Professional cleaners get called in when clients need property cleaning and disinfection done right. Whether you're adding sanitization services to your roster or responding to a specific request, here's a field-ready protocol drawn from CDC guidance — adapted for contractors who already understand chemical handling and surface prep.

Hard Surface Disinfection

High-touch surfaces — door handles, light switches, handrails, elevator buttons, restroom fixtures — need attention at least twice daily on active job sites. The sequence matters: clean first with a detergent or soap to remove soil, then disinfect. Skipping the cleaning step lets organic material shield pathogens from the disinfectant.

Effective disinfectants include diluted bleach (sodium hypochlorite), alcohol solutions at 70%+ concentration, and EPA-registered products. Apply the solution and let it air dry — contact time is what does the work, not wiping.

Bleach Mixing for Contractors

If you're working with sodium hypochlorite, the CDC's recommended dilution for surface disinfection is roughly 1/3 cup of household bleach (5.25%–8.25% concentration) per gallon of water. A few rules you already know but are worth repeating on a disinfection job:

• Verify the product hasn't expired — hypochlorite degrades over time and loses potency.
• Never mix bleach with ammonia or other cleaners. The resulting chloramine gas is immediately dangerous.
• Use a chemical-resistant pump sprayer rated for the solution you're applying. Standard sprayers corrode fast with bleach.

Porous and Soft Surfaces

Carpets, rugs, upholstery, and drapes require a different approach. Remove visible contamination first — vacuum or extract — then clean with an appropriate detergent. Launder removable items at the highest water temperature the manufacturer allows and dry completely. Follow up with a disinfectant spray on surfaces that can't be laundered.

Don't shake dirty soft goods before processing. That aerosolizes contaminants you're trying to eliminate.

Equipment Worth Having on the Truck

Most exterior cleaning contractors already carry the core equipment for disinfection work. A ProTool Clean & Shine disinfectant handles interior hard surfaces without the mixing step. For exterior applications and larger-area coverage, a ProTool 12V soft wash pump lets you apply diluted bleach or EPA-registered solutions at volume. Pair it with chemical-resistant nitrile gloves and splash-proof goggles — standard PPE for any bleach-based application.

Adding Disinfection to Your Service Menu

For contractors already running soft wash rigs, disinfection work is a natural add-on. The chemical handling, the sprayer equipment, and the surface knowledge are the same skillset. The difference is documentation: clients requesting disinfection typically need a written protocol confirming the products used, dilution ratios, contact times, and surfaces treated. Build a one-page template and keep it on a clipboard.

Products Mentioned

Sodium Hypochlorite (SH) 12.5 per gallon (NJ Warehouse only) SKU: 83-00	Pump Sprayer 2 Gal Acid Resistant Solo SKU: 515-045	ProTool Disinfectant Clean & Shine gallon SKU: 83-001
ProTool SoftWash System 5gpm PolyPro 12v Pump SKU: 150-0859	Goggles Splash Proof SKU: 58-75