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