Exposure to potentially hazardous blood is a very real concern for anyone working in a youth-focused or community-based organization. When a child gets a bloody nose or someone stubs their toe on the diving board you might be asked to clean it up. After all, we don’t want the general public to be exposed to bloodborne pathogens. It is important to remember two things whenever you’re asked to clean up blood: Always assume the blood is infected with a dangerous disease like HIV, Hepatitis B or C. Have the right cleanup equipment and use it properly. Bodily fluid spills may require some specialized equipment depending on their location within the facility, the size of the spill and the type of spill, but most can be cleaned safely using the equipment recommended in OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogen Cleanup Kit. Blood isn’t always going to cooperate. Sometimes it won’t be easy to simply block off an area and follow general blood cleanup guidelines. Read through the following descriptions to ensure you’re prepared for any blood cleanup experience.

A hard, non-carpeted surface is the most common setting for blood spills. These surfaces include tile, ceramic, vinyl, linoleum, metal, wood, cement, and any other non-absorbent flooring such as a pool deck. Cleaning up blood and other bodily fluids off these surface types is easier than absorbent surfaces, but there are still important steps for you to consider. Spills on hard surfaces often spread over larger areas so it will be necessary to contain the spill quickly. The procedures for cleaning up spills on these surfaces are: Blood spills on carpeted floors are some of the most difficult to clean up due its absorbent nature. The majority of buildings contain at least some amount of carpeting, which is why it is important to know how to respond to spills in these areas. Many of the procedures for cleaning up blood on carpet will be the same as any other area, but there are a few additional concerns. In addition, there is no way to disinfect carpet completely so the best option is to sanitize as thoroughly as possible.

The basic protocol for cleaning carpets and removing the threat of bloodborne pathogens is listed below. Please note that even when these steps are followed there is no guarantee that the threat of bloodborne pathogen exposure is 100% eliminated. Like bodily fluid spills on carpet, spills on furniture are difficult to clean as well. There are, however, certain steps you can take to make sure it is as clean and safe as possible. As is the case with blood spills on carpet, it is important to contain the spill as quickly as possible. Cleaning blood off of furniture depends on what type of furniture is contaminated. Cloth furniture needs more treatment than wood or metal furniture. Depending on the type of cloth furniture and the degree of the spill, the best cleaning method is to remove the cloth covering, if possible, and launder it by itself on a warm wash cycle. If the cloth furniture does not have a removable cover, then it is best to treat the spot as you would a blood spill on carpet and disinfect, let sit, and repeat several times.

There are also professional services that can clean furniture much more effectively and thoroughly if the spill is severe enough. buy vacuum cleaner perthBlood spills on metal and wood furniture are not as laborious as those on cloth furniture, but it is important to point out that bloodborne pathogens are still a threat. price of vacuum cleaner in the philippinesMetal, wood and any other non-porous furniture should be cleaned just like a blood spill on a non-carpeted surface.portable steam cleaner commercial For blood in the pool, there is no action required other than attending to the injured individual and making sure the blood does not contaminate anywhere else. pool tile cleaning pro

A properly maintained pool contains enough chlorine to kill any bloodborne pathogens.pool cleaning service altadena ca From the CDC: Germs found in blood (for example, Hepatitis B virus or HIV) are spread when infected blood or certain body fluids get into the body and bloodstream (for example, by sharing needles or by sexual contact). pool shark cleaner not workingChlorine kills germs found in blood and CDC is not aware of any instances in which a person has become infected with these germs after being exposed to a blood spill in a pool. Blood spills outdoors present a unique set of challenges. Cleaning bodily fluid spills from dirt or grass is difficult, but since there is still a potential for exposure there a few measures to take. The easiest step is to re-locate whatever outdoor activity caused the exposure and to block off the affected area.

The area should still be disinfected as completely as possible with some form of disinfectant (like bleach) and then thoroughly rinsed with water. Take care to keep the exposed area contained. As with all blood cleanup procedures make sure to wear appropriate PPE and to dispose of it properly after cleanup.Cleaning laminate floors is a breeze with the right mop. This handy guide will teach you how to clean laminate floors effortlessly so you have more time to put your feet up! To get started you will need 2 things: First make sure you have the right mop for the job. The best way to clean laminate floors is with a microfiber mop. Microfiber mops glide across the floor picking up dirt and pet hair effortlessly. The swivel heads make it super fast to cover large areas, they get under tables and chairs easily, plus they require less water which is best because laminate flooring warps easily if exposed to water. You can either buy a manufacturer’s cleaning solution or make one yourself (scroll down to see my recipe for homemade laminate floor cleaner below).

