People use "cleaning," "sanitizing" and "disinfecting" as if they meant the same thing. They don't, and the difference decides what gets done and how long it takes.
Three different jobs
Cleaning removes soil, dust and grime with detergent and water. It doesn't kill germs, but it takes many of them away, and it has to come first because dirt blocks disinfectants from working. Sanitizing lowers the number of germs on a surface to a level public-health standards consider safe. Disinfecting uses an EPA-registered chemical to kill the germs listed on its label.
Contact time
This is the step people skip. A disinfectant has to stay wet on the surface for the full contact time printed on its label, and wiping it dry early defeats the purpose. Contact time varies by product, so we follow the label for every one we use, down to the dilution and the ventilation.
What we disinfect
High-touch points get most of the attention: door handles, light switches, elevator buttons, handrails, faucets, reception counters and conference tables. Shared phones and keyboards can be added if you want them done. Restrooms get a full pass, covering fixtures, flush handles, dispensers and floors.
When to schedule it
Many offices build disinfecting into the nightly routine. Clinics and schools may run it more often, and some add a midday round through a day porter. We also do one-time disinfection after an illness in the office or an event with a lot of visitors. If your practice or your landlord has an infection-control protocol, tell us and we follow it.
What we don't claim
No cleaning company can make a space germ-free, and we won't say we can. Disinfecting reduces the germs on the surfaces we treat until the next person touches them. Hand washing, good airflow and staying home when you're sick do just as much.
Questions about disinfecting
Are the products safe around staff and children?
We use EPA-registered products and follow the label for ventilation, contact time and re-entry. If anyone in the building has asthma or chemical sensitivities, tell us. We can treat after hours and rinse food-contact surfaces.
Do I need disinfecting if I already have nightly cleaning?
Nightly cleaning handles the dirt. Disinfecting adds a step for the surfaces many hands touch. For a quiet office it may not be necessary every night. For a clinic, a gym or a school, it usually is.