We are seeing a lot of people searching for a maid service near me at the moment, during the COVID-19 Pandemic. In particular, people are looking for help with deep cleaning their homes and their offices to ensure they are sanitised to the highest level. But how does deep cleaning differ from normal cleaning?

What is regular cleaning?

Regular cleaning is the cleaning that is usually done by domestic cleaners on a weekly basis, and so it includes tasks such as:

• Cleaning bathrooms and toilets
• Cleaning and hoovering floors
• Dusting
• Polishing furniture

What is deep cleaning?

Deep cleaning covers all of the regular cleaning tasks, but also the hard-to reach and often forgotten areas as well. Deep cleaning tasks tend to include:

• Areas behind or under electronic items and work surfaces
• Door handles, door frames and any other fixtures
• Grime removal from behind appliances, such as ovens, fridges and washing machines
• Grouting
• Inside dishwashers and fridges
• Inside ovens and microwaves
• Inside bathroom and kitchen cabinets
• Limescale removal from taps, shower heads and tiles
• Sanitising waste bins
• Unclogging of drains and pipes
• Washing carpets and flooring
• Windows and window frames

When do you need a deep clean?

Deep cleaning is usually completed a couple of times a year in both commercial and domestic situations – usually at spring cleaning time early in the year – but it may also be used when people move house as well.

Deep cleaning is becoming more popular at the moment, due to the spread of COVID-19, as it helps to prevent the spread of germs and it can also help to reduce the breathing issues that people tend to get when they have allergies to dust and dirt.

Opting to have your home or place of work deep cleaned means that your electrical appliances, such as your microwave, fridge and oven will all work more effectively – and it also means you will feel better having a fresher and healthier environment to work in.

What is the government advice on deep cleaning during COVID-19?

At the moment the world is suffering from the COVID-19 pandemic, and it has had a disastrous effect on many people’s health. In light of this, the UK Government has released some guidance on cleaning in non-healthcare settings.

As part of this guidance they state that the risk of infection of Coronavirus depends on many factors, such as:

• The type of surface that has been contaminated
• The amount of virus that has been shed from the individual
• The time the individual spent in the setting
• The time since the individual was last in the setting

The guidance also states that studies of viruses in the same family as COVID-19 has found that in most circumstances the risk of infection decreases after 72 hours.

Their guidance for cleaning is as follows:

• If you suspect that someone who is suffering from Coronavirus has been in your home or business premises then you should clean the area with a normal household disinfectant in order to reduce the likelihood of the infection being passed on to other people
• When you are cleaning after you suspect someone with Coronavirus has been in your home or business premises, you should wear an apron and gloves – which should be disposed of afterwards. Don’t throw them away straightaway though, store them somewhere for 72 hours and then throw them away with the regular rubbish
• If the area you are cleaning has been contaminated with visible bodily fluids, then the Government recommend that you also use protection over your eyes, nose and mouth as well as wearing an apron and gloves. You should dispose of these items in the same way
• Start off by wiping over areas with a disposable cloth that has been soaked in warm soapy water. Then disinfect the same surfaces with regular household disinfectants. You should make sure you pay close attention to areas that are touched most often – such as bathrooms, stair bannisters, door handles and so on
• Make sure you are still following the governments advice about washing your hands frequently with soap and water for 20 seconds – especially after you have finished cleaning and removed your apron and gloves

This is all great advice. One thing it made us wonder though, is how many people know the difference in between cleaning, disinfecting and sanitising?

• Cleaning is the term used to describe the physical removal of dirt, dust and impurities from objects and surfaces through the use of soap and water
• Disinfecting is the term used to describe the use of chemicals specifically aimed at killing germs on objects or surfaces. Disinfecting a space won’t necessarily clean it or remove germs, but it will reduce the risk of germs spreading
• Sanitising is the term used to describe the cleaning and disinfecting of a surface for the purpose of lowering the risk of spread of infection

How can the Maid App help with deep cleaning?

The cleaners that you contact through the Maid App can help you to deep clean your home or commercial premises as they cover a lot of different areas and items. You can liaise with the cleaner directly through the App to ensure they are willing and able to do the cleaning job that you want to hire them for. It is therefore advisable to have a good think about what it is you want before you post your job – such as whether it is just the carpets or you want your oven cleaning as well. This way it will avoid any misunderstandings and both you and the cleaner will know exactly what it is you want.

You should also state on your job description if someone in your home is displaying symptoms of coronavirus as the cleaner will need to make sure they are wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) when they enter your home.

If you are looking for cleaning job, then download the Maid App today, click ‘sign up as a maid’ and then follow the simple step by step process. If you have any questions you can contact us on support@maid.co.uk