According to the World Health Organization (WHO), certain types of viruses have been reported to survive on certain kinds of surfaces for days, or even weeks. Research studies show that up to 50% of the surfaces in an office environment can be contaminated by harmful pathogens within 4 hours. Harmful pathogens are known to spread like wildfire in commercial facilities and office spaces.
The right way to prevent their spread is by taking adequate steps towards facility disinfection and by incorporating a culture of personal hygiene among all occupants. In fact, facility managers should consider electrostatic disinfection if they want their equipment to be rendered virus free while protecting their integrity.
Surface Wiping is Not Nearly Enough
Surface cleaning involves the removal of visible dust, dirt, and grime from the surfaces and objects. Viruses are not naked to the eye and work at a microscopic level. You may not notice any dust on a door knob and believe it to be clean – but it may still carry pathogens that can bring your entire workforce down.
This is the same for countertops, keyboards, kitchen slabs, faucets, mouse, and phones among other high-touch surfaces. Disinfection using special substances and chemicals can effectively inactivate bacteria, viruses, and pathogens. It’s critical to understand the difference between sanitization and disinfection. They are not the same even if the terms are often used interchangeably.
Sanitization lowers bacteria counts to an acceptable level whereas disinfection is aimed at achieving a 99.999% destruction of pathogens. There are several disinfection techniques that allow for superior results. For instance, regular and comprehensive disinfection using an electrostatic spray can reduce the spread of pathogens to a major extent.
The best part is that electrostatic disinfection doesn’t leave a sticky or messy residue and is suitable for all surfaces, even electronics. However, the end results are only as good as the equipment and product used. This is why an increasing number of commercial spaces, such as businesses, hospitals, and corporations are turning to experienced commercial cleaning services for electrostatic disinfection.
What is Electrostatic Disinfection?
Electrostatic disinfection involves the quick and even coating of surfaces with a disinfectant. An electrostatic applicator places a negative charge on the disinfecting chemical as soon as it comes out of the nozzle. Charged molecules repel each other and try to maintain distance from one another. The molecules attach to the surface they are sprayed on.
Disinfectant chemicals with charged molecules quickly target dust, grime, and pathogens on the surface since they have greater strength as compared to gravity. Electrostatic disinfection involves detailed science. The short of it is that electromagnetically charged disinfectant solution molecules attach to the applied surface. The solution is sprayed which means you get a 3600 comprehensive coverage.
There are no nooks, crannies or corners that are ignored. Most surfaces have a neutral charge. A negatively charged disinfectant gets attracted to surfaces with lower polarity. The mechanism works on the concept of Coulomb’s Law, which is how spray painting is being advanced in the automotive industry.
Functioning of an Electrostatic Disinfection Machine
Liquids, particularly disinfection, sanitizing or cleaning solutions, are charged using electrostatic disinfection sprayers. The molecules are charged negatively as soon as they exit the applicator nozzle. The molecules begin repelling each other and actively seeking surfaces that have a different polarity.
The molecules get attracted to neutral surfaces and coat debris particles, dust, and pathogens evenly on all sides. The sprayed object gets evenly coated on all sides by the sanitizer or the disinfectant. Electrostatic disinfection is a useful cleaning method for surfaces that are hard to reach or are designed in such a way that they have several corners and crannies. These areas usually get skipped during manual cleaning.
Electrostatic disinfection machine turns the cleaning solution into a spray. This means you don’t need to worry about the problem of liquid pooling. This is often the case with most trigger sprayer cleaning systems. However, you need a capable electrostatic disinfection contractor with experience in handling commercial spaces if you want best results.
The cleaners will point the nozzle and spray to coat hard-to-reach surfaces and awkwardly shaped objects. The beauty of this equipment is that it converts the disinfectant into a misty spray that envelops objects and coats surfaces evenly. This occurs even when the mist is sprayed only from one side. The negatively charged molecules are automatically attracted to the neutral polarized surface.
The sanitizing agent starts working as soon as it coats the surface. In most cases, you won’t need to wipe away the mist. This means the disinfectant on the object or surface prevents pathogen attacks for a longer time. This is one of the primary reasons that makes electrostatic sprays an excellent solution for germ and contaminant ridden spaces, such as tabletops and light switches.
