Cleaning and Disinfecting
We’re cleaning and disinfecting high-traffic, high-touch areas more often. You can help by self-cleaning your space and keeping common areas tidy.
Common Questions Answered
Have more questions? Check our full list of answered questions.
Cleaning and Disinfecting Products
The University is committed to using cleaning supplies approved by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. When disinfecting campus buildings, the Facilities Management team uses the following U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved chemicals:
- Alpha HP
- Dreumex wipes
- Oxivir disinfectants with microfiber cloths
We also use industry-leading Victory Electrostatic Sprayers (spray guns, backpack sprayers and battery pump sprayers), which provide the highest level of disinfection coverage for all surfaces.
We’re maintaining a sufficient stock of cleaning supplies, sanitizers and disinfectants for cleaning campus and for providing to faculty, staff and students to use in classrooms, computer labs, libraries and other common areas.
Cleaning Procedures
In addition to normal cleaning, all horizontal and vertical surfaces, including all high-touch areas, such as door handles, light switches, furniture, desks, ledges, tables, railings and many other areas, will be wiped and disinfected with microfiber cleaning cloths.
In high-traffic and high-touch areas, employees will wipe down all service counters and internal surface areas or equipment with sanitizing wipes at least three times a day. Electrostatic Victory sprayers, backpack sprayers and battery pump-up sprayers will be used to clean and disinfect large, high-traffic areas.
You can support these cleaning efforts by keeping common areas and counter spaces free of unnecessary items.
Classrooms
All classrooms will be deep cleaned and disinfected at the end of each day. Disinfecting wipes also will be readily available in each classroom for faculty and students to use throughout the day.
Public and Non-Public Restrooms
All restrooms will be deep cleaned a minimum of once per day. High-touch surface areas (e.g., water taps, door/towel/toilet handles, seats and cover flaps, wash basins, doorknobs and switches) will be disinfected at least once every 8 hours.
Residence Hall Restrooms
All communal restrooms will receive a daily general cleaning (e.g., replace paper products, refill soaps, remove trash, sweep floors, service sanitary receptacles, clean mirrors, tops of mirrors and stalls, toilets and urinals, floors, plates and handles). High-touch surface areas (e.g., water taps, door/towel/toilet handles, seats and cover flaps, urinals, showers and shower curtains, wash basins, doorknobs and switches) in communal restrooms will be disinfected daily.
Restrooms in combined suites will receive a daily disinfection and will be deep cleaned once every three weeks.
Note: Cleaning and disinfecting kits also will be provided for residence hall occupants to use as needed.
Hand Sanitizer Stations
Hand sanitizer dispensers are available in all campus buildings. You'll find them in common areas, like public entrances and elevator lobbies.
Hand sanitizer also is provided in all campus buses and State vehicles. Interior surfaces, like the steering wheel and gear shift, as well as other operational clusters, will be wiped down at the beginning and end of the day.
How to Use Sanitizing Wipes
Wipes help you keep your immediate environment cleaner and safer. Here’s how to use them on frequently touched surfaces:
- Remove heavy dirt or grease from the surface with soap and water first.
- Read the label to make sure it’s safe to apply to the surface.
- Make sure the wipes are still wet. Dry wipes are ineffective.
- Using one wipe at a time, start at the top of the surface and wipe down or, if the surface is horizontal like a table, start at one end and wipe slowly to the opposite end. Use multiple wipes if needed (one wipe can only cover about three square feet).
- The surface should be visibly wet and shiny when done.
- Stand back and let it work. It should take about 10 minutes to dry and all germs to be inactivated.
- Throw wipe away in a trash can.
Disinfection Tips
WVU Environmental Health and Safety recommends that you:
- Wear disposable gloves to clean and disinfect.
- Clean visibly dirty surfaces with soap and water prior to disinfecting.
- Disinfect surfaces frequently, at a minimum daily.
- Dispose of used cleaning materials and gloves in the trash.
- Wash hands after disinfecting.
What You Need to Know
Review the measures WVU is taking to provide for a methodical and thoughtful phased re-opening of the WVU System that also ensures the safety and health of our faculty, staff, students and communities.
What You Need to KnowAsk a Question
We’ll be adding information on different topics throughout the fall, so check this site frequently for updates. If you can’t find the info you need, submit a question or email returntocampus@mail.wvu.edu.
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