Today we are going to talk about a topic that is not widely treated but of great importance in industrial cleaning. The differences between cleaners and disinfectants and the different grades.
In companies specialized in industrial cleaning it is of great importance to know the differences between the different types of cleaners that are used in both professional and domestic cleaning. For them the training of the personnel is essential at the time of obtaining an optimum result and adapted to each need.
Let’s start with the cleaners. They are products that help remove stains, dust, dirt, unpleasant smell and particles of different materials and usually leave a pleasant smell if they are also scented. They can be powder, spray, liquid or tablets.
Cleaners have a primary function for hygiene at work and at home, but cleaning does not end there. Despite leaving clean finishes, in most cases the cleaners do not end with bacteria or viruses, so they are necessary but not sufficient for a good cleaning.
To be able to clean optimally, after using a cleaner and leaving the surface apparently clean, it is when it is necessary to use a sanitizer or disinfectant depending on the need.
A sanitizer is what we usually call a disinfectant but in reality it is not the same. It reduces bacteria, viruses or fungi but does not necessarily kill them. It is usually enough for a domestic environment but you have to be careful for cleaning for public use, especially in critical places, such as toilets, the food sector or health. For a product to be approved as a sanitizer the product must reduce by at least 99.90% of the microorganisms in 30 seconds.
Thirdly, we have the disinfectants, which are more specific products for critical sectors and that achieve a reduction of bacteria, viruses and fungi of 99.999%. These products are usually active with an application of between 5 and 10 minutes.
The truth is that the difference between 99,900 and 99,999%, does not seem very significant but if we talk about bacteria and viruses in sensitive places it may be the difference between a bacteria-free environment or a potential source of infection.
It is also important to know the specific products and read the labels, since normally the disinfectant and sanitizing products require a minimum time of action that goes from 30 seconds to 10 minutes and if the times and indications of use are not respected they are not effective .
It is the responsibility of professionals in the industrial cleaning sector to know the hygiene needs of the facilities we have in our care and act rigorously and accordingly. If you have any questions ask the manufacturers and they will advise you and can offer you material and resources to train your staff.
