Does anyone still care about cleaning protocols? The survey says...

Do heightened disinfection practices even matter?

Will overzealous cleaning habits continue after the Covid-era? Intriguing surveys reveal the opinions of customers, employees, and the general public.

If you're a business owner, manager, superintendent, or municipal employee in charge of an office, school, public space, commercial facility, or business, this article reveals the opinions held by your coworkers, employees, or your clients.

Some cleaning practices are here to stay. Learn which ones are permanent.

Which cleaning practices do people care most about after a year of pandemic life?

On January 23, 2020, over 11 million people were placed under strict quarantine in Wuhan, China ( 2020-21 COVID timeline ). Seventeen months or 597 days later, the aftermath of COVID-19 continues to affect our thoughts, opinions and behaviors. Permanently? Let's see. The survey data is in and the results are clear. People across the globe have adjusted their way of thinking about cleanliness.

Fear has been replaced by confidence. Confidence is needed to spark economic growth. Business owners, office managers and facility supervisors deserve positive recognition for their efforts at increasing confidence levels and quelling fears during a time of uncertainty. The surveys conducted a year after the COVID era are proving their efforts have paid off.

Enhanced cleaning and disinfection routines adopted by retail shops, restaurants and other public facilities have transformed consumer fear to consumer confidence. A newsurvey conducted by GP PRO found that almost half (48%) of respondents increased their participation in away-from-home activities in the previous 60 days. Of that group, 32% listed the efforts businesses have taken to provide a safe and hygienic environment as one reason they are confident leaving home.

" The survey results and trends highlighted are encouraging for broader adoption and potential long-term behavioral changes in Americans’ cleaning habits for their health ,” said Melissa Hockstad, ACI President & CEO. “While we continue to fight against the spread of COVID-19, Americans must stay vigilant to help protect themselves and the places where they live and work. That’s why smart, targeted hygiene and cleaning practices are so important in our homes and communities every single day.

A professional cleaning company conducted a survey of their clients , asking which hygiene habits are changed forever.

83% say habits have changed forever
Frequent hand washing
Use of hand sanitizer
Wiping down key touchpoints
Avoid touching things with bare hands

Many people noticed they did not even have a sniffle during 2020. Lockdowns, social distancing, and other pandemic mandates contributed to a minimized flu season. But our increased handwashing contributed significantly. We touch our faces about 16 or more times per hour . With proper hygiene habits, we reduce the risk of spreading germs and infectious organisms to our eyes, mouth, and nose.

Is it finally time to slack off on some cleaning protocols?

Can we lighten up on a few things? No. With the threat of the Delta variant and lagging vaccination numbers, vigilance is still the right stance for cleaning protocols. At a bare minimum, what hygiene practices should we stick to?

hand washing
cover when sneezing
disinfect objects and surfaces
stay home when not well

Proper cleaning and disinfecting practices are proven to help protect against the spread of germs and viruses . In today’s current climate, as schools and communities across the country begin to reopen and new variants of the virus continue to spread, the cleaning and hygiene habits adopted at the onset of the pandemic will continue to play a crucial role in helping prevent the spread of illness.