Disinfectants: What Your Cleaning Company Needs to Know
As a cleaning service one of the things you will be responsible
for is to make sure that you are killing germs and other
microorganisms. Germs, disease causing bacteria and viruses can
hide in all kinds of nooks and crevices in your buildings -
everywhere from toilet seats to doorknobs. And these tiny
creatures are not content to stay in one place for long. They
catch rides on hands, garbage cans, and cleaning equipment and
are then spread throughout the building. Knowing how
disinfectants work will help you to choose a suitable
disinfectant to control the microorganisms that lurk in your
buildings.
So how do disinfectants work? They work by oxidizing the germs,
breaking down their cell walls, in other words, disrupting the
physical makeup or blocking the energy-yielding or synthetic
process of the germs. Because different ingredients or
combinations of ingredients kill different germs, you need to
select a disinfectant that works on the specific germs you are
trying to remove. If that is not possible, you should select a
broad-spectrum product that works on all the germs that you
might face.
There are several types of disinfectants available, but the two
categories of disinfectants that a cleaning company needs to
know about are:
*Quaternary disinfectants. This type of disinfectant carries a
positive charge. The bacteria, viruses and fungi you are trying
to remove carry a negative charge. When you clean a surface
using a quaternary disinfectant, the cells of the bacteria,
viruses and fungi change from a negative to positive charge,
which eventually leads to its death.
Quaternary, also referred to as Quats, are typically used in
low-level sanitization situations. Quaternary disinfectants are
odorless, non-staining and non-corrosive to metals. They are
fairly non-toxic if used in diluted concentrations.
*Phenolic disinfectants. Phenol and phenolics are the active
ingredients in most bottles of common household disinfectants.
Phenol is the oldest disinfectant and was originally called
carbolic acid. Phenol can be corrosive to skin, so you may want
to consider using disinfectants that contain phenolic, which is
less corrosive.
Phenolics are very effective at sanitization and disinfection.
They are also effective at destroying several types of bacteria,
including the bacteria that causes tuberculosis. Phenolics are
fairly expensive to use and they react with some plastic
surfaces.
To make sure you are using the right disinfectant and that it is
performing as it should pay attention to the following factors:
*Concentration. Mix the disinfectant to the proper dilution rate.
*Contact time. Some disinfectants need to be in contact with the
germs they are trying to kill for specific amount of time. If
not left long enough they cannot do their job.
*pH. Certain disinfectants work best under an acidic condition
(bleach), while others work best under alkaline conditions
(quats).
*Temperature. As with pH, bleach works best in cold water and
quats work best with warm water.
There are a growing number of products on the market that are
specifically designed to limit the spread of germs or
effectively remove them from the surfaces people tend to come in
contact with. How can you tell what germs a product is intended
to kill? Carefully read the product's label or product fact
sheet and look for an EPA number. Commercially sold
disinfectants must register their effectiveness claims with the
EPA.
As disinfectants are intended to "kill" germs and other
microorganisms it is important to follow label directions and
plan how often to disinfectant surfaces. A disinfectant must be
in contact with the germs it is intended to kill. This means you
must first clean the surface so it is free of dirt, grease and
oil. Then apply the disinfectant let it dwell for the
recommended amount of time.
Remember, even though good cleaning removes dirt and many germs,
the germs left behind will grow and spread. Using a disinfectant
will help to kill the remaining bacteria, viruses and other
microorganisms. This will help keep your building clean and its
occupants healthy.