Coronavirus Update | 3rd November 2020 – Steamins Cleaning Services

Latest service update

Steamins are open for business, and our services are continuing to run but with some changes to ensure the health and safety of all our team and clients during the outbreak.

Restrictions for England are changing on 5th November as England enters a month-long national lockdown until 2nd December. The government guidance is that cleaners can still work inside peoples’ homes.

National Restrictions (from 5th November 2020)

From the 5th November, England will enter a national lockdown across the country, similar to the March lockdown where businesses will be forced to close. The lockdown will begin on 5th November and end on 2nd December. However, the government have made it clear that cleaners will still be permitted to work inside peoples’ homes as long as the government guidelines on social distancing and staying safe are followed.
Steamins supply our cleaners with a set of extensive guidelines to follow during their scheduled cleaning visits.

Can cleaners still work in clients’ homes?

The government has not made any changes in regards to work being carried out within homes. Domestic cleaners are still permitted in homes, no matter which Tier your area is in – as long as the government guidelines on social distancing and staying safe are followed. Steamins supply our cleaners with a set of extensive guidelines to follow during their scheduled cleaning visits.

What about the “Rule of 6”?

Tradespeople inside your home are specifically excluded from the “Rule of 6” and you will not be in breach of the limit.

Symptoms

The most common symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are recent onset of any of the following:

a new continuous cough
a high temperature
a loss of, or change in, your normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia)

For most people, coronavirus (COVID-19) will be a mild illness. However, if you have any of the symptoms above you must stay at home and arrange to have a test to see if you have COVID-19.

Further government guidance for households with possible coronavirus (COVID-19) infection can be found here.

What are Steamins doing?

Steamins want to inform you of the actions we are taking as a business to protect our cleaners and our clients as far as possible during the COVID-19 outbreak. You will, of course, know the government have ordered people to stay at home wherever possible but with a few exceptions. On the other hand, we don’t need to point out that a clean house is even more essential during these times.

Steamins are in constant contact with all our cleaners and are asking them and yourselves to take all the precautions you can.
If you or anyone in your household have any symptoms, please let Steamins know as soon as possible.
Steamins have also informed our cleaners to do the same if they or anyone in their household displays any symptoms.
Steamins have always ensured that the same cleaner attends the same clients each clean and that our cleaners only use the clients’ cleaning materials, to prevent cross-contamination.
Our team at Steamins would like to thank you for your continued support at this difficult time, it is much appreciated.

Latest government advice

Work in the home like cleaning can continue provided the person carrying out the work has no symptoms and that no-one in their household is shielding or self-isolating
Social distancing of at least 2 metres must be maintained
Travel to and from this type of work is allowed
No work should be carried out by any tradesperson who has coronavirus symptoms, however mild
More details can be found on the government website here

For the safety of both Clients and Cleaners, we have introduced the following rules

Cleaners must not clean if anyone in their household has symptoms (however mild), shielding or self-isolating
Clients must not allow cleaning if anyone in their household has symptoms (however mild), shielding or self-isolating
Clients must stay in a different room to the cleaner. Social distancing of at least 2 metres must be maintained at all times

Cleaning is one of the few exceptions for entering peoples homes; it is incredibly important that cleaners respect Government guidelines and clients’ wishes when they are entering a property.

Cleaners must at all times observe social distancing of 2 metres from anyone in the property
Face coverings are not mandatory, however, if the client asks for them to wear one, then they should be prepared to do so

All cleaners must follow our detailed cleaning and safety guidelines

These are based on the latest guidelines from Public Health England, Health Protection Scotland and the NHS.

Thoroughly wash their hands before, during and after their cleans with warm soapy water
Surfaces should be cleaned using regular products and then where possible, disinfected using a product that is certified to kill 99.9% of germs, such as Dettol Antibacterial Surface Cleaner Spray.
Special attention should be paid to “high touched” areas such as; door and cupboard handles, light switches, TV remotes, tables, countertops etc
Warm water (not hot or cold) should be used when cleaning surfaces and mopping floors, to maximise the effectiveness of cleaning products
Use disposable or machine washable gloves
Open windows where possible for ventilation
Wash cleaning cloths and mop covers at a high temperature (60°C or above) after every use
Avoid shaking dirty laundry and soft furnishings such as bath mats and rugs