What Is The Best Way To Clean?
27 July 2022
5min read time
Guide
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When cleaning any area, a thorough cleaning routine consists of 4 key elements agitation, chemical, time and temperature.
What is agitation:
Agitation is the physical activity that has an abrasive effect on the surface or fabric that is being cleaned. It allows for the chemicals to be in contact with fresh soiling and dislodges the particle pollution. Before beginning any cleaning process, agitation is the first key step.
Choosing the right chemical:
When cleaning it is essential that the correct chemical and correct dilution is used for the right job. Choosing the wrong chemical for the job can waste time and resources or potentially be harmful.
Time:
When referring to time in cleaning, the dwell time is important. Dwell time is how long the chemical sits on the treated area. It is essential that the solution is not sitting on the treated area for too long or too short of a time. If it’s not dwelling long enough the chemical won’t have an effect on breaking down on the treated area, if it's too long the solution can become dry.
Temperature:
When cleaning, it is essential to choose the right temperature for the right cleaning job. The benefit of using hot temperature is that it allows for the molecules to move more quickly and allow the cleaning process to be more aggressive. However, in some cases, hot water is not always needed to clean. For example, bleach, and hot water can deactivate certain compounds in it and make the product less effective in cleaning.
How do Cleaners work?
The job of a cleaner is to not kill germs but to remove them from a surface. The primary goal of cleaners is to get rid of dirt and grime, and physically remove bacteria, viruses, mould, and fungi. Cleaning can also remove food and water that allows germs to survive and reproduce. This can lower the number of germs and reduce the risk of spreading infection. If the job is done correctly, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) cleaners can remove 98% of bacteria and 93% of viruses. Cleaners use a combination of chemistry (the cleaning product) and physics (the energy and friction used to scrub a surface clean) to generate the best results.
What are disinfectants and how do they work?
Disinfectants are chemical products that kill germs after a surface is cleaned.
For disinfectants to work, you need to start with a clean surface. Disinfectants work in several different ways, but their main goal is to destroy or break down the cells of pathogens like viruses and bacteria.
"Dwell time," or how long a disinfectant is left on a surface, is critical to the effectiveness of the disinfectant. Some disinfectants require up to 10 minutes to kill or inactivate certain pathogens. Therefore it is essential that the agitation process is done properly for chemicals such as disinfectants to be effective on the surface.
The Importance of Colour Coding your Microfiber Cloths, Mops & Buckets.
This is an important and often overlooked issue, to avoid cross-contamination it's important to use colour-coded cloths, mops & buckets in the correct areas.
Blue: Is for general cleaning areas.
Green: Is for kitchen areas.
Red: Is for bathrooms & washrooms.
Yellow: is for infectious areas.
White: is for operating theatres
So, the next time you see a cleaner using a red cloth in the kitchen, ask them where has that cloth been used before. Having a colour coding system in place prevents the spread of germs and bacteria from different areas.
Environmentally Friendly Cleaning Products Alternatives
At Abco we are extremely passionate about our Enviroplus range of Eco-Friendly, Powerful, Natural Cleaning Products. It is a great alternative to use that is safer for the environment and for the cleaners!
Enviroplus is an extensive range of environmentally friendly & organic cleaning products, delivering powerful results for the environmentally conscious. The Enviroplus range of products is easy to use and easy on the environment, using powerful plant-based extracts to produce a highly effective range of GECA-certified cleaning products. See the range below:
Enviroplus X Range of GECA Certified Cleaning Products
Abco – your local supplier of commercial cleaning supplies in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney – we have been providing contract cleaners and facility managers with sustainable cleaning products, powerful industrial cleaning supplies and commercial cleaning equipment for over 20 years. For information about our commercial cleaning consumables or machinery, please call us on 1800 177 399 or email us at sales@abcopro.com.au.
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