Cleaning & Sanitizing Handles, Knobs & Touchpads

The cleaning and disinfecting of door handles, door locks, touchpad locks, keypads, and fingerprint detectors is part of sanitization protocol. The same type of cleaning is also useful for eradicating other types of bacteria, germs, and viruses. Knowing how to implement it properly could save you, your loved ones, employees, and clients from a series of health issues, with the contagious and deadly viruses on top of the list as of now.  Here are a few useful tips for keypad sanitization, the cleaning of touch security points, cleaning fingerprint detectors, and more.

Why Is It important to Disinfect Touch Security Points?

The fact that this virus can spread so rapidly and easily via invisible and incredibly small droplets produced when we sneeze, breathe, cough, speak, or sing is one of the main reasons why we need to constantly disinfect all touch surfaces. Whenever our hands touch a door handle, knob, keypad lock, or fingerprint lock, they also get in touch with these surfaces covered in droplets. When the infected hands then touch the mouth, nose, and eyes, a virus is contracted. Besides the wearing of protective medical masks and keeping a safe distance from others, sanitizing these surfaces periodically, every time they are touched by someone, will help keep the risk of contracting the virus to a minimum.

Simply cleaning door locks, keypads, and fingerprint detectors are not enough if you truly wish to kill the coronavirus. Therefore, a simple wipe with the help of cloths or paper towels will not suffice, as invisible bacteria and viruses will keep living on these surfaces. In order to remove these viruses and genuinely disinfect them, you will need to rely on EPA-approved cleaning disinfectants.

Disinfecting and Cleaning of Touch Security Points

First of all, it is essential to always carefully follow the instructions on the label of the cleaners to know what are the special requirements and warnings you should follow. You may need to complete some pre-cleaning procedures first and you may also be required to wet the surfaces of the door locks, handles, and touchpads using the product. Most of these cleaners have a mandatory sitting time you will need to obey by, as the product will need to air dry naturally. At times, you will be asked to wipe down the product using wet towels or clean wipes.  Keep in mind that disinfecting keys is equally important, especially when the keys will also touch various surfaces, reach the hands of multiple individuals throughout the day, or simply touch the door lock surfaces. The same goes for garage door openers.

Keypad locks, levers, handles, knobs, and touch security points can be thoroughly and effectively disinfected with the help of alcohol-based cleaners. The fact that the coronavirus could survive on these surfaces for several hours up to 3 days should convince you of the gravity of the matter and the critical importance of using the right disinfectants.

Keep in mind that the door handle and doorknob materials will also decide what kind of cleaners are most suitable for your needs. For instance, some finishes cannot be cleaned with the help of strong cleaners, while stainless steel can withstand alcohol as a disinfectant, with the risk of some discoloration of coated finishes, in some cases. If you are not extremely sure that your doorknobs can be disinfected against the coronavirus with alcohol-containing cleaners without the risk of damage, make sure to first test a hidden area of the knob or handle and watch it react when alcohol touches it.

Cleaning Keypads to Eliminate Viruses

There is a rich diversity of cleaners, wipes, and spraying solutions that can be used to clean various touch security points. Cleaning keypads can be done with any of these methods, as long as you read and follow all the instructions and make sure you give them enough time to act effectively.  Make sure you pay extra attention to those keypads located in areas with lots of foot traffic throughout the day, with dozens of people touching them regularly. Keep in mind not to damage any of the electrical wires of the security system while disinfecting it and try to opt for EPA-approved cleaning agents that are safe for use.

Carefully spray the entire surface of the knobs, locks, and keypads, wait for the indicated amount of time as seen in the instructions, and use paper towels or dry wipes to dry. Repeat several times a day, as often as possible, especially in crowded areas.  You should have designated personnel at the commercial workplace or make sure all responsible household members make a habit out of the cleaning of doorknobs, touch security points, and keypads that get touched by several individuals on a daily basis. Focus on using cleaners that have received the EPA approval and which contain at least 70% alcohol and also make sure you use diluted bleach solutions and EPA-approved disinfectants that are safe to use in commercial spaces and residential homes.

The same registered disinfectants are also efficient in eliminating a series of other potentially harmful bacteria and germs like Salmonella, Staph, or E. Coli, so they are worth using periodically around the house or at the workplace. The same surfaces could also be first cleaned with the help of water and soap to first remove any traces of soil, dirt, or dust, followed by the thorough disinfection of all touch security points, door handles, and door knobs.