Pandemic Flu and Your Role as a Cleaning Company Owner -- Part 1

Jean Hanson

There is no doubt now that the Swine Flu is now here. How far will it spread and how severe it will become is unknown, but what we do know is that our lifestyle and the choices we make may be changed for some time to come. Every day, new cases are reported. New states and new countries are reporting cases on what seems to be an hourly basis. The Center for Disease Control's website at www.cdc.gov will give you updates on the current status of what is more accurately known at the H1N1. You can also find updates here - www.pandemicflu.gov/. ;  The World Health Organization (WHO) has, as of the writing of this article, raised the alert level to 5, one step away from the highest level of full blown pandemic. This is obviously scary for all of us. Your personal health and that of your friends and family should be first and foremost in your mind. Being prepared is a mindset that will benefit you personally and financially.

So what does this mean for you as a cleaning business owner? Some issues you will be facing will be the same as many business owners face. Employee illness is a huge concern. Some estimates show that up to 50% of the work force may be affected by a pandemic. It is obvious that without workers, you cannot clean your buildings. What can you do as an employer to help your cleaners stay healthy? First of all, if an employee calls in sick with flu-like symptoms, make them stay home. As difficult as any absent employee can make your job, imagine if that employee came in to work sick and infected their co-workers? Now one sick employee could result in an entire crew of sick employees. Then what do you do?

While you should be providing your employees with disposable gloves anyway, now is the time to make sure you have plenty in stock. Remember, if there is panic in the general public, there may be a shortage of gloves. Make sure your inventory is adequate NOW to ensure you have enough to meet your needs for several months. I'm sure you have heard this countless times on the news already, but hand washing is vital. Encourage frequent hand washing of at least 20 seconds with soap and water. Antibacterial hand soaps are not necessary -- just plain old soap and water will do. Instant hand sanitizers really do work, so providing them for your employees is encouraged if water is not readily available for hand washing. Again, we may see shortages, so prepare accordingly. Your employees are exposed to so many potential sources of contamination due to the nature of their work. Protect them in any way you can.

Now we move on to the issue of chemical use and proper disinfecting. No chemical will adequately kill the H1N1 virus unless properly used. The key to killing germs is not only using the right product, but allowing the chemical adequate time to do its job. This is known as “dwell time.”  A spray and quick wipe will not kill germs. In a business where time is money, we are often not following manufacturer's recommendations for dwell time when doing our normal cleaning. As a rule of thumb, most disinfectants require up to several minutes of dwell time on a clean surface. This brings up a good point. If the surface you are treating is not cleaned properly to remove excess soil and grime, you may not truly be disinfecting it. Read labels and follow instructions.

So what products should you be using?  A product which is labeled “sanitizer” reduces germs from surfaces, but does not completely kill them. They will reduce the amount to what is considered a safe level. A “disinfectant” totally kills germs, but again, will work only on a clean surface. Look for products that are registered with the EPA (these products will have an EPA registration number on the label).  While not appropriate for all surfaces, a mixture of one cup of ordinary household bleach to 5 gallons of water is a good disinfectant. Of course when using bleach, you need to take great care in not damaging building materials. A spilled mop bucket of bleach water or a dropped container of bleach can result in having to replace a client's carpeting.

Being concerned and afraid of a pandemic is a natural reaction. However, panicking will accomplish nothing. Planning will accomplish much. There are things you can do to plan ahead. How do you take what you have learned and apply this to how you deal with your customers? Read Part 2 of this article to learn how to approach your customers, meet their concerns, and market what you do to your advantage. How well you make a home or work environment more germ free is not just your job, it is also a public service in times of crisis such as this.

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Jean Hanson helps owners of residential cleaning companies build a more profitable and successful cleaning business through her online community at MyHouseCleaningBiz.com. Read inspirational cleaning success stories at http://www.cleaning-success.com, and sign up for House Cleaning Profit Tips at http://www.MyHouseCleaningBiz.com.