Cleaning facilities in a post-COVID-19 world
By Robert Kravitz
Talk to anyone in the professional cleaning industry and most will say things will not be the same in the post-COVID-19 world.
On the positive side, building managers—including parks and recreation managers—will never underestimate the value and importance of effective, hygienic cleaning again. For years, the industry has been touting that it “cleans for health.” This is especially true in stopping the spread of the coronavirus. Patrons need the help of building managers everywhere to ensure this objective is accomplished, not only in recreation facilities, but in offices, schools, and all commercial buildings.
To do that, park administrators may need to update their requests for proposals (RFPs). What’s more, they may want to ask their current cleaning contractors to adjust janitorial proposals or, if they clean in-house, revise their own cleaning programs.
When we think about it, this has been a major oversight for years. Most park and rec facilities have separate sections in their cleaning RFPs, janitorial contracts, and cleaning programs that address floor care, window cleaning, and other tasks that must be performed on a set schedule. But nowhere is there anything discussing detailed disinfecting on a set schedule.
That oversight must now be addressed.