In light of
recent world events, it’s important that workplaces, public buildings or
anywhere that utilises lifts are responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of
them - not just during these difficult and uncertain times but also moving
forward.
Lift cleaning
is always a good idea and certainly relevant, however, this blog can hopefully
act as a helpful guide for shedding light on how you can increase your lift
hygiene adhering to recommended guidelines.
In view of
recent events and the spread of COVID-19, high standards of cleaning and
disinfection in lifts are so crucially important to everyone. As well all know,
bacteria and dirt can hide and make itself invisible. Shoes can imprint dirt on
the floor and of course, lift users’ hands can leave marks on the handrails and
bacteria can be hidden on the surface of the lift buttons which allow us to
move between floors.
In lots of
work environments, offices or even apartment blocks and flats, the lift is one
of the first places a person is likely to step into. It’s crucial to be mindful
of the surfaces we all touch, not just for our personal safety but for others
around us too.
For all
people who own a lift, building owners and facility managers, lift cleaning
should be a regular activity and certainly must not be overlooked, especially
at the minute. In order to assist you, we have collated some essential
information regarding cleaning your lift so that every person who enters it,
will feel safe to operate it and travel between floors and you will have the
security and knowledge that your lift is not just in good working condition but
also clean.
Getting Started
In this
current climate, we’d advise using a cloth along with a sanitiser as a starting
point. Use the damp cloth with circular movements to clean the surrounding
surface of the doors outside of the lift, this could perhaps be colour coated
or a stainless steel surface but it requires the same process of sanitizing.
For this, using cleaning products which are safe for domestic and commercial uses
to clean the doors. We would recommend avoiding sponges for this task as
extensive moisture can damage electrical parts such as any push buttons located
on the exterior of the lift.
Which products can I use?
The current
recommended advice is, cleaning an area with normal household disinfectant
after someone with suspected coronavirus (COVID-19) has left the vicinity, will
lower the risk of passing the infection on to other people and using household
cleaning products is fine. If possible, it’s advised that you wear disposable
or washing-up gloves and aprons for the cleaning. These need to be
double-bagged, then stored securely for 72 hours then chucked away in a regular
bin after cleaning is complete.
If a lift
has been heavily contaminated, such as with visible bodily fluids due to
coughing and sneezing from a person with possible coronavirus (COVID-19), it's
recommended that you use protection for the eyes, mouth and nose, as well as
wearing gloves as well as an apron.
Steps for starting the cleaning process:
Prior to
anything else and before proceeding any actions, make sure that you have:
●Isolated the lift doors - switch the
power off
●For home lifts - the lift’s
electrical power has been switched off
●For passenger and platform lifts - doors
have been isolated
You will now
be able to move safely in and out of the lift itself without worrying about
lift doors closing or any kind of obstruction. We recommend using relevant
signage to make it known to any potential lift users that they will not be able
to use the equipment while you are cleaning. After you have ensured all
precautions have been put in place, you are now ready to get started.
Start from the bottom and work your way up
It is very
practical to clean the lift beginning from the inside working from top to
bottom as this prevents already clean surfaces from being contaminated with any
dirt and bacteria. It’s always advisable to use non-corrosive cleaners - no one
enjoys a lift ride with lingering odour. Using a disposable cloth, you’ll want
to wipe down hard surfaces with warm soapy water. Then disinfect these areas
with the cleaning products you would regularly use. Pay close attention to
regularly touched areas and surfaces, such as hand-rails, buttons as well as
door handles.
Cleaning the lift buttons
Use an
antibacterial cleaning spray or wipes, wipe handrails and keypads. Use a
microfiber cloth to wipe these areas and remove any embedded dirt, dust or
hair. Clean the buttons first with light and delicate strokes. Deter from
spraying directly on the control panel surfaces as there will be an increased
risk of damaging the electrical components on the keypad. You don’t want the
cleaning liquid to seep inside of the control panel.
Cleaning the elevator car and doors
Use a damp
cloth to clean the lift doors and any steel surfaces. On the other hand, you
can use a non-abrasive cleaner - just remember to dust and dirt which can fall
from the ceiling of the lift. You might need a step ladder varying on the
height of the elevator to help you reach the ceiling safely. This allows you to
safely clean the ceiling and the high parts of the lift doors and the lift
walls.
We recommend
you not to use harsh cleaning chemicals to sanitise stainless steel and
colour-coated surfaces. These surfaces are sensitive to various cleaning
products and you may damage them. To give a nice and shiny surface for any
stainless steel surface, you can actually use a few drops of baby oil and a
cloth to polish them and this will not impact the overall hygiene of the
surface.
An additional
tip is that shoes, trolleys and wheelchairs can transfer all sorts of dirt to
your lift car floor, so we advise floor cleaning too. There are different
flooring surfaces in lifts so we advise brushing and vacuuming carpeted floors
and polish and clean tiles and steel floors.
Don’t forget
to vacuum the gaps and cracks between the doors at each floor level. Once all
large scraps and dirt have been hoovered up, wipe the stainless steel surfaces
with a clean damp cloth or by using a non-abrasive cleaning spray. Remember,
these particles can very much be transferred into the office or house space.
And we definitely don’t want that to happen!
Once the
cleaning is done, you must wash your hands regularly with soap and water for 20
seconds, and after removing gloves, aprons and other protection used while
cleaning.
Cleaning the lift shaft
In terms of
lift maintenance, adhering to these recommended steps, you will be ensuring
that your lift is clean and clear. Although, the cleaning of the pit area is
also very crucial as much as the interior of the lift itself is. In this
instance, only competent and certified engineers have access to clean the lift
pit. During regular maintenance, your lift service provider should proceed with
removing dirt, trash and debris.
Just
consider the accidental dropping of smaller items through the gaps between the
lift doors, such as keys, mobile phones or just general debris. In addition to
this, regular cleaning will stop moving parts of the lift from rusting and
prevent pest infections.
The bottom line
For further
information, you can refer to the current Government guidance on COVID-19
cleaning in non-healthcare settings here
as well as guidance on prevention
control in health care settings here.
ADL Lift Services - Supplying, Installing and
Maintaining Lifts Throughout The UK
Here at ADL Lift Services
, we understand the importance of a
safe and sanitary lift. That’s why our team of professionals offers quality
service as well as all of the equipment and parts that you will need to keep your
lift working as it should be, ensuring that anyone who steps inside is as safe
as possible at all times. Our team of lift manufacturers in Scotland provide
some of the very best services across the country, with expert knowledge, years
of experience and unbeatable customer service. If you’re stuck with a problem
with your lifts, we have a solution to help. To find out more about the
services we offer, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us today. We
would be delighted to help.
