Cleaning crews ready for reopening in post-pandemic US

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by Julie Chabanas

Tables, chairs, counters, doors: reopened US businesses and restaurants will have to focus on thorough disinfecting if they want to lure customers, and cleaning companies are preparing for an explosion in demand.

With President Donald Trump pushing for a rapid easing of lockdowns even as the death toll from the coronavirus pandemic continues to climb, managers face new challenges as they rethink their approach to hygiene in public gathering places.

“For each building that is open, the demand is materially higher than it was pre-COVID,” said Josh Feinberg, president of the Cleaning Coalition of America, comprised of seven commercial cleaning companies that banded together in late April to address the new issues facing the sector.

In the post-pandemic world, cleaning is a serious business. Rather than a simple dusting, businesses will need deep cleaning several times a day to thoroughly disinfect all surfaces.

“As more and more buildings open, the demand will continue to grow,” Feinberg told AFP. “We are cleaning much more frequently… instead of just, you know, cleaning dirt.”

Hospitals, nursing homes, schools and daycares all want to avoid contamination. Bars, restaurants, shops, hair salons need to reassure customers that it’s safe to come in.

Robert Albrecht runs a small company in Havre de Grace, Maryland, and was contacted by the owner of a small pizzeria to set up a disinfection protocol prior to reopening, highlighting the need for “building the consumer confidence to come back in and sit down and eat.” (AFP)