Effective cleaning and disinfection
Basic principles of safety and hygiene
Hygiene and safety are top priorities in today's world – so understanding how cleaning and disinfection work is crucial. Choosing the right products and strategies can make a big difference, whether in your everyday life or in the professional context of hospitals, respiratory protective equipment workshops, and other spaces designed to get work gear clean. This guide explains how to maintain effective hygiene practices ‒ and how to minimise the risk of chemical interactions.
Unexpected consequences of switching to a new product
When you introduce a new chemical product, chemical interactions ‒ whether with washware materials or with residues of previously used chemicals ‒ are a real risk. Detergents and disinfectants typically contain a large number of ingredients that have been carefully chosen to create the right mix. But when applied to washware or used in combination with other detergents or disinfectants, there is always the possibility that these ingredients might react with other materials or substances. The composition of washware materials, detergents and disinfectants is highly complex, so it is impossible to be completely sure in advance whether interactions may occur.
The difference between detergents and disinfectants
- Detergents are designed to remove both visible and invisible soiling from surfaces.
- Disinfectants, on the other hand, are used to kill or inactivate pathogens, such as bacteria, yeasts and viruses, in order to minimise the risk of infection.
Why pre-cleaning is so important
Pre-cleaning is the first step in a multi-stage cleaning process. It removes larger particles of dirt and grime and eliminates the residues of any detergents and disinfectants that were used previously. This makes the subsequent cleaning and disinfection process much more effective.
How disinfectants work
Disinfectants work in different ways. Common mechanisms of action include the following:
- Bactericidal: these disinfectants kill bacteria and are effective against vegetative bacteria such as E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus.
- Levurocidal: these agents are effective against yeast fungi such as Candida albicans and provide important protection against fungal infections.
- Active against enveloped viruses: these disinfectants inactivate enveloped viruses ‒ such as influenza viruses and coronaviruses ‒ but are not effective against non-enveloped viruses.
Summary
Knowing how to use detergents and disinfectants correctly is an essential factor in maintaining high standards of hygiene. To ensure your cleaning and disinfection procedures are as safe and effective as possible, you need to have a good understanding of chemical interactions, carry out pre-cleaning correctly and choose the right products for the job.
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