Commercial Disinfecting Services
Illinois & Wisconsin | 24/7 Response
When an outbreak, exposure, or contamination event hits your facility, you need a response that is fast, professional, and discreet; not a janitorial crew with a spray bottle.
Great Lakes Biorecovery delivers hospital-grade commercial disinfecting throughout Northern Illinois and Southeast Wisconsin, typically on-site within 2–4 hours of your call. We are an IICRC-Certified Firm with the same trauma-trained team that handles biohazard remediation for coroners, law enforcement, and property managers across the region — applying that same standard of care to commercial facilities. Our ESS method reaches areas and places other cleaning methods don't.
What Commercial Disinfecting Includes
Commercial disinfecting is the structured application of EPA-registered, hospital-grade disinfectants across surfaces, equipment, and high-touch points inside a facility — performed to a documented protocol that goes well beyond standard janitorial cleaning.
Our service combines:
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ESS electrostatic spray application for uniform 3D coverage of every surface
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EPA-registered hospital-grade disinfectants, matched to your facility and pathogens of concern
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IICRC-aligned procedures for assessment, contact time, and verification
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Trained, certified technicians — not a contracted crew or franchise dispatch
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Documentation for facility records, insurance, and compliance reporting
This is the same level of care we apply to biohazard scenes — adapted for everyday commercial environments and outbreak response.
ESS Electrostatic Disinfecting
Standard cleaning sends disinfectant straight at a surface. The result is uneven coverage: the front gets wet, the back doesn't, and edges, corners, and undersides are missed entirely. That's a problem — because the surfaces you can't see are often the ones carrying the heaviest pathogen load.
Electrostatic spraying solves that. Our ESS (Electrostatic Spraying Systems) sprayer applies a positive electrical charge to every droplet as it leaves the nozzle. Because most surfaces carry a neutral or slightly negative charge, those droplets are pulled toward the surface and wrap around it — coating the front, back, sides, and underside in a single pass.
What that means for your facility:
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3D coverage — desks, chairs, equipment, fixtures, and shelving are treated all the way around, not just on top
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Faster application — a room that would take an hour to wipe-down is treated in minutes
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Less product, more thorough result — the charge keeps disinfectant on the surface long enough to meet EPA-required contact time
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Safer for sensitive environments — finer particle size means a lower volume of product per square foot
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Reaches what wiping cannot — keyboards, electronics enclosures, chair bases, equipment housings, vent grilles
We pair our ESS application with EPA-registered, hospital-grade disinfectants — primarily Vital Oxide® (EPA Reg. #82972-1, stabilized chlorine dioxide, NSF D2 food-contact safe) and Benefect® Decon 30 (EPA Reg. #84683-3-74771, botanical, USDA BioPreferred) — selected based on your facility, the pathogens of concern, and any food-contact or occupancy considerations.
Electrostatic equipment alone is not what makes a disinfecting service effective. Training, protocol, and the right product matched to the right pathogen are what make it effective. We use ESS because the coverage advantage is real — and because we hold ourselves to IICRC-firm-level standards on every job.
When This Service Is Needed
Facilities and property owners call us for:
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Outbreak response — flu, norovirus, RSV, COVID-19, C. diff exposure, MRSA, salmonella concerns
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Post-exposure disinfecting after illness, injury, or biohazard incident
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Routine preventive disinfecting for schools, daycares, medical offices, and senior care
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Pre-occupancy disinfecting for new tenants, after vacancy, or after construction
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Property turnover — rental units, short-term rentals, fleet vehicles
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Mold and mildew prevention in damp or post-water-loss environments
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High-traffic, high-touch facilities where standard cleaning is not enough
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Odor remediation related to bacterial or organic sources
If you are not sure whether you need a disinfecting service or full biohazard remediation, call us 24/7
Designed to Keep You Open
When you call us, the goal isn't just a disinfected facility — it's your operations running smoothly. An outbreak doesn't just affect health. It affects scheduling, staffing, revenue, tenant confidence, and the reputation you've spent years building.
A single norovirus, flu, or COVID event in a facility can mean:
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Lost revenue from days closed for emergency cleaning
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Staffing costs from sick leave, overtime, and temp coverage
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Tenant, parent, or customer complaints — and online reviews that follow you for years
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Regulatory and reporting time spent on outbreak documentation and communications
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Insurance and liability exposure in regulated environments
Preventive disinfecting is dramatically less expensive than reactive cleanup. Scheduled service — weekly, monthly, or quarterly depending on your facility — keeps your space at hospital-grade standards before an outbreak hits. And when something unexpected does come up, our 24/7 emergency response gets you back to full operation in hours, not days.
We work around your schedule — evenings, weekends, overnight, off-peak — so the disinfecting itself doesn't interrupt the operation it's there to protect.
Why Professional Disinfecting Matters
Disinfecting and cleaning are not the same thing. Cleaning removes visible soil. Disinfecting kills pathogens — but only when the right product is matched to the right pathogen, applied at the right concentration, and held on the surface for the required contact time.
Most over-the-counter products and in-house janitorial routines fall short on at least one of those three. The result: a surface that looks clean but still carries viable bacteria or virus.
Our protocol is built around three things that matter:
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EPA-registered, hospital-grade products — selected per the pathogen and the surface
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Correct contact time — verified, not assumed
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Electrostatic coverage — surfaces are wrapped, not just sprayed at
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We operate under OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030) when applicable, IICRC standards for remediation work, and EPA label compliance for every product we apply.