Effectiveness of Electrostatic Disinfection Machines
Traditional spray systems do a decent job. Moreover, electrostatic technology for dispensing disinfectants is far superior and efficient in terms of end results. You can make sure that all surfaces and objects are evenly coated. There is no sticky residue to worry about. Tests regarding electrostatic disinfection have concluded that misting is almost 10 times more effective as compared to traditional cleaning methods.
Additionally, electrostatic sprayers ensure the disinfectant mist covers all surfaces – even the hard to access spaces. This only increases its efficacy over conventional cleaning methods that routinely misses difficult places and awkwardly shaped objects. Electrostatic disinfection machines can easily coat leg joints, crannies, cable grommets, and other things.
All types of surfaces, objects, and areas within a commercial space can be safely and effectively decontaminated using an electrostatic sprayer. They are recommended for:
- Offices
- Schools
- Assisted living facilities
- Gyms
- Hotels and restaurants
- Food processing plants
- Retail stores, and more
Electrostatic sprayers are being used by an increasing number of medical offices and surgical facilities. They ensure that all areas remain as sanitized and clean as possible.
Uses of Electrostatic Disinfection
Electrostatic sprayers are useful for all types of surfaces, wherever you currently sanitize or disinfect. Large surfaces can be covered in a matter of minutes by the sprayer. This makes them perfect for school classrooms, public restrooms, cafeterias, kitchens, equipment rooms, offices, and vehicles. Electrostatic disinfection doesn’t require regular wiping since all surfaces are coated evenly and there is no sticky residue left behind.
The spray technology can be customized to match your unique facility needs. There are several facilities choosing these sprayers as an alternative to manual cleaning and disinfection methods, such as wipes and trigger sprays. There is better surface coverage in case of electrostatic spraying as compared to standard cleaning.
These are a few industries that are increasingly adopting electrostatic cleaning because of myriad benefits:
- Medical: Doctor’s offices, waiting rooms, examination areas, and surgical theaters
- Educational institutions: Classrooms, cafeterias, buses, gym, and locker rooms
- Catering: Industrial kitchens, restaurants, and vehicles
- Corporate: Office reception area, cubicles, boardrooms, and bathrooms
- Hospitality: Hotel rooms, reception areas, dining rooms, gyms, and pool facilities
Electrostatic Sprayers Are Useful Against Covid-19
Electrostatic cleaning machines can be used for all types of surfaces where disinfectants can be used. They work effectively in killing pathogens, including the novel coronavirus. Correlating with this, results depend on the type of cleaning and sanitizing solution being used. You should consider hiring commercial electrostatic disinfection service providers since they have access to commercial grade EPA certified disinfectants.
The disinfectant needs to be left on the surface as per manufacturer recommendations before being wiped away. In fact, there is no wiping or rubbing necessary in this form of disinfection since the solution is sprayed as a fine mist. This also helps in reducing the risk of cross-contamination. Electrostatic cleaning is an effective way of removing coronavirus since it evenly coats the targeted surface. It’s particularly useful in disinfecting hard to access surfaces and irregular shaped objects.
Several commercial spaces, including offices and factories have adopted electrostatic cleaning in the post-covid era for reducing contamination and managing infection control.
Do I Need Electrostatic Spray Disinfection?
Workplaces across several industry verticals can benefit from electrostatic cleaning methods. You can either incorporate it as part of your periodic deep cleaning or regular cleaning. The technique is useful for both high traffic and heavy use areas. Electrostatic cleaning quotes may appear steep, but the technology is both cost-effective and fast.
Commercial space owners and general public are increasingly seeking and becoming aware of various methods to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Customers and employers can be protected from an outbreak by preventing cross-contamination through surfaces. Electrostatic disinfection allows for superior cleaning.
This technique may be best suited for your business if you are concerned about the negative consequences of germs and grime. These are a few characteristics making electrostatic spray cleaning a great choice for SARS-CoV-2 disinfection:
- It reduces the time taken for disinfecting all targeted areas and surfaces by 40% as compared to traditional methods
- It controls the spread of HIV, coronavirus, influenza, and MRSA among other pathogens
- It allows for even and better spread of chemicals on all types of surfaces
- Eliminates the risk of pooling cleaning chemicals on surfaces and objects
- Prevents environmental and financial burdens because of healthcare infections
Electrostatic disinfection and cleaning is a salient solution for desktops, floors, and walls that cannot afford to be dirty or contaminated. It’s recommended for cleaning awkwardly shaped objects and hard-to-reach surfaces as well. In particular, the technique allows for superior cleaning where heavily-touched surfaces and high-traffic areas are concerned.