You’ve probably seen the label on your favorite disinfectant or hand sanitizer: “Kills 99.9% of germs!” But is that number really accurate? Which germs are left out? And in this day of COVID-19, can you ever be so sure that you’re safe?
If the current pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that different germs behave differently and need to be handled as such. There is no one-size-fits-all solution to killing bacteria and viruses. Industry experts like Ashland Cleaning stay several steps ahead of the curve when it comes to knowing what specific products and processes are needed to kill those germs lying in wait.
All Cleaning Solutions are NOT Equal
A recent study underscores the fact that spray technologies are more effective than manual cleaning when it comes to reaching a variety of surface types and hard-to-reach areas, such as crevices. Ashland Cleaning’s primary weapon, the Clorox® Total 360® System, reaches the front, back, and sides of surfaces to kill germs, including SARS-CoV-2, the cause of COVID-19. This powerful disinfecting tool also eliminates highly contagious pathogens such as MRSA and norovirus. Using an electrostatic spraying method, the Clorox® 360® is designed to cover more surface area with a consistent blanket of disinfecting product making it faster and more efficient than typical wiping methods. With its ability to allow direct liquid application in a more consistent pattern, it is proven to get into hard to reach areas wiping cannot address. The electrostatic sprayer creates positively charged ions as solution particles leave the sprayer causing the solution to stick to negatively charged surfaces, giving a full coverage clean and allowing the disinfectant to cling to any particles it touches. With the efficiency of electrostatic sprayers and Ashland Cleaning’s emergency services, you can be sure that your space can be disinfected and back to safe conditions without having to shut down for hours should the occasion arise.
Understanding an SDS
Every chemical product has a required SDS sheet that explains the properties of a product, including kill claims, and how to use it. The information on these sheets is imperative to how each chemical is approached, including the methods of application, safety wear needed, and which chemicals it can mix with. In regards to killing germs and kill claims, the information on an SDS can tell you when the product is most effective. For example, a certain disinfecting wipe may claim to eliminate germs such as influenza A, salmonella, E. coli, norovirus, and mold & mildew from nonporous surfaces within 30 seconds, while other germs can take up to 10 minutes. When choosing products and processes, it’s important to know the difference. With all of the products on the market, this can be an overwhelming task.
Bacteria vs. Virus
Bacteria and viruses are both a type of germ, tiny living cells that are invisible to the naked eye, but that’s where the similarities end. Bacteria are a larger molecule than a virus and, unlike viruses which tend to make you sick, not all bacteria are bad. However, “bad” bacteria and viruses that cause illness can survive on surfaces for hours, or longer, between human hosts who deposit them and pick them back up. Anti-bacterial cleaners do not kill viruses. Although basic wiping and cleaning with an anti-bacterial soap can wipe some bacteria off of a surface, to attack both harmful bacteria and viruses, surfaces need more than just cleaning. They need to be disinfected with the proper product and proper method to ensure full surface coverage.
