CLEANING AND DISINFECTING FLOORS MUST KNOW FACTS

COMBATING THE VIRUS THAT CAUSES COVID-19

Specialist Commercial and Industrial Cleaning across South Africa

While have traditionally been considered a non-critical environmental surface, the COVID-19 pandemic is requiring all facilities to consider taking extra precautions against the virus that causes the disease. The must-know fact about cleaning and disinfecting floors have become ever more critical. A New England Journal of Medicine study published in March 2020 shows that this virus can live for up to 72 hours on some non-porous surfaces.

Reducing the potential for virus transmission, experience recommends that floors are regularly cleaned and then disinfected with chemicals that have been tested against the EN1276 Standard.

Bactericidal or antimicrobial products such as disinfectants and antiseptics are used in industrial, domestic and institutional areas. These products are developed to inhibit and fight against various populations of microorganisms in a range of products including food, cosmetics, healthcare, medical devices, home and personal care. Evaluation of their bactericidal activity is important to ensure product quality and efficacy. 

BS EN 1276 is a European Standard which specifies a test method and the minimum requirements for bactericidal activity of chemical disinfectant and antiseptic products that form a homogeneous, physically stable preparation when diluted with hard water or – in the case of ready-to-use products – with water. 

BS EN 1276 applies to products that are used in food, industrial, domestic and institutional areas excluding areas and situations where disinfection is medically indicated and excluding products used on living tissues except those for hand hygiene in the above-considered areas.

Must-know facts about cleaning and disinfecting floors with different cleaning chemical agents

• Acidic Agents 

Acidic cleaners usually have mineral acids (like hydrochloric acid) as the active ingredient. They are used to brighten metals or remove mineral deposits and clean oxidised materials. Many bathroom fixture cleaners are acidic, and their purpose is to remove calcium build-ups (water stains/lime deposits) or scaly or corrosive deposits. 

• Alkaline Agents 

Alkaline cleaners, like degreasers and ammonia, are used to dissolve fats, oils and proteins. Most types of soils will contain these elements, and alkaline cleaning agents will break down these materials and make them easier to remove. 

• Neutral Agents 

Neutral cleaning agents are called such due to their pH-neutral base. They are useful for dispersing dirt, dust and other debris through an utterly neutral base. They will have a less cleaning effect than a cleaning agent that falls more to one side of the scale and are ideal for light soil loads. 

Know the Difference

• Floor cleaning is the physical removal of soil, debris, and organic substances from a surface. Prophylaxis is an essential step in the disinfection process. Auto-scrubbers can be used to perform this critical task between disinfection processes. At the same time, people are present, since the cleaning solution is applied to the floor and quickly removed to prevent slip-fall accidents.
• Floor disinfecting is the use of chemical solutions that eliminate pathogens and disease-causing microorganisms. These chemicals require a dwell time of up to 10 minutes (times vary) to do their job. This task is performed after cleaning and when an area can be closed off as the floor remains wet for at least the required dwell time.

Must know facts to protect against COVID-19

• Before cleaning and disinfecting the floor, remove loose soil, debris and other substances.
• Use an IPC auto-scrubber to complete a thorough floor cleaning, which removes stubborn soils and organic materials that can be hospitable to microorganisms. Allow floors to dry before continuing completely.
• Select an approved disinfectant and ensure the chemical you choose is approved for use on your particular flooring type. 
• Always wear appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) when preparing and using a disinfectant solution.
• Prepare the disinfectant solution according to label directions. Carefully follow instructions for use, including contact times, to ensure effectiveness.
• Always restrict foot traffic while creating areas and use appropriate safety protocols, such as placing barricades and using prominent safety signs, to avoid slip and fall accidents while floors remain wet.
• Ensure the disinfectant remains in contact with the floor surface for the required time, allowing surfaces to air dry following application.
• Drain tanks of remaining disinfectant solution immediately after use. Rinse floor machine with water using conventional scrubbing to remove any product residue inside to reduce the potential for chemical interaction issues†.
• Additional cleaning processes can be used between disinfection cycles to create a clean and safe environment for customers, guests and employees.
• Even when used as directed, using the disinfectant in an auto-scrubber may cause premature wear and additional service calls as disinfectants can be more damaging than detergents.
• Using a disinfectant without adequate contact time on the surface creates a false sense of safety and wasted funds. Traditional use of auto-scrubbers put solution down and recovers it in 2-3 seconds. This is not long enough to achieve efficacy.

Tips for Cleaning & Disinfecting Cleaning Equipment

• Cleaning and disinfecting floors may result in contamination of cleaning equipment. The guidance recommends routine cleaning and disinfecting of all cleaning equipment.
• Dispose of dirty water responsibly and safely.
• Only use chemicals approved by the manufacturer.
• Use disposable cloths if possible
• Use disposable gloves.
• Thoroughly clean cleaning equipment storage areas regularity with an approved disinfectant. 

Tips for Cleaning & Disinfecting Auto-Scrubbers

• Cleaning and disinfecting floors may result in contamination of IPC auto-scrubbers with the virus that causes COVID-19. IPC recommends routine cleaning and disinfecting of equipment surfaces and parts.
• Before selecting a cleaner or disinfectant, review labels to determine if the chemistry is compatible with the auto-scrubber surfaces and components. Some disinfectants, just like some cleaning products, can corrode metals, plastics and types of rubber.
• Thoroughly clean all hard, non-porous surfaces of the machine. After cleaning, allow time for surfaces to air dry before disinfection completely.
• Thoroughly apply the disinfectant by wiping or spraying and carefully follow contact time and PPE instructions.
• If some surfaces cannot be reached via wipe or spray, it may be necessary to disassemble and immerse the parts in disinfectant.

Wipe and rinse equipment with water to remove disinfectant residues from a machine, paying specific attention to the scrub deck, squeegees and other areas prone to chemical corrosion to reduce the potential for damage to your equipment. Take care not to spray the electrical components of the machine.

Contact BRCT for any Cleaning and Sanitising needs you may have to ensure your floors are hygienically clean.

Adapted from the original blog post can be found on the IPC website

IPC Company is committed to working with industry partners to keep our communities clean, safe, and healthy. We salute you for the essential work you are doing to maintain your facilities to control the COVID-19 pandemic. Thank you for your help in protecting your community.

In order to reduce the potential for virus transmission, the guidance recommends that floors are regularly cleaned and then disinfected with chemicals that have been tested against the EN1276 Standard.