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Critical Flaws in the Disinfecting Process
1. Unlike insecticides, disinfectants have no residual
effect. Disinfectants must be mixed in a solution with water
to activate their destructive properties. Disinfectants must
be in direct contact with a pathogen for a period of time that
varies according to the product and the microorganism.
2. A property of physics called specific gravity causes aqueous solutions to pool and gather in droplets on flat surfaces. This effect is seen when freshly waxed vehicles are washed. We have all seen water droplets form conical “bubbles” on the hood of the car. Disinfectant solutions, guided by the same physical effect, run down vertical surfaces in streams and rivulets. This means much of the surface area on which disinfectant solutions are applied, remain untouched and untreated. Liquid disinfectants must remain in wet contact with a microorganism in order to destroy it, sometimes for as long as 5 to 10 minutes. In practical terms, the problem of specific gravity severely restricts the ability of liquid disinfectants to cover a surface, so most of the surface area we seek to disinfect remains untouched.
3. It simply takes too long for disinfectants to work. Disinfectants require wet, direct contact with a pathogen to damage or destroy it. Even the strongest disinfectants take at least 30 seconds of wet, direct contact. Contact times can take as long as 5 to 10 minutes. No matter how the liquid is applied, environmental service workers are not given enough time to wait for the required time.
Mechanical systems that are used to spray large areas quickly, do not apply enough product to be effective. Sprayesr atomize solutions. The fine mist that lands on the surface will evaporate and dry very quickly. Anyone applying liquid disinfectant would need stand over the target surface, and spray the product over and over, to even have a chance at complete disinfection. These factors make it virtually impossible to disinfect vertical surfaces like walls, doors, and splashboards, or “frequent touch” surfaces like door knobs and light switches, since they cannot be kept wet for the required time to be effective.
Ultraviolet light shines on everything in view, pens, pencils, staplers, telephones and keyboards.
4. Liquid disinfecting solutions cannot be used on many
surfaces that need disinfecting. Keyboards and keypads
on computer equipment, phone equipment, electrical
equipment, and medical devices require other forms of
disinfection. These frequent touch surfaces transfer more
viral and bacterial pathogens than any other surfaces in
the environment. A recent study indicated 30% of pathogenic
material on a surface can be transferred to human skin in
as little as 5 seconds.
5. No one follows the directions on the label! It is actually a federal law that disinfectants must be applied in the manner described by the label directions. It actually says that on the label. All disinfectants must be applied then allowed to remain
on the surface for the required time...to be effective
.
Professional environmental service workers, kids helping to clean the kitchen, guys cleaning the garage, all apply these products the same way...they spray the product onto the surface and immediately wipe it off. While this is fine for cleaning products, this
method does not work with disinfectants.
Conclusion: Ultraviolet light exposure is more effective and less expensive.
Ultraviolet devices illuminate every square millimeter of surface.The potent UVC light is safe to humans, but deadly to viral,bacterial, and fungal pathogens. The few remaining surfaces that are hidden from the light can be cleaned by hand, as in the past.
As stated at the top of this label and all disinfectant labelw: It is against Federal Law to use the product any wa inconsistent with the directions on the label.
This label says "leave the surface wet with this product for 4 minutes"
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