James Nokes Editor

Come visit us at build-a-business.com (we're always adding new content) Email address: jfntci@aol.com The Cleaning Institute 955 Karol Way, #3 San Leandro, CA 94577

 What exactly are they? 

Disinfectants, also called biocides, sanitizers and anti-microbials are chemicals that are used to destroy a wide variey of microorganisms. Because of their potency they’re registered and regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency.

The most commonly used disinfectants are:

• Chlorine bleach
• Hydrogen peroxide
• Alcohol (60-90 percent)
• Phenolics
• Aldehydes
• Quaternary ammonium chloride (quats)

Quats are some of the most used odor control chemicals/disinfectants by cleaning business and are considered ideal because they’re odorless, have low toxicity and are cost effective.

 Should you Sanitize? Or Disinfect? 

According to the Center for Disease Control, a thorough cleaning of sinks, toilets, doorknobs, and other hard surfaces that people frequently touch is the first and most important step in preventing the spread of disease. So it makes sense to let people know you are working to make their homes are places of business safe for them. But unless you remove 99% or more of the microorganisms present on a surface you have not disinfected that surface. So do yourself a favor and don't advertise that you disinfect when you clean. If you apply disinfectant to areas you clean but don't remove that 99% you have sanitized these surfaces making them safe for humans but you have not disinfected them.

 Basics of Working With Disinfectants 

Different disinfectants have different properties and destroy different classes of microbes; Therefore you either need to use a disinfectant that works on the specific germs you are trying to get rid of, or select a broad-spectrum product that works on all of the germs that you might encounter.

The general rules for using disinfectans are:

• Disinfectants can harm you - always protect yourself by wearing gloves and goggles.
• Follow product mixing instructions, and make up only as much as you need.
  
  
• To actually work as a disinfectant you need to leave the product you are using in place long enough for it to do its job - up to 10 minutes or so for best results.

How can you tell what germs a disinfectant product will kill? Check the container label or product fact sheets for an EPA Number. All commercially available disinfectants register their effectiveness claims with the EPA.

In most professional cleaning situations it isn't practical to leave surfaces wetted down with disinfectans. So what janitors/house cleaner ususally do is: Clean thoroughly, this will make sure that the disinfectant works with maximum efficiency. Use a mild but effective disinfectant product, and use as little of it as possible. Always wear gloves and goggles to protect yourself. This is the basic approach to sanitize surfaces.

Some products, primarily those containing quaternary ammonium chlorides, may be used for both cleaning and disinfecting. These products work best upon surfaces that are already fairly clean, or when they are used twice in a row - once to clean, then to disinfect.

There are four ways to reduce the amount of disinfectant you need to use:

Use a product with the specific EPA-registered ingredients needed to kill the germs found in your building. Using the wrong disinfectant wastes your time and money, and doesn't do the job.

Determine how often to disinfect. Evaluate the amount of traffic your building gets and identify the surfaces that people touch most often. You can check disinfection guidelines published for your situation by the EPA.

Control product mixing. Using full strength disinfectants is seldom necessary so it just wastes chemicals. And using the full strength product is more dangerous to the user. Make sure that you or your people dilute their disinfectants according to the manufacturer's directions. Typical dilutions are 1 part concentrated product to something in the range of 125 to 500 parts water.

Clean first. Disinfectants need to be in contact with the germs they are intended to kill. That means the surface must first be cleaned to the point where it is free of dirt, grease, and oil. Then the disinfectant must be thoroughly applied, and left in place for 10 minutes.

Professional cleaners often arrange their work sequence so that they leave the disinfectant in place long enough but don't wind up standing around waiting for the disinfectant to work. For example, if you clean a restroom or bathroom you can do your pre-cleaning, apply the disinfectant and then empty the garbage while it works.

Six ingredients are commonly used as disinfectants in today's janitorial products, with the choice depending upon both the type of building being maintained and the specific pathogens present. Each of these ingredients can affect the janitorial user, building occupant, and the environment in general. Careful storage, mixing, and use of disinfectant products can reduce the danger of harm from these products.

 So Read the Label Already! 

The front label of a disinfectant contains the product name and the manufacturer's (or distributor's) name and address. The front also lists the Active Ingredients. The so-called actives, are those ingredients that are responsible for the germ killing action of the product. Federal law requires they be listed. This listing will help you select the product that offers the best combination of safety and effectiveness for your uses.

The front label also usually contains the EPA Registration Number. This is your assurance that the product is legally registered with the EPA as required by law.

The next part is the Directions for Use section. This section is normally on the back or side of the container. It not only describes how to use the product correctly, but also the locations and applications it is designed to be used for and the type of organisms it will control.

The final section of the label outlines certain hazard statements associated with use of the product. All EPA registered products have hazard statements associated with their use. The labeling requirements for disinfectants require that hazard statements be clearly stated. It is extremely important to follow all precautions listed.

Most disinfectants can cause eye and skin irritation so these are the most frequent warnings you will find. The hazard statements are based on the concentration the product is sold in rather than the final dilution. Highly concentrated products will usually have a much lower level of toxicity when they are diluted. For these products, you should refer to the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for indications of precautions required with the diluted product. For products marketed at full strength, the label precautions will be accurate.

I hope I didn't put any of you to sleep with all this information but disinfectants are nothing to mess with. I guess if there was just one thing I wanted you take away from this article it's that you need to read, understand, and follow the directions when you use disinfectants.

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