by Brianna Crandall — June 15, 2016 — Many cleaning professionals now select “cleaner-disinfectants” when performing cleaning tasks that tackle facility germ centers such as restrooms, desk tops, high-touch areas, food service areas, and more. But the way they use these products may actually make them ineffective, because many professionals believe these products clean and disinfect all in one step, says Avmor, a provider of professional cleaning solutions since 1948 in North America and Europe.
“This is not correct and can have serious health repercussions,” asserts Paul Goldin, vice president with Avmor. “Using a cleaner-disinfectant is always a two-step process.”
Goldin’s critical tip for facilities and cleaning professionals is that the surface must be cleaned first — often referred to as a “pre-cleaning” — and then cleaned a second time. It is the second step that actually disinfects the area being cleaned, and is necessary for the product to be used properly, he says.
The key issue, according to Goldin, is that the actual soils on the surface must be removed first.
“If cleaning professionals read the spec sheets or technical data sheets that accompany these products, this ‘pre-cleaning’ step invariably will be mentioned,” notes Goldin. “But unfortunately, many cleaning workers do not read spec sheets. Because of this, distributors should always point this two-step process out to their clients.”
When using and selecting cleaner-disinfectants, Goldin also advises:
- Select a high-quality product designed to kill a broad spectrum of bacteria and viruses on hard and non-porous surfaces.
- If there are any particular bacteria or viruses of concern, be sure the product label mentions these and that the product is proven effective against them.
- Read the label and be aware of the cleaner-disinfectant’s dwell time, which can vary.
- The cleaner-disinfectant must remain wet on the surface. “If it dries, the cleaner-disinfectant should be reapplied,” Goldin adds.
