Conflating "cleaning" and "disinfection" costs NYC offices money in both directions: paying for disinfection theater they don't need, or skipping it exactly when they do. The distinction is chemistry and dwell time.
What Each Actually Does
Cleaning physically removes soil and most microbes from surfaces — detergent, microfiber, elbow grease. It is the foundation, every night. Disinfection uses EPA-registered products at label strength and holds the surface visibly wet for the labeled dwell time (often 1–10 minutes) to achieve a kill claim. Spraying and immediately wiping is neither.
When NYC Offices Need Targeted Disinfection
- Illness events: post-exposure response for a confirmed case — same overnight, documented chemicals.
- High-touch enhancement: elevator buttons, badge readers, door pulls, shared equipment on a scheduled daily pass.
- Shared desks / hoteling floors: workstation disinfection between users.
- Food-service and healthcare spaces: as a standing standard, not an event response.
Periodic Deep Options
Electrostatic application wraps disinfectant onto complex surfaces (chair mechanisms, partition systems) efficiently — good for monthly enhancement in dense floors. Fogging has its place in empty spaces but is not a substitute for wiping soil first; disinfectants fail through grime.
Honest Advice: Bundled, Not Bolted On
Daily high-touch disinfection belongs inside your nightly scope at marginal cost, not as an expensive separate service. Ask us for a blended quote — we'll show you the line-item difference.
📍 Archin Unity serves clients nationwide with four core facility services:
🏢 Commercial Cleaning | 🪟 Window Cleaning | ❄️ Cold Room Cleaning | 💧 Water Damage Restoration
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