office space

In the age of the COVID-19 pandemic, “neat and tidy” no longer cuts it for office spaces and workplaces. More than ever, facility managers and building owners are expected to provide employees and tenants with an extremely clean and sanitary work environment. Even in normal times, vacuuming is not enough, as your flooring needs regular commercial carpet cleaning to maintain the appearance and lifespan of your carpeting and to provide a workplace that is free of allergens and other unhealthy containments.

Carpet Cleaning and COVID-19

When compared to other high-touch surfaces such doorknobs, stair rails, desks, chairs, light switches and countertops, carpets are not in a high-risk category for transmission of COVID-19. The virus spreads mainly via respiratory droplets but can also be spread if you touch a contaminated surface and then touch your eyes, nose, or mouth. Daily cleaning and disinfecting of high-touch surfaces is at the top of every checklist.

Normal vacuuming will suffice until your floors are scheduled for their periodic commercial carpet cleaning. The exception being, that if your workspace has someone who tested positive for COVID-19, then that work area, including carpet should be disinfected. While normal commercial carpet cleaning only sanitizes carpet and does not disinfect, the CDC does say that, while difficult, carpets can be disinfected. CDC recommends that a normal commercial carpet cleaning be done first followed by disinfecting.

“For soft (porous) surfaces such as carpeted floors or rugs, clean the surface with detergents or cleaners appropriate for use on these surfaces, according to the textile’s label. After cleaning, disinfect with an appropriate EPA-registered disinfectant on List N: Disinfectants for use against SARS-CoV-2. Soft and porous materials, like carpet, are generally not as easy to disinfect as hard and non-porous surfaces,” the CDC website says.

For the disinfecting step, you can have professionals like Noble Building Services apply the virucide, Virex II 256, to all touch surfaces with the Victory Electrostatic Mister.

Reasons to Not Skip Commercial Carpet Cleaning

Even if your facility is fortunate enough to not have any employees or workers test positive for COVID-19, you need to consider commercial carpet cleaning to reassure everyone that your work environment is complexly healthy and safe.

It is not a good idea to skip or postpone routine commercial carpet cleaning because even carpeting that is vacuumed on a regular basis can still harbor the following:

  • Soil
  • Allergens and pollen
  • Mold and fungi
  • Chemicals/Pesticides
  • Viruses and bacteria
  • Atmospheric Dust
  • Mites

Believe it or not, your carpet probably contains about 200,000 bacteria per square inch, making it 4,000 times dirtier than your toilet seat, according to a Men’s Health article.

Benefits of Commercial Carpet Cleaning

One of the biggest benefits of getting commercial carpet cleaning annually, beside killing all those creepy things lurking in your carpet, is that it will protect your warranty. Almost all carpet manufacturers require professional cleanings every 12 to 18 months to keep the warranty active, according to worldwide carpet experts Carpet One.

Other benefits of regular commercial carpet cleaning include:

  • It improves your carpet appearance. If you let stains remain too long, they can become a permanent mark on your flooring. A dirty-appearing flooring will not reassure your employees of the healthiness of your workspace, and in public spaces it will reflect poorly on your company's image.
  • Commercial carpet cleaning leaves your flooring smelling better. Nobody enjoys a workspace with a musty smell.
  • Improves indoor air quality. Pollutants and dust get trapped in your carpet and then put into your building’s air with foot traffic. These irritants can be harmful to those who suffer from asthma and other breathing conditions.
  • Commercial carpet cleaning prevents formation of mold and gets rid of bugs and insects that can damage carpet fibers.
  • Carpeting will last longer if it is commercially cleaned, protecting your asset and saving your business money.

Houston-based Noble Building Services has been a leader in quality janitorial services since 2004, including commercial carpet cleaning. Contact us today to see how our efficient and cost-effective services can help your business maintain a healthy workspace.