The pandemic has been on the loose for over a year, and now, people all over the world are divided between getting vaccinated or not. However, a most recent poll shows that vaccine objectors are now decreasing to 5 percent every month. The full approval of the Food and Drug Administration to Pfizer played a considerable role in this, while others just need time to observe the effects of the vaccine before having it.
From Pandemic to Endemic
Many scientists believe that the pandemic is here to stay, but will dwindle over time. This means that the pandemic will become endemic and so will be less dangerous. But this still depends on how peoples’ immunity will respond to the vaccines and how the virus will evolve. Herd immunity is seen to be the best answer to this pandemic, or that at least, it will decrease to endemic.
Influenza is endemic, too, but at least most people have already acquired immunity to this illness, which is why it doesn’t demand social distancing, lockdowns, and masks. In the first year, we all cope through lockdowns, forcing students and employees to do their tasks at home. But this year, schools have opened again for face-to-face classes, calling the need for better ways of cleaning and, overall, a more sophisticated approach to reducing the risks of COVID-19.
On the other hand, companies that considered making their employees work from home are already demanding that their employees return to the office. While the vaccine has given many people the confidence to go out and about, it still doesn’t ensure peoples’ safety, knowing that many haven’t got their immunity shots.
Before Herd Immunity Is Achieved
Herd immunity hasn’t yet been achieved, so even if a person is vaccinated, one should still practice COVID-19 precautions, at least for others who haven’t got their vaccines. The best they can do for businesses or offices is to implement social distancing inside the office and keep every area properly disinfected and cleaned all the time.
Offices should be mindful about working space, and there is no accurate formula for this since it depends on the nature of work, employees’ body dimensions, and many other factors. The most important thing to consider is to make movement in your office much easier, reducing close contact if possible.
Aside from the need for social distancing, offices should keep all areas clean, even cleaning the carpet and the less-traffic areas. And clean nowadays no more means organized, tidy, or spotless. It now includes “disinfected,” too. While employees usually clean their desk, they may not usually do that to where they sit—their ergonomic office chair or other upholstery furniture.
Here are ways they can clean not only what they see but what is also overlooked: chairs.
How to Clean Your Ergonomic Upholstery Chair
There are different types of upholstery chairs, and most of the time, the general ways of cleaning will do. Firstly, check your chair if it has tags with instructions for cleaning. Refer to this before you begin cleaning. Then, try to clean the areas you don’t easily spot to avoid damaging the chair’s important parts if ever it reacts negatively to your cleaning substance or method.
If you see any stains, remove them immediately. It can be harder to erase some blotches in your chair if you leave them longer. And if you use harsh cleaning chemicals, be mindful. Most preferably, clean only in a ventilated area. Here are ways you deal with different kinds of chair upholstery:
- Fabric upholstery. Vacuum any crumbs, and then using a mix of mild soap and water, rub it in an inconspicuous area for a test. If it doesn’t cause adverse reactions, wipe the entire chair with your cleaning mixture, and then dry it.
- Faux vinyl and leather. Just as a fabric upholstery chair, you can easily clean faux leather and vinyl through water-based cleaners. Use the same method. Just make sure that you first check the chair’s instructions tag so you don’t do any potential damage.
- Genuine leather. Water-based cleaning agents may not work as much with genuine leather chairs. The best you can do is to buy cleaning substances designed for leathers. Combine the leather cleaner with vinegar and water. You may also use linseed oil and rubbing alcohol.
- Mesh chairs. Stuck crumbs are the most common problem among mesh chairs, so make sure to vacuum them regularly. When cleaning, use a damp cloth and dab on the problem areas. Never rub the cloth harshly not to ruin the mesh.
Safety Should Be the Priority
Nowadays, safety is the utmost priority. It doesn’t hurt cleaning now and then just to ensure that. Especially in an office where people come face to face with one another, cleanliness should be a must aside from wearing face masks or social distancing.
