Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/797481
22 / MARCH.APRIL.2017 USICERINKS.COM The second step is to clean the same area, now using the disinfectant. This two-step process can be avoided if the product is labeled as a "cleaner disinfectant," but many are not, so the two-step process is necessary. Next, read the label and look for the "bacteria kill time." The words "dwell time" may also be used. With some disinfectants, this may be as little as three minutes. For others, it could be as many as 10 minutes. What the label indicates is how much time it takes for the disinfectant to be effective at eradicating the germs and bacteria on a surface. Also, cleaning professionals should know that the disinfectant must remain wet. If it dries on the surface, it should be reapplied and the process repeated. Quat Binding If you have never heard the term "quat binding" before, join the club. It is actually relatively new to the professional cleaning industry. "Quat" refers to quaternary ammonium chloride, an active ingredient found in most EPA-registered disinfectants. The phenomenon of quat binding refers to the absorption of quaternary ammonium chloride into the cleaning cloth being used or, if mopping floors, into the mop head. As this happens, the disinfectant loses its effectiveness. Looking at this situation more carefully, what is happening is that the quats are positively charged, and many cleaning cloths and mop heads are manufactured with natural textiles such as cotton, which are negatively charged. This causes the quats to be absorbed into the cotton. In one study, the quat level of a disinfectant on a cleaning cloth was reduced by 50 percent after soaking for 10 minutes. The pathogen-killing benefits of the disinfectant have been severely reduced. There are different ways to prevent this: • Apply the disinfectant directly to the surface to be cleaned, and allow it ample time to work effectively. • Frequently change the cleaning cloth or mop head (and the mop water as well) that is used for cleaning and disinfecting. • Avoid using standard terry-cloth towels with disinfectants; microfiber is more effective at removing soils from surfaces, and will not be as impacted by quat binding. Another option is to look into different cleaning systems. While they are not designed specifically to kill germs and bacteria, aqueous ozone cleaning systems and no-touch cleaning systems will not be impacted by quat binding because no textiles are used in the cleaning process. They can also address some of the other disinfecting challenges mentioned earlier. Finally, managers and cleaning professionals should consider using ATP monitoring systems. These devices are essentially an electronic petri dish. A surface is swabbed, and the swab is then put into the device, which looks like a television remote control. In about 15 seconds, the device indicates if ATP is present on a surface. While it does not indicate specifically what types of pathogens are present, a higher-than-usual ATP reading should always be viewed as a red flag, indicating that cleaning and disinfecting are necessary will thank you for it. J This article was originally published in the December 2016 issue of Parks & Rec Business Magazine. Visit parksandrecbusiness.com for more. The author, Ron Segura, is the former Manager of Janitorial/Document Services for Walt Disney Pictures and Television. If you have never heard the term "quat" before, join the club. It is actually relatively new to the professional cleaning industry. "Quat" refers to quaternary ammonium chloride, an active ingredient found in most EPA-registered disinfectants.