Cleaning products may have started with ash and animal fat, but science has evolved since the ancient Babylonians first started making soap around 2800 BC. Proper hygiene and disinfection are as important as ever, making it crucial to know which disinfectant is right for you.
Humans have a long history of seeking cleanliness. It’s likely Babylonians invented soap, and we have much evidence supporting the ancient Egyptians’ love of bathing, but soapmaking ascended to an art form in Italy, France, and Spain by the 7th century. Unfortunately, after the fall of the Roman empire in 467 AD, the focus on personal hygiene began to diminish and is likely to blame for the Black Death, the plague of 14th century Europe. By the 17th century, soap was back in vogue, but the biggest boom for soap and other cleaning products in recent history has been the global COVID-19 pandemic.
There are more than 500 products that are approved by the US Centers for Disease Control to kill the virus that causes COVID-19. Many of these products were originally approved to kill other types of pathogens, but the ability to kill a specific bacteria or virus isn’t the only thing to look for in a disinfectant.
Method of Use
One of the first considerations when choosing a disinfecting product should be how it is used. Just like you wouldn’t use a washing machine on a laptop, you have to consider the limitations of your equipment. When trying to sanitize a facility with a lot of small cracks and crevices or other difficult-to-reach places, it may be best to use a disinfecting fog or electrostatic spray that can be finely applied and left to dry. This may also mean you need a different product than if you were using a spray-and-wipe method.
Usability
In addition to considering which product is compatible with the method of cleaning, you may need to consider your space when choosing a method. Ultraviolet light can be great for sterilization, but if you can’t power the machine or fit your object into the light chamber, it may not work. There could be physical restrictions (like tight corners or large spaces) that may make one method of disinfection better than another. When choosing a disinfectant it’s important to consider both how well a product will work and also how it will work for your space.
Safety
It’s important to make sure any product you choose is safe to use in the manner you intend. This can refer to being safe in general, for example, non-carcinogenic, or also in the specific use-case. Make sure to consider the environment in which the disinfectant will be used. One of the most commonly cited contraindications, industry slang for “do not do that”, is ammonia and bleach. Apart they are both effective cleaners, but together they produce poisonous gases that can cause a host of breathing and health problems.
Regulatory Review/Efficacy
When trying to achieve a properly disinfected space, it’s important to use approved products. While there are a variety of natural cleaning products that can be very effective at removing dirt or leaving a nice smell, not every product available in stores has been verified to kill the SARS-COV2 virus or other pathogens. Make sure any product you choose has been properly vetted and verified and is up to EPA standards.
Looking for an easy way to achieve a perfectly disinfected space? Contact the professionals at Pure Pro One. We’ve been serving homeowners, business owners, and community members throughout Southern Michigan and Northern Ohio for years with top-quality disinfection services. Call us today or schedule your disinfectant treatments online today!