After someone has been sick
Disinfection after an infectious illness in Medford
A stomach virus that went through a household. A relative home from the hospital with an infection that is hard to kill. A tenant who was ill for weeks before moving out. If the cleaning is more than you can take on, call to reach an independent company in the Medford area that does disinfection work.
Phones are picked up day and night, all week
Cleaning comes first, then disinfecting
The CDC draws a line between the two. Cleaning removes most germs and dirt from a surface. Disinfecting kills most of the germs that remain. Its advice is to wash a surface with soap and water before disinfecting, because dirt gets in the way of the chemical.
So be wary of anyone who offers only to fog or spray a room. A proper job is mostly wiping: handles, switches, rails, taps, toilets, remote controls, bed frames.
The product has to match the germ
Disinfectants are registered by the Environmental Protection Agency, which also approves what their labels may claim. The agency keeps separate lists of products shown to work against particular organisms, among them norovirus, Clostridium difficile spores and MRSA.
Two things on the label matter. One is which germs the product is registered for. The other is contact time: how long the surface must stay visibly wet. If it dries sooner, the EPA says more product should be applied.
When you speak to a company, tell them the illness if you know it, and ask which product they would use and how long it stays wet.
What no company can promise
Disinfecting lowers the number of germs on surfaces. It does not make a room sterile, and it does nothing about a person who is still contagious and still living there. Be cautious of any claim that a home will be germ-proof afterward.
Soft things are harder than hard ones. Mattresses, carpets and curtains may need laundering, steam or removal. Ask what the company plans for each.
Disinfection questions
Do I need a company, or can I do this myself?
Many households manage well with gloves, soap and water and a registered disinfectant used to its label. People call a company when the person was very ill for a long time, when body fluids are involved, or when the family is not well enough to do it.
Is this the same as the cleaning after a death?
No. After a death, materials often have to be removed. That work is described under unattended death cleanup.
Can a workplace be done overnight?
Ask. Timing depends on the size of the space and how long the product must sit, and on when your staff return.
No rush, no pressure
A Rogue Valley cleanup business is a phone call away
Begin with the street and a sentence about the trouble. From there the business asks its own questions, lays out the work it has in mind and names a figure. Going ahead, or not, is left entirely with you.
Pick up the phone when it suits you
You will be speaking with a Rogue Valley cleanup business that has no ties to this website beyond the referral. There is no script to follow. Tell it your way.
Call (541) 210-5322Phones are picked up day and night, all week
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