands on surfaces in the elevator, which could lead to cross-contamination of pathogens.
Placing signs will also encourage other occupants to wash their hands as they enter the elevator by reminding them that they must do so if they have touched any surface with their bare hands.
Signs should be made from waterproof materials so that it does not become damaged or smudged by liquids such as water and other substances such as food residue.
There are several cleaning products you can use in your elevator, from bleach to disinfectant sprays. You can find all of these at your local supply store. To keep your elevators clean, you may want to consider adding a checklist detailing which days you’ll be cleaning them each month, as well as what products or tools you’ll need.
Consider replacing doors with heavy-duty versions if possible. If not, then make sure that your current ones have an updated seal around the door frame.
Sanitization of elevators is key to eliminating potential contamination. To keep elevators clean during times of pandemics like we are experiencing with COVID-19, it is important to remember these simple steps: Vacuum panels regularly, wipe down all surfaces with antibacterial wipes daily, and spray down the elevator with an approved disinfectant once per week.
Also, remember that staying home from work when you are sick can help slow contagion rates even further.