Choosing the Right Surface Cleaning Products for Your Facility
To bleach or not to bleach? Natural cleaning products or chemicals?
Choosing the best, most effective cleaning products for a commercial facility can be confusing at the best of times. Throw COVID-19 and the upcoming flu season into the mix and the pressure to keep a building clean and sanitized is multiplied exponentially.
First, it’s important to ensure that you understand the type of cleaning you are doing and the definitions of some commonly used chemicals. Products often make dizzying claims for what they can do, problems they can solve and how they are better and faster than the competition.
For instance, some cleaning products are cleaners only while others both clean and disinfect. That’s why it can be helpful to know which chemicals or ingredients are in your cleaning products so you know how they work and what they actually do.
The American Cleaning Institute has a good list of explanations for some cleaning terms. The Environmental Working Group also has a page of definitions of words you see commonly on cleaners. Both of these resources can help you better understand the ingredient list in your cleaning products so you can make the best choice for your business.
Why We Recommend Peroxide-Based Cleaners
Here at DPM, we generally recommend peroxide-based cleaners. There are a number of reasons for this, not the least of which is how it complements our SaniShell system. Peroxide is an effective cleaning agent, but it doesn’t remove the protective film that’s applied during our SaniShell process.
But even if you aren’t using our SaniShell system, there are several other reasons why we like peroxide-based products:
1. Cleans and disinfects.
Peroxide both cleans (removing dirt and debris) and disinfects (kills germs and microorganisms). This two-in-one punch makes it a highly effective cleaner.
In particular, peroxide is fairly effective at getting rid of germs on surfaces. Why? Because it cleans through oxidation. In other words, peroxide breaks down biofilm and dirt by eating it. That means, peroxide eliminates harmful germs, viruses, mold and mildew without an extra step.
2. Safe and non-toxic.
Peroxide is a simple chemical compound made up of hydrogen and water. Because there are not a lot of harsh chemicals or ingredients, it’s a gentle cleaner that’s safe to use on most surfaces.
Because peroxide evaporates as it dries, you won’t have any residue when you use it. That means it also won’t hurt the environment.
Plus, you avoid the noxious fumes or irritating fragrances that come from many cleaners.
3. Simple to use.
Unlike some cleaners and disinfectants that require a long dwell time, peroxide is very simple to use.
For example, Bioesque, the cleaner we use and recommend, is as simple as spraying and letting it dry. There’s no need for wiping the surface down unless there is visible debris.
Cleaning Products to Avoid in Your Facility
So, which cleaning products and agents should you avoid in your facility?
We recommend steering clear of cleaning and disinfecting products with the following ingredients:
- Bleach. While bleach will certainly clean a surface, it can also damage many surfaces such as textiles. It is also highly abrasive, toxic and causes corrosion.
- Alcohol. It’s most commonly used in medical settings. Alcohol’s efficacy is dependent on its isopropyl value. However, it can also be a dangerous cleaning ingredient.
- Ammonia. While ammonia is found in many cleaning products, it is highly toxic and should be used with caution. Ammonia should never be mixed with bleach.
Struggling to find a good cleaning product for your facility? Give us a call. We can help.
DPM’s team works hard in developing leading edge products and services that will help you keep your facility germ-free and your employees healthy. We’d love to talk to you.