Debunking Myths About the Cleaning and Hygiene Industry

Debunking Myths About the Cleaning and Hygiene Industry

Every industry has myths that stick around, and the hygiene industry is no exception. Cleaning is something that everyone does every day to some degree and there is often not much thought put towards the best methods. It is important for the health of your staff and visitors to your business to understand the truth behind hygiene and how it relates to your business. In this blog, we will be debunking some of these myths to help make your business safe and compliant.

Myth 1: Cleaning and disinfecting are the same thing

While many people use the terms cleaning and disinfecting interchangeably, they do have different meanings. Cleaning is generally just the removal of physical soiling such as dirt, grime, food debris etc. Whereas disinfection refers to the use of chemicals than can actually kill these germs. Cleaning should always be done prior to disinfection to allow the disinfectant agent to have direct contact with the surface.

Cleaning and disinfecting are both important steps in the infection control process. Disinfecting without cleaning means that the disinfectant agent is not able to properly work on the dirty surface – cleaning without disinfecting means that the surface may look clean but there can still be nasty germs and viruses living on the surface. It is important to follow the process in the right order and in the right way – or just let us do it for you! Jaymak has over 22 years’ experience in the provision of specialised cleaning services to the hospitality, health, and food sectors. Click here to get in contact with us now.

Myth 2: Disinfectants work straight away

There is no disinfectant agent that will work instantaneously. Each product will need a certain amount of time to work depending on the manufacturer instructions which may also differ depending on the circumstances in which the product is used.

For example, Hygiene Shield Coviclean is effective against SARS-CoV-19 after 30 seconds of contact time on a clean surface but contact time may differ depending on the organism suspected. Always read the directions on the product label to ensure you leave the disinfectant on for the required time. If you wipe away the disinfectant agent too soon after application, it will be unable to kill many germs on the surface and still leave you and your staff at risk of infection.

Furthermore, you need to ensure that you are using the correct amount of disinfecting agent. The surface should be saturated and more chemical may need to be added during the contact time to ensure that the surface stays wet for the required amount of time.

Myth 3: Dishwashers clean themselves

Since dishwashers themselves are used for cleaning dishes, many people think that they don’t require cleaning. Food waste can build up on the internal workings of the dishwasher over time and can reduce the effectiveness of the equipment. Furthermore, the hardness of Australian water and excessive calcium/lime deposits place extra