Every cleaning job has its specific challenges for custodial crews, and nursing homes are one of the toughest assignments. Much like young children, seniors in nursing homes have immune systems that are particularly susceptible to illness. To help prevent the spread of germs and sicknesses in any assisted-living facility, removal of contaminated soil needs to be the focus. Here are some precautions to take when cleaning a nursing home.
Avoiding Cross-Contamination
To cleaning science experts, cleaning tools such as mops and rags are known to spread as many germs as they remove. Replacing these outmoded cleaning devices with a no-touch cleaning system built for soil removal is the best thing that anyone in charge of a nursing home can do for the health of its residents.
Rather than having mops spread bacteria from toilets and restroom floors to the living areas in a nursing home, spray-and-vac cleaning ensures the removal of contaminated soils on the spot. Using specially designed towels that fold into different sections to avoid cross-contamination is another smart move. Regular rags allow for too many mistakes, which can spell disaster in a nursing home.
Focusing on Individual Rooms
Hospital cleaning crews often make the mistake of using the same gloves to clean different rooms. Because germ transfer is likely when the same gloves are worn for more than one job, custodial crews should never wear them in the hall or between cleaning duties. To minimize the risk of bacteria transfer, have crews work from the cleanest areas to the dirtiest.
Similar care should be applied to the disposal of cleaning solutions. When custodians reuse mop water or rags in different rooms, the risk of germ transfer skyrockets. Kaivac's system introduces fresh water and cleaning solution into the machine to maintain superior hygiene levels.
Chemical Irritants in Cleaning Supplies
Beyond surface, restroom, and sink cleaning, custodial crews must be careful not to spread germs through the air when making the rounds in a nursing home. The technique of rolling bedsheets away from oneself during cleaning is recommended. When removing trash bags, advise your team to tie the bag without releasing the air from inside. Germs in the bag could be harmful if the air escapes.
Soil removal should not come at the expense of residents' comfort. Because seniors sometimes have trouble breathing, it is important to monitor the amount of chemicals used during the cleaning process. Harsh, abrasive chemicals could prompt allergic reactions and even inhibit breathing. Kaivac's advanced cleaning system has been proven to top any other method while using 90 percent less chemical content. Consider it greener, healthier cleaning in a setting that demands it.
Cleaning a nursing home presents numerous challenges for custodians and administrators alike. With Kaivac's No-Touch Cleaning System at your disposal, your team can remove soil properly at a price any budget can manage.
For more information about Kaivac's cleaning systems, click here.