How to Distinguish Between Pathogens, Viruses & Diseases

With the global spread of the COVID-19, you have probably heard a lot of services that companies offer to help fight viruses. However, as we all learn more about infectious diseases, you may also be wondering about these confusing terminologies they use to classify pathogens, viruses, and diseases. 

Regardless of what they’re called, we all agree they are a threat to our health and safety, butit’s good to know how to distinguish between pathogens, viruses, and diseases. Our disinfecting experts here at ServiceMaster by Wright will help you distinguish them and break down what you need to know.

How to Distinguish Between Pathogens, Viruses, & Disease

Pathogens: A pathogen is a microorganism that causes diseases. This includes the dreaded viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites.

At ServiceMaster by Wright, we offer cleaning and disinfecting to take care of a wide range of pathogens, especially viruses and bacteria. We’re proud to say that our technicians are licensed to perform mold removal and mold remediation, which are pathogen-related services that only a few cleaning and restoration companies are qualified to perform.

Viruses: A virus is an infective agent, usually consisting of a nucleic acid molecule in a protein coat. Viruses are too small to be seen by the human eye and are only visible if you put it under a microscope. These viruses can multiply once they infect the living cells of a host organism. The mode of infection is usually airborne or through touch. After the virus jumps to a new host, it will then infiltrate the cells, and that’s what usually kills the cells. The most infamous one right now is the current Novel Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19), which is causing the worldwide pandemic and is one of many Coronaviruses known to humans. 

With the help of our cleaning and disinfecting professionals at ServiceMaster by Wright, you may be able to significantly reduce the chance that any infections will occur on your property. This will give you peace of mind and extra protection for you and your family.

Diseases: A disease is any type of disorder or disability in a living organism that causes harm. While some diseases only affect specific areas of the body (internal or external) or manifest in specific symptoms, others can lie dormant for years without a person knowing they are sick. Moreover, while some diseases are the result of physical injury and others are genetic, some can be developed due to infection from viruses and bacteria. While you could technically be a carrier for the Coronavirus and not know it, it is those who develop symptoms, such as fever, cough, fatigue, chills, and shortness of breath that are diagnosed with COVID-19 who are high risk. So, it is best to take note that while disinfection services might not remove or kill the virus totally, it can significantly reduce the chance of your family contracting the virus at home. Technically, what disinfecting can do is help stop the spread of COVID-19. Diseases, as we have mentioned, can be a physical or internal disorder or disability. Because of this, it is recommended that you see a doctor if you are experiencing an unusual decline in your health. 

Why Do You Need a Disinfection Company like ServiceMaster by Wright?

ServiceMaster by Wright is proud to offer home and business disinfectant services to help keep your property safe from harmful pathogens lurking around. With complete equipment that adheres to the Environmental Protection Agency, we are confident that we can help reduce the risks that are present in your property. 

We can provide you with a certificate of disinfection with the date and time of your last disinfection. Displaying this certificate can reassure your employees and customers that you are taking ongoing measures to help protect them.

Need help keeping your property safe and clean? Looking for the peace of mind of knowing that your surfaces are truly sterile and safe to use? Call the professionals at ServiceMaster by Wright at (239) 431-9947 now to request a consultation for your home disinfecting service.

HOW DOES PROFESSIONAL SANITIZING WORK?

Sanitizing and disinfecting must not be taken lightly. With what’s happening in the world right now, everyone’s going crazy about sanitizing and disinfecting. We just cannot risk anything when it comes to the safety of our family. When you are running a business, there are also risks you have to face when you don’t know how cleaning professionals work on the job. That’s why it’s important to know how cleaning professionals do sanitation. 

In this article, we will be emphasizing the importance of letting professionals at ServiceMaster by Wright handle sanitizing and disinfecting for your home or business.

Equipment and Materials

When we do the job, our team of cleaning professionals will always wear state-of-the-art sanitation and personal protective equipment, such as PPEs, masks, and work boots. The reason for this is that we want to protect our crew and our clients. Not only do we handle things like bacteria and viruses, but we can also clean out mold, sewage, and plenty of other hazards that are considered dangerous. When anything could be present, we want to be prepared for everything. Second, we also want our crew to be able to protect your business and avoid adding any additional outside contamination to the site as much as possible.

As for the materials that we use, we have strong chemicals that are surely tough on stains but mild on our health. These chemicals are necessary for cleaning certain areas that we deal with. We always make sure that we use EPA-approved cleaning chemicals.

How Do We Clean?

1. We thoroughly clean surfaces using EPA-approved cleaning chemicals. We always clean from the cleanest surfaces to the dirtiest surfaces. This stops the transfer of germs to cleaner surfaces and allows you to physically remove and dispose of the largest possible amount of germs.
2. When using a disinfectant, we clean the surface first and then apply a disinfectant. We do this because disinfectant will not kill germs if the surface has not been cleaned first.The disinfectant is applied 
3. to surfaces using disposable paper towels or disposable cloth. 
4. Lastly, we allow the disinfectant to remain on the surface for the time required to kill the virus (contact time).




Why Do You Need to Hire ServiceMaster by Wright as Your Sanitation Specialist?


When it comes to disinfecting your facility, you might have challenges with how or where to begin cleaning. It’s such a big job, and that’s why you need a professional sanitizing company to do it for you. Here at ServiceMaster by Wright, we have handled all types of disinfecting jobs, and we have narrowed our process down to a science. Our primary targets are surfaces that receive touch traffic most of the time, be it a community item that many people handle or something that maybe only one person might use on a daily basis. 


ServiceMaster by Wright has the experience, knowledge, training, and national network to meet your needs on an ongoing basis. Disinfection goes beyond a standard cleaning service and requires specific protocols. Here, we follow specific protocols that can ensure a safe and hassle-free cleaning service.


Interested in a professional sanitizing service for your business? Call ServiceMaster by Wright at (239) 431-9947 to schedule yours!

Home Disinfecting: How to Keep Your Kitchen Clean

During this pandemic, how clean is your home? It might be close to impossible to disinfect and sanitize all parts of your home. Your daily activities might increase the risk of infection in your home. That’s why our professional sanitizing services are here to help you disinfect your home thoroughly.

Here at ServiceMaster by Wright, we prioritize your safety.  While COVID-19 continues to threaten everyone’s safety, we are doing our best to fight it off. Although we understand that you might want the help of a professional sanitizing company, we also understand that you might want to do it yourself. Therefore, we came up with some helpful tips in home sanitizing and disinfecting. First, let’s talk about the materials needed.

Materials Needed

·       Skin Protection

·       Rubber gloves

·       Face mask

·       Protective eyewear 

·       Disinfectant

·       Alcohol

·       Hand Sanitizer

·       Soap

·       Cleaning

·       Microfiber cloth/Cleaning rag

·       Paper towels

·       Disinfecting wipes/sponge

·       Mop

·       Detergent

·       Hydrogen peroxide

Disinfecting Your Kitchen

The kitchen is where the magic happens. This is the place where a lot of greases, oil, liquid, and other substances are present. Kitchen surfaces can not only harbor the bacteria we transfer from our hands and belongings but also foodborne bacteria so it's particularly important to disinfect items properly.

Disinfect the commonly touched and shared surfaces in the kitchen such as:

·         Countertops

Your countertops have the highest traffic in your kitchen. This is where you slice your fruits, cut your vegetables, and chop your meat. You also set things on them like your grocery bags or cooked food. Therefore, this place must be sanitized thoroughly.

Start by scrubbing down your countertops to remove dirt and grime. Ideally, use disinfecting wipes or if you want to save money, you can use a microfiber towel, dip it in your detergent with warm water solution and scrub down your countertops at least once every two weeks.

If you can’t find a good cleaner anywhere and you’re out of cleaning supplies at home, pick up a bottle of hydrogen peroxide instead. Spray it on the surface and leave it for at least one minute. Then use a paper towel or cleaning rag to wipe it off.

·         Faucets/Cabinet handles/Refrigerator doors

Spray the surface until thoroughly wet, making sure to cover the lip and base. Next, wipe with a clean cloth or sponge. Lastly, to sanitize, leave for 30 seconds and to disinfect, leave for 10 minutes.

·         Trash can lids

Your trash can be the dirtiest place in your kitchen.  A wet environment will promote mold and bacteria, that’s why it’s very important to keep your trash can dry. If you see that your trash can lid is wet, wipe the surface with a dry cloth. If dirt and grime are present, wash it with disinfecting wipes or soap with water. After washing, wipe with a dry cloth to prevent mold growth.

·         Kitchen floor

Whether from everyday spills, a pet accident, or other bacteria-inviting occurrences, it's important to put an end to potentially harmful bacteria before it has a chance to thrive on your kitchen floor. For heavy dirt and soil, use a scrubber to remove debris. For weekly disinfecting, you can use a mop. It’s better to use an EPA-registered disinfectant to help sanitize thoroughly.

Other tips for kitchen disinfecting:

•  Wash dishes and utensils in hot water after each use, or use dishwasher.

•  Wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds after handling any used dishes or utensils.

•  If using a dishwasher, choose the rinse cycle at the highest temperature option to kill the most germs.

•  Clean your kitchen daily and use the disinfecting products we mentioned in the first section of this article.

Home Disinfecting: How to Keep Your Living Areas Clean

During these pandemic times, how clean are your living areas?  Cleaning your home during the pandemic isn’t just about sweeping floors and wiping down surfaces with a cloth. These tasks are done specifically for the visible dust, dirt, and grime that naturally build up in many areas of your house. With COVID-19 lurking around, it’s better if deep cleaning is performed.

Here at ServiceMaster by Wright, we offer our professional sanitizing services. You can feel secure that your living room is being taken care of. They can make your living room cleaner and safer as you worry about other things. How can we keep your living areas clean and safe?

Disinfecting Doorknobs

It seems like common sense that doorknobs are one of the dirtiest things in the home. When you are outside, the doorknob will be the first thing you will touch. Not realizing that germs can survive on metal surfaces for several days, it can pose a potential risk for you and your family.

What do you do to disinfect and sanitize?  Wash the doorknob first with detergent and water. Then, spray it with a disinfectant solution. Let the solution sit for 1 minute. Wipe with a clean, dry cloth after. You can do this every other day to make sure all threats are eliminated.

Disinfecting Remote Control

Most people in your house touch the TV remote control many times every day. It makes it one of the potentially dirtiest items in your home. However, it’s something many do not even realize they should clean. 

What to do? First, remove the batteries. Use an alcohol-based or disinfecting wipe to clean thoroughly. Another alternative is a clean, cotton cloth dipped in rubbing alcohol. Then, with an alcohol-dipped cotton bud, clean the nooks and grooves in between the buttons. You can disinfect your remote control every other day. 

Disinfecting Carpets and Rugs

COVID-19 can survive on carpets, rugs, and other fibers or fabrics for several hours. You’re not likely to get the virus from these sources, but you can track the virus throughout your home if you walk on a contaminated carpet or rug and then to other rooms in your home.

What to do? Vacuuming may not be enough but it can help. However, see to it that you also disinfect at least once a week. Shake out your rugs regularly and steam clean your carpets as often as you can. Steam and high heat can kill germs and bacteria. It can also help in eliminating the virus. You can also hire carpet cleaning services.

Disinfecting Walls

Often we don’t realize that walls need disinfecting, too. If your children love to play, they often draw on your walls and play hide-and-seek. 

What do you do? Once a week, you can disinfect your walls using a microfiber cloth with a disinfectant solution that is paint friendly. 

Disinfecting Floors

We may sweep and vacuum regularly but we may never know what we can’t see with our naked eyes. That’s why its important to regularly disinfect surfaces in our homes, especially during these pandemic times. 

For heavy dirt and soil, use a scrubber. For weekly disinfecting, you can use a mop. It’s better to use an EPA-registered disinfectant to help sanitize thoroughly.

In General…

Your living areas can be your home office, living room, entertainment room, game room, or sitting rooms. If it’s too much too clean by yourself, you can always hire a professional sanitizing company near you. 

Need help keeping your living areas safe and clean? Looking for peace of mind knowing that your surfaces are truly sterile and safe to use? Call the professionals at ServiceMaster by Wright at (239) 431-9947 now to request a consultation for your home disinfecting service.