Bock’s Blog

“Health is the state of complete physical, mental and social well being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”-

Protecting the Built Environment: Cleaning for Health

By Dr. Michael A. Berry, Ph.D.

Yes there is a COVID-19 pandemic that can’t be ignored and Bock’s Steam Star is staying abreast of the latest information to protect our clients and staff. Deep cleaning will play a role in this and our staff is taking the following steps: 

– Practice social distancing in your home or office, as appropriate

– Temperature checks daily before each shift.

– Washing hands regularly following CDC recommendations with use of sanitizers when soap and water are not available.

– Staying home if they are not feeling well.

– Wearing masks, medical gloves and shoe covers at each job site.

– Sanitizing equipment between each job. (We only do preventative deep cleanings not active COVID jobs or bio clean-up type work ever. So don’t worry our equipment is clean)

 What should you understand and what are your options:

1. Go to top sources like the CDC which state to clean heavily used surfaces in the indoor environment.  From the CDC website:

For soft surfaces such as carpeted floor, rugs, and drapes

• Clean the surface using soap and water or with cleaners appropriate for use on these surfaces.
• Launder items (if possible) according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Use the warmest appropriate water setting and dry items completely.

OR

• Disinfect with an EPA-registered household disinfectant.  meet EPA’s criteria for use against COVID-19.

·         Spread from contact with contaminated surfaces or objects

• It may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.

• It is not certain how long the virus that causes COVID-19 survives on surfaces, but it seems to behave like other coronaviruses. Studies suggest that coronaviruses (including preliminary information on the COVID-19 virus) may persist on surfaces for a few hours or up to several days.

2. Only hire contractors with formal training based on science and acceptable principles of healthy deep cleaning systems. This is not a time for amateurs who are uneducated, untrained, unethical or do only topical cleaning methods.
3. Strive to create an indoor environment that is not hospitable to micro-organisms thriving.
4. Understand the difference between terms like disinfecting, sterilizing and sanitizing.
5. Understand that no one can guarantee anything without testing procedures like swabbing and air sampling.
6. Understand what we do know is that a healthy indoor environment starts with effective cleaning and removal of unwanted matter.
7. Understand that deep cleaning of textiles is an essential part of the prevention process when combined with other hard surface cleaning to protect the entire indoor environment.

10 things Bock’s Steam Star asks you to consider in hiring a deep cleaning for health contractor:

1. We have been specialists in the field of high performance deep cleaning of textiles and hard surfaces for over 25 years. We clean from a health perspective first and appearance second.
2. We are well versed in multiple cleaning methods and have formal training through the Institute of Inspection Cleaning Certification (IICRC) which is the world’s largest standard development and certifying body in the cleaning and restoration industry. Our crew managers that lead on location cleaning units are IICRC certified technicians and Bock’s Steam Star is an IICRC Certified Firm which the main carpet mills require cleaning be performed by every 18-24months to maintain warranties . We also have multiple Master Textile Cleaners on staff so you can be sure you are getting cleaning with industry accepted principles and best practices guaranteed.
3. We use state of the art high performance hot water extraction in combination with proper detergents that help remove and dismantle contaminants. We are experts in proper deep cleaning systems of soft goods/textiles like carpets, upholstery, cubical panels, rugs as well as hard surfaces that are porous like grout, stone and other pitted or textured hard floors.
4. Deep cleaning contributes to a healthier indoor environment by breaking the virus envelope. Cleaning is the process of removal of unwanted matter that can contaminate and harm the indoor environment, including viruses. Effective cleaning makes the indoor environment less hospitable for micro-organisms to survive and thrive.
5. “The fact is that proper cleaning of surfaces is like washing hands and offers more protection than application of hand sanitizer as it removes the contamination rather than trying to “kill” or destroy it.” says Rachel Adams-Beja who is an industry instructor and consultant. Bock’s system is just like this, we use detergents first, agitate, allow proper dwell time, and then rinse with demineralized softened really hot water.
6. The use of heat in the role of the removal and treatment of unwanted substances, including biological germs and viruses has been scientifically measured and demonstrated in studies sponsored by divisions of the United States Environmental Protection Agency, Air Quality Sciences, Airmid Health Group, and others between 1991 and 2014. Measured reductions in biological contaminants can be clearly demonstrated in carpets, textiles, upholstery, and hard surface floors after the use of high performance truckmounted cleaning equipment that can maintain temperature across the surfaces being cleaned of 160 degrees+ F. We have some of the largest truckmounted units designed to reach farther up into the building in order to hold these temperatures while the operators draw water during the extraction. Hence the term hot water extraction commonly referred to as “Steam Cleaning”. Cheap portable units cannot achieve this or hold this temperature. This is a big advantage for Bock’s Steam Star. We do have high performance portables that produce heat. We can reach any floor if need be for all surfaces we clean. Many janitorial companies will claim to have portable extractors but do they produce heat? Are they high performance extractors? Do they recycle the water? Are the operators trained and certified by the IICRC? Our training allows us to compensate in other areas of soil suspension to still achieve effective cleaning even with some reduction of heat with a portable unit.
7. In some situations the proper use of EPA registered disinfectants for the purpose of sanitizing may be advisable but it all starts with effective deep cleaning.
8. We offer free on site consultations with an IICRC Master Textile Cleaner to discuss your needs and provide solutions that match your individual situation. We will provide pricing in writing and up front before any work begins. So no surprises after a poor phone or on-line estimate fails to understand the scope of work and the unique variables in each indoor environment, then the price changes at the door. Don’t be taken to the cleaners by uninformed, uneducated, and sometimes downright unethical cleaners.
9. We are in this with you. Please remember during this pandemic that deep cleaning will be done more now but has always been needed. Once we are past the emergency of this, let’s design an on-going plan to protect the indoor environment and your investment in the staff that work in it, as well as the textiles. The cost will be paid back in productivity and longer lasting furnishings.
10. We 100 % guarantee to be an honest operator and if for any reason we don’t give you what we promised we will re-clean those areas. If you are still not satisfied we will refund your money.