When it comes to applying disinfectant, how you do it is just as important as what cleansing agent you use. Disinfectant application methods are best when they’re straightforward, they’re fast, and they’re effective, as this means you can get the job done quickly and easily without worry.
That being said, there are several different ways that applying disinfectants can be done. from the old-school mop-and-bucket approach to using disinfectant wipes and disinfectant sprays, each of these methods has advantages and disadvantages. Here’s how these disinfectant application methods differ from one another.
Mopping Disinfectants
Mopping disinfectants is likely the most well-known method. Tools are inexpensive, for one, and it’s an excellent method for covering very large surface areas like floors and hallways. It’s also the most accessible method for cleaning and disinfecting, as just about everyone knows how to use a mop and bucket to clean a floor.
However, mopping has some distinct drawbacks, especially in cases of cross-contamination. Using one mop for everything in your facility is a great way to simply move a pathogen from one place to another. If you’re going to be using mops for sanitation, it’s recommended to have several color-coded mops and buckets for use in specific areas to cut down on the risks of cross-contamination. Thankfully, mops are plentiful and inexpensive enough to make this a possibility.
Spraying Disinfectants
Mopping might be great for wide open areas, but harder-to-reach places off the floor are best left to other types of cleaning and sanitizing. Spraying disinfectants offers a solid alternative in this case, especially if you invest in an electrostatic sprayer. These types of spray disinfectant delivery systems imbue a static charge in the disinfectant as it leaves the sprayer, resulting in better adherence to objects and surfaces.
Truth be told, however, electrostatic sprayers are perhaps the most expensive type of cleaning equipment you may ever own. This high price tag can put off many when it comes to using a spray system like this, but the high efficiency of an electrostatic sprayer often pays for itself when you take into account how well it can disinfect hard-to-reach areas that you would never be able to clean with a mop.
Wiping Disinfectants
Finally, there’s something to be said for a good wipe-down. Counters, sinks, tabletops, and other smaller surfaces are all perfect for disinfectant wipes, as they’re easy to carry, use, and dispose of. They’re also an effective and economical alternative to more expensive types of disinfectant delivery systems such as electrostatic sprayers. Their relative size also means you can get them into many places that you wouldn’t be able to reach with a mop, such as vertical surfaces or nooks and crannies.
Yet disinfectant wipes aren’t perfect. The downside to using a disinfectant wipe is that you’re often relying on elbow grease to get the job done, possibly even more than you would when using a mop and bucket. Also, the relatively small size of each wipe means that they’re not particularly suited for larger-scale disinfectant jobs. That being said, they certainly have a place in just about every professional setting for spot cleaning hard to reach areas.
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