Before applying disinfectant ensure that you have removed dirt and stains from various surfaces. Ensure all surfaces that are soiled are first cleaned. Spraying disinfectant on a dirty surface misses an important step in the deep cleaning process.
The coronavirus is spread through respiratory droplets from person to person. Evidence suggests that transmission can occur by inhaling droplets in the air but also by touching infected surfaces where the virus has landed. It is not yet known how long the virus causing COVID-19 lives on surfaces, however, early evidence suggests it can live on objects and surfaces from a few hours to days. (Health Canada, October 5, 2020)
There are a few ways to spray disinfectant:
Trigger sprayers
Trigger sprayers are generally made from polypropylene plastic and are operated by filling the container with your desired product, screwing the trigger on and then squeezing the trigger to discharge the product. Each squeeze of the trigger sends product into the air.
This is the most common application method. Why? It’s what we all grew up with!
Portability
An advantage of trigger sprayers is that they are small, lite and inexpensive. For a small area, and one where there are few hidden surfaces, this may be the best option
Consumption of product
Trigger sprayers have a high consumption of product as the sprayer nozzle outputs very large droplets often anywhere from 100 to 400 microns, therefore there is a lack of control over the amount of product used increasing the cost per application
Distribution
Given the large droplet size, the droplets tend to drop quickly to the ground. A small nozzle micron size gives a droplet an ability to drift and cover more surface
Time
Not only does it takes a lot of time to cover a large area but if you want to cover the back of an item you must either turn the item over (taking up more time) or wipe each item (wiping is not recommended for two reasons: using the same towel to wipe many objects could move the virus around and wiping reduces the kill time as less product could be on the surface which then allows the product to dry out faster – the surface needs to be wet for the recommended kill time)
Foggers
Foggers generally work by spraying a mist into the air that falls onto exposed surfaces and objects. They do not reach around items. Distance that the droplet will spray will be determined by the size of the nozzle. Droplets land where they fall. The larger the micron nozzle, the shorter the distance they will travel.
- Chemical fogging – Spraying chemical disinfectants manually on areas, in the form of fogs or mists. This type of fogging method is commonly used in the food industry.
- Vaporized hydrogen peroxide – The vaporized hydrogen peroxide is fumigated into your space through mobile systems or the fogger can be connected to outlets in your workspace and be released into the atmosphere. This form of disinfection is often used in the pharmaceutical industry.
- Ozone fogging – Very effective for eliminating odours (such as the lingering smoke smell from fires), as it deactivates the molecules that are causing that odour. In order to be effective as an antiviral in a commercial setting, a large quantity of ozone needs to be put into an area, which can be hazardous to humans. People must stay out of the treated area during the ozone fogging process.
- Chlorine dioxide – An environmentally safe gas that breaks down into harmless sodium salts during fogging. Before being injected into the room, the gas is first humidified and decontaminated, so that it can optimally disinfect the space.
- Ultraviolet (UV) light fogging – A proven microbial, blue ultraviolet light is used to kill harmful pathogens. UV light is used in water softening systems, for example, to eradicate harmful pathogens. It is a no-contact method and does not leave a residue. UV light fogging is not used in commercial settings.
- Titanium dioxide coating and UV light fogging – Titanium dioxide is a stable, non-toxic chemical used as a surface coating. In the fogging process, it is combined with UV light to reduce harmful pathogens on coated surfaces.
- Ionization – Air goes through ionizing tubes to create ions that attract airborne pathogens, effectively deactivating them and eliminating them from the air.
Electrostatic Sprayers
Electrostatic spraying works by applying a positive charge to the liquid being applied. Since everything around us has a negative charge, the spray is attracted to the surface being coated. The electrostatic sprayer disperses fine, atomized particles into the air so as to coat surfaces. Therefore, Electrostatic spraying provides the ability to reach every nook and cranny. This deep-cleaning method has a great advantage as a sanitizing process.
The positive charged disinfectant liquid is attracted to the surface of desks, tables, chairs, toilets, sinks, handles, computers, phones, etc – allowing for a full coat of liquid onto all surfaces.
This kind of spraying has many advantages over your traditional sprayers. The main benefits of electrostatic spray sanitizing include:
- Time-saving
√ You can clean every day, all day and still you won’t be able to penetrate ‘out-of-reach’ areas. With electrostatic spraying, you reduce the time it takes to actually spread disinfectant on all surfaces!
√ It could reduce your time to spray by 90%
- Efficiency
√ Disinfectant is applied in a much more controlled and efficient manner.
- Saves costs in the long run
√ It improves infection control and the spread of all viruses. Taking steps towards deep cleaning can offer long term benefits with a cleaner environment such as cutting out lost employee time due to infections.
√ It reduces disinfectant consumption by up to 80% over trigger sprayers depending on nozzle size
√ Apply disinfectant as often as you want without hiring a company to do it for you
√ Apply disinfectant as often as you want to high traffic areas such as washrooms
Electrostatic spraying gives a more even coat of disinfectant that can reach all those hard-to-reach areas, adhering to all those areas that traditional cleaning never reaches or is missed.
But remember, no matter which spray method you use, refer to the requirements listed on your disinfectant. Look for the dwell time or kill time for the product.
What electrostatic spraying does is eliminate the worry of not getting potential contaminated surfaces. With electrostatic spraying you can be sure to have every ‘unreachable’ spot fully disinfected. For offices, medical clinics, schools and kitchens, this type of cleaning is imperative for controlling infections, and killing bacteria and mold.
Electrostatic spraying is by no means a replacement for your regular cleaning methods at your workplace. You still have to be keep your premises clean.
Electrostatic spraying is an ‘add-on’ to your cleaning. It is becoming a must-have method in all areas of business to kill off the many germs that are and issue today.
Rowe Services is a suppler of electrostatic sprayers and plant based disinfectant