‘100% overwhelming.’ Charlotte cleaners deluged with coronavirus businesses

As the number of novel coronavirus cases rises in the Charlotte area and around the state, local cleaning companies say they are busier than ever keeping up with all of the requests for service.

Hap Clayton, owner of Commercial Maintenance Specialist, said he’s had a rush of calls this week from new and former customers asking for help to disinfect and sanitize facilities in the wake of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

“They’re all trying to get prepared as much as possible,” Clayton said. “Just the unknown of it makes it so difficult right now.”

Derick Longo, owner and operator of Charlotte Commercial Cleaners, serves about 15 fitness centers.

He said since last week, many clients have been asking for deep cleans and how to protect their customers against the coronavirus. That extra cleaning includes hitting more “touchpoints” like switches and handles, and on fitness equipment, like barbells and mats, he said.

“It’s 100% overwhelming, the amount of work people are adding on services,” he said. “It’s tedious but you have to keep your clients safe.”

Clayton is seeing customers asking for entire warehouse facilities to be disinfected, not just the usual scope of office areas, as part of deep cleaning. And, he said he’s looking at more cleaning products and longer hours to get the jobs done.

Since last month, Cornelius Smith, owner of CKS Cleaning Service, said he’s seen about 25% uptick in calls and business.

“It’s just been unbelievably busy,” Smith said.

Along with more cleaning products and hitting more touchpoints, “now we change gloves more often than we used to,” Smith said.

He has run his business for 31 years, mostly cleaning commercial buildings from Charlotte to Greenville, S.C., with a staff of 10. “I’ve never seen it like this before,” Smith said.

Smith said all of his customers are asking for detailed cleanings, posting more signs about hand washing and providing more disinfectant supplies.

“Everywhere you go people are more cautious,” he said. “There’s more hand sanitizer out than ever.”

‘A big undertaking’

Concern over cleaning, and health in general, was heightened in the area Thursday when two presumptive positive Mecklenburg County cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, were reported by health officials.

On Wednesday, Wells Fargo was notified that an employee on the sixth floor at One Wells Fargo Center in uptown Charlotte had been in “prolonged, close contact” with someone who recently tested positive for the virus, the bank said. That worker was sent home and people who had been in close proximity with that employee were told to work from home.

The sixth floor was cleaned Wednesday night, and the building was back open Thursday.

Clayton said he began reaching out to his customers last week to let them know that in addition to regular cleaning services, there would be increased disinfectant on touchpoints, such as door handles, buttons, faucets, tables and desks.

“It’s a big undertaking we’re trying to do in addition to the services we’re already providing,” he said.

Commercial Maintenance has been providing full-service commercial and janitorial services for 30 years at facilities from manufacturing to office buildings. It serves areas including Mecklenburg, Gaston, Lincoln and Catawba counties.

Clayton said the business is getting busier this week as the number of COVID-19 cases grows. “More businesses are asking for more services,” he said.

Some are asking to add daily disinfectant cleanings.

He’s also getting more calls for total facility disinfecting or dedicating a worker to clean touchpoints throughout the workday.

“Corporations are looking to already add services to beat down this virus,” he said.

In Longo’s business, gyms have a lot of touchpoints from equipment like barbells. He’s offering clients steam cleans and spraying mats with a hospital-grade chemical that kills bacteria, among other things.

He tells clients to look at what’s being touched, like keyboards, light switches, toilet bowl handles, and clean them after each use. Also, Longo said, he recommends using disinfectant sprays and wipes midway through the day on all touchpoints to protect employees and customers.

“It’s very quick and doesn’t take long and keeps everyone safe,” he said.

Meeting needs

Then there are the products needed for the job.

Clayton said he’s adding a number of items to his cleaning supply arsenal, like disinfecting foggers and static disinfectants that encase an entire surface.

“I don’t know how long it’s going to take but we have to buy now to have it on hand,” he said.

It’s crucial, he said, as items already are on back-order from his suppliers, like Clorox wipes. Some customers are supplying products and his workers put them to use.

“Hand sanitizer especially is really difficult to get in right now,” he said.

But he’s also concerned for his 30 employees.

“As a business owner, I’m worried about my people on the front lines and making sure they’re taken care of,” Clayton said.

He worries about possible office and building shut downs, and employees being out of work. But more importantly,he said, he’s concerned about making sure his workers have all the safety equipment they need to be protected, too.

“It’s very nerve-racking,” he said.

This story was originally published March 13, 2020 at 12:56 PM.