When someone says the word clean it can mean very different things. Does clean mean tidy? Sanitized? Disinfected? Organized? You may be surprised to know that cleaning is actually only one step in the 7 stages to an exceptional clean. To achieve a truly cleansed environment other important steps must be followed.
Stage 1 – Pretreating
Pretreating is the first stage in cleaning and good news – it’s optional. Pretreating involves applying chemicals to a surface and then allowing those chemicals to do their work while you wait or move on to other things. That’s right – work smarter, not harder!
While not all surfaces require pretreating, pretreating remains a favorite industry trick for removing stuck-on debris. To pretreat, apply the appropriate chemical or cleanser to the surface and let it soak before scrubbing, wiping, or rinsing.
Note: Some chemicals can harm surfaces if left on for too long. Always read your labels and be aware of appropriate pretreatment times when pretreating surfaces.
StayClean’s Favorite Pretreatments:
- Apply a diluted solution of cleaning vinegar and dish soap to shower doors to cut through soap scum
- Create a steam solution of vinegar, water and lemon in a microwave before wiping down the interior
- Drench a microfiber cloth in hot water and dribble the water over stuck-on countertop debris
Stage 2 – Cleaning
Cleaning is the process of removing loose debris and dirt from surfaces. In some instances dry dusting or wet wiping will quickly clean a surface, but in others additional elbow grease, tools, or chemicals may be needed.
StayClean recommends using color-coded microfiber cloths for general purpose cleaning. To tackle heavier jobs, scrub brushes, plastic putty knives, and even power tools are some of our favorite cleaning tools.
Stage 3 – Rinsing
Rinsing is frequently overlooked when cleaning but it is so important that it’s included twice in our 7-step cleansing series. Rinsing ensures leftover debris, detergents and chemicals are removed from the surface.
Rinsing serves several critical purposes. First, rinsing removes chemicals from the surface that may be harmful to humans and pets. If you’ve ever tackled an interior oven you may have been tempted to use an oven cleaner to help cut through the layers of baked-on food. While these chemicals are highly effective at cutting through nasty oven grime, they are highly toxic. We recommend avoiding toxic chemicals altogether, but if that is not possible, a full rinse ensures that no harmful chemicals are left behind.
Apart from removing harmful chemicals, rinsing also removes sticky detergents that tend to attract dust and debris to the surface. If you have ever cleaned blinds with a magic eraser only to find that they are covered in dust again the following week you have fallen victim to sticky detergents. Magic erasers tend to leave particles on surfaces, a perfect 3D landscape for home-seeking dust and debris.
Stage 4 – Disinfecting
Many people make the error of stopping after Stage 3, and it’s easy to understand why. By the time you have pretreated, cleaned and rinsed, most surfaces appear visibly clean of any debris. What’s more? If you’ve used any cleansers or chemicals in your cleaning, by Stage 3 you are probably left with a pleasant smell that suggests a certain level of cleanliness.
Disinfecting is a fourth and crucial step in the cleaning process that should never be skipped. Unlike sanitizing which kills bacteria on contact, disinfecting kills 99% of bacteria and other microorganisms, including viruses.
Regularly disinfecting high-risk areas significantly reduces the spread of disease and illness. When disinfecting, we recommend that you give extra TLC to the following surfaces:
- All Bathroom Surfaces
- Light Switches
- Door Knobs
- Handrails
- Remote Controls
- Household Buttons
- Faucet Handles
- Computer Keyboards & Mice
- Phones
Stage 5 – Rinsing
Like cleaners, disinfectant needs to be removed from surfaces to prevent transfer to you, others, or your pets. When this step is skipped, surfaces can become sticky, attracting further debris, or disinfectant can transfer to your body through hand, food, or pet contact.
Stage 6- Dry
Drying surfaces improves the overall appearance and even the lifespan of the surface. Some surfaces like wood are susceptible to warping from water. Others can showcase mineral deposits and water spots. Some surfaces can be air dried but others must be hand dried with a cloth. This is especially true for wood and smooth surfaces.
Stage 7 – Polish & Stage
If you do not have a polish cloth go get one now! These microfiber wonders increase the visible clean look by 100%.
Why 7 Stages
Each stage of cleaning ensures that a thorough, safe, noticeable clean is achieved. When cleaning you want your efforts to show. Wiping a wet rag of cleaner across a surface may make the surface cleaner than it was, but germs will not be addressed if no disinfectant is used and streaks of cleaning product will dry as a film like look if the drying and polishing step are skipped. Mastering the 7 stages to achieve a great clean is a simple effective way to feeling accomplished when you tackle your cleaning.