Home › magazine › special features › How effective cleaning measures create hygiene and safety part two
How effective cleaning measures create hygiene and safety - part two
6th of May 2020
The risk of infection is reduced considerably in a clean, well-kept environment that is regularly cleaned. Disinfection measures are also only effective if dirt has been removed from floors, surfaces, etc, beforehand. In this new series, Kärcher has been offering an overview of which cleaning technologies are available to fight pathogens such as the new coronavirus and how they work.
In this second part we first look at the importance of meticulous surface cleaning in the fight against contact infections. Then how digital solutions can help to support those programmes.
Cleaning surfaces plays an important role in the prevention of disease transmission through contact infection - especially where people regularly congregate. In order to protect the user, he should always be vigilant about personal protective equipment and wear gloves. The key point with surface cleaning is that cleaning textiles are changed frequently enough and not put back into the cleaning fleet.
With the change cloth method, for example, a fresh cloth is used for each new object within an area to be cleaned, whether it is a toilet, office or room. This provides effective protection against carryover. The 16-side method originally stems from the healthcare sector and is used with ready-to-use cleaning agents. The cleaning cloth is folded in half four times so that there are a total of 16 sides. Each surface can be wiped with a fresh side wet with cleaning agent - when each side is used, the cloth is discarded and a new one is used.
If contaminated surfaces should be chemically disinfected, there are disinfectants and disinfectant cleaners, which, depending on the version, can have a virucidal effect against enveloped viruses such as the coronavirus. In the case of heavy contamination the surface must be cleaned first. After the drying time the disinfectant is mixed with tap water according to the defined ratio.
The solution must be applied to the entire surface and allowed to take effect. Then the surface is rinsed with fresh water, in the food processing industry with drinking water. If the surface is slightly dirty, disinfectant cleaners can be used, which clean and disinfect in one step.
Cleaning as needed: digital support to combat pathogens
Using software or apps that digitally represent processes for all tasks of building service contractors, adjustments to daily cleaning tasks can be made quickly and without physical contact and adopted to the cleaning plan. Real-time communication enables customers, facility managers and cleaners to quickly exchange information. Special tasks like additionally disinfecting door knobs or other surfaces can be reliably planned and communicated in this way.
RSS