What We Handle
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Offices, executive suites, and shared workspaces
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Medical, dental, and veterinary practices
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Daycares, preschools, and educational facilities
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Senior living, assisted living, and adult day programs
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Gyms, studios, and fitness centers
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Restaurants and food-service facilities (food-contact-safe products available)
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Retail and commercial storefronts
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Apartment buildings, condos, and rental property turnover
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Hotels, short-term rentals, and lodging
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Funeral homes and mortuary support spaces
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Auto dealerships, transit vehicles, and fleet interiors
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Government, municipal, and first-responder facilities
We also support post-illness home disinfecting for families and households dealing with norovirus, flu outbreaks, or other in-home exposures.
What We Handle
Great Lakes Biorecovery is the only company in our region owned and operated by a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and an IICRC-Certified Trauma Cleanup Specialist.
That matters even on a commercial disinfecting call. When a facility manager calls us after a staff exposure, a resident illness, or a tenant turnover involving sensitive circumstances, they are not routed through a call center. Sam or Ron answers the phone. We listen, we ask the right questions, and we send a team that understands both the technical work and the human context behind it.
Trauma-informed care is not a marketing phrase for us. It is how we run every job.
Related Services
Our team also supports clients with related cleanup needs such as Blood and bodily fluids cleanup services, Crime scene cleanup services, Animal or rodent waste cleanup services, and Unattended death cleanup services.
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Areas We Serve
We regularly serve communities including Waukegan, Gurnee, Libertyville, Schaumburg, Kenosha, and Racine, along with surrounding areas. If you are unsure whether you fall within our service area, please contact us directly. We are available 24/7 and will make every effort to respond promptly based on location and availability.
Why Great Lakes Biorecovery
Frequently Asked Questions
What disinfectants do you use?
We use EPA-registered, hospital-grade disinfectants matched to your facility and the pathogens of concern. Our primary products are Vital Oxide® (EPA Reg. #82972-1, stabilized chlorine dioxide, Category IV toxicity, NSF D2 food-contact safe) and Benefect® Decon 30 (EPA Reg. #84683-3-74771, botanical, USDA BioPreferred, no PPE required for application). Both are safe for occupied spaces and food-contact areas when used per label. Safety Data Sheets are provided on request.
How is electrostatic disinfecting different from standard cleaning?
Standard cleaning sprays disinfectant directly at a surface — the front gets wet, the back, sides, and underside often do not. Our ESS electrostatic sprayer applies a positive electrical charge to each droplet, which is then pulled toward the surface and wraps around it on all sides. The result is 3D coverage, faster application, less product, and contact time held long enough to actually kill pathogens — not just spray at them.
Is this different from biohazard cleanup?
Yes. Biohazard cleanup addresses scenes involving blood, bodily fluids, decomposition, or other regulated medical waste — work governed by the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030) and IICRC S540. Commercial disinfecting is the disinfection of facilities and surfaces, with or without a known contamination event. We are certified for both, and we will tell you honestly which one your situation calls for.
Is it safe for people, pets, and food-contact surfaces?
Yes, when used per label. Our primary products are EPA Category IV — the lowest toxicity rating — and rated safe for occupied spaces. Vital Oxide® is NSF D2-rated as a no-rinse food-contact sanitizer. Benefect® Decon 30 is USDA BioPreferred and certified as a food-contact-safe disinfectant. We coordinate timing with you so the space is ready for re-occupancy on your schedule.
When can my space be re-occupied after treatment?
For most environments, the space is safe to re-enter within 10 to 30 minutes of application — long enough for product contact time to complete and surfaces to dry. Larger or more heavily treated spaces may require slightly longer. We give you a specific re-entry window before we begin so you can plan staff, residents, or customers accordingly.
Do you handle outbreak situations like flu, norovirus, or COVID-19?
Yes. We respond to flu, norovirus, RSV, COVID-19, MRSA, and C. diff exposure events with EPA-registered products selected specifically for the pathogen. Vital Oxide® is listed on EPA List N (disinfectants for use against SARS-CoV-2).
Can I schedule recurring service?
Yes. We offer one-time, on-call, weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, and quarterly schedules — sized to your facility, traffic, and risk profile. Recurring accounts get priority outbreak response if something unexpected happens between scheduled visits.
Do you also clean? Or just disinfect?
We disinfect — we're not a janitorial service. There's an important difference: cleaning removes visible soil, dust, and debris. Disinfecting kills pathogens (bacteria, viruses, mold) on contact. Per CDC and EPA guidance, surfaces should be visibly clean before disinfection so the product can do its job without organic matter blocking it.
As part of our service, and situationally dependent we can wipe down high-touch surfaces — door handles, light switches, keyboards, faucet handles, shared equipment, countertops — and then apply hospital-grade disinfectant across the facility using ESS electrostatic equipment. What we don't do is general janitorial work: vacuuming, mopping, dusting, trash removal, restroom cleaning, or window washing.
If your space needs general cleaning before we arrive, your in-house team or janitorial contractor should handle that first. Many of our clients schedule their regular cleaning crew immediately before our disinfecting visit so the two services work in sequence — clean first, then disinfect. We're happy to coordinate timing with your cleaning provider.
The Three A's
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Assess
We arrive AND walk your facility with you. Our team identifies high-touch zones, contamination risks, sensitive equipment, and food-contact areas — then selects the EPA-registered product and application method matched to your environment.
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Apply
Using ESS electrostatic equipment, we apply hospital-grade disinfectant in a uniform coat across every surface — wrapping objects on all sides. Contact time is held to EPA label specification before the space is cleared for re-entry
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Verify
Before we leave, we confirm coverage, note any items that required special handling, and provide a service report with product information, EPA registration, and Safety Data Sheets — ready for your OSHA log, tenant file, or compliance record