Either way you’ll need a spray bottle to squirt the cleaning solution onto the mop pad. dry mop with your microfiber mop OR use a vacuum on the wood floors setting to suck up big dust bunnies and hair tumbleweeds dampen the microfiber pad with warm water and spray on the cleaning solution of your choice when the microfiber pad gets too dirty simply – rinse, replace and continue when you’re finished rinse the microfiber pad and put it in the washing machine on sanitary wash Cleaning laminate floors with string mops or sponge mops will take you longer, leave streaky marks and because they use a lot of water will make it easier for moisture to sink into the cracks. If moisture gets into the laminate core board it can warp the laminate floors over time. No matter what the manufacturer told you about their floor having an airtight lock system, unless you’ve bought special waterproof laminate flooring with waxed edges I would never recommend using a string or sponge mop on laminate floor.

The janitor in our office in Beijing used a string wet dripping mop and the flooring is warping after only two years of use. Scroll to the bottom of this page to read my do’s and don’ts for caring for laminate flooring, plus bonus tips for removing exotic stains or stubborn marks. 3 Best Ways to Start There’s never one perfect way to do anything which is why I’m going to leave it up to you to choose how you get the big dust bunnies and hair tumble weeds off the floor. Everyone has their own personal routine and if you’re happier to do things a certain way then stick to it. Here are the 3 best ways to get rid of the big stuff before you begin mopping with water. I’ve started with the fastest method and ended with the slowest. OR use the microfiber mop (without water) to get all the big clumps of hair and dust up. You can scrape the debris off and rinse before using the same microfiber pad for wet mopping OR dry dust mop with a Swiffer type sweeper

Top Tip – It is best to sweep or vacuum in the direction that the floor is laid in to collect all the dirt between the grooves instead of trapping it. *Don’t use a vacuum with a beater bar because it can scratch the laminate floor. If your laminate floor has a high gloss or piano surface I recommend you avoid vacuuming altogether just to be on the safe side and begin with #2 or #3 instead. This is because even if you set the vacuum to the wood floors setting it can still scratch the floor and scratches on high gloss or piano surface are very obvious in the light. If you’ve already been using your microfiber mop to dry mop the laminate floor, you can either scrape off the debris into a bin, rinse and reattach or simply replace the microfiber pad with a spare one. Top Tip – it’s good to have a spare pad or two so you always have one to mop up emergency spillages with whilst others are cycling in the wash. prepare your home made cleaning solution in a spray bottle or just grab your branded one from the cupboard

dampen the microfiber pad with warm water from the tap (not too soggy) and spray on the cleaning solution mop the floor – a microfiber mop cuts through gunk with hardly any pushing down or scrubbing, so relax and let the mop do the work when the microfiber pad gets too dirty after one or two rooms – rinse, reattach and continue. REMEMBER – You don’t need to haul a bucket of warm water around with you. One microfiber pad can easily last for two rooms or more so you don’t need to rinse it out in the sink very often. There’s no squeegeeing or high-duty wringing like with a string mop when you’re finished rinse the microfiber pad in the sink and hang out to dry. After several uses (and the pad appears to be quite discoloured) put it in the washing machine on sanitary wash This method of cleaning laminate floors will cut your cleaning time in half, plus it is the safest way to wet mop laminate flooring to prevent serious damage from warping. If you are not convinced that microfiber mops are the best way to clean laminate floors see my article: 10 advantages of microfiber mops for cleaning laminate floors.

Homemade Laminate Floor Cleaner Here’s an excellent recipe for home made laminate floor cleaner that works a treat, especially for cleaning high gloss laminate flooring leaving it completely streak free: 3 parts water to 1 part vinegar 1 squirt of liquid dish detergent put it all in a spray bottle and you’re good to go! Making your own homemade laminate floor cleaner will save you from ever needing to buy an expensive manufacturer’s cleaner 🙂 Do’s and Don’ts of Caring for Laminate Flooring Do not use mops like string mops or sponge mops that use a lot of water (remember – if water corrupts the core-board it will cause it to warp!) When wet mopping your floor, do not soak the microfiber mop pad just dampen it Blot up  large spills with a sponge, dry cloth or paper towel. Do not allow puddles to remain on the surface of your laminate floor for a long period of time because they could cause warping Remember, laminate floor is not real wood, so you should never wax or polish your laminate flooring

Do not use anything with chemicals that promotes a clean and shine Do not use bleach or abrasive cleaners for cleaning laminate floors Never use steel wool or scouring pads because they are renown for scratching surfaces Removing Exotic Stains and Stubborn Marks Blood: give it spray of window cleaner and wipe with a damp cloth Chewing gum: use a plastic knife or something else (non metal) to get under the gum and avoid scratching the floor. Once you’ve prized the worst of it off rub the residue with a soft cloth dampened with mineral spirits Crayon: apply mineral spirits to a damp cloth and rub away Grease: Freeze with an ice pack until the grease hardens, then scrape off with a plastic knife. Wipe away the remaining residue with a squirt of window cleaner and a damp cloth. Ink: Wipe with a damp cloth. Add a little detergent if the stain is stubborn. If it’s very stubborn use a commercial ink remover but be sure to wipe up with a damp cloth once you’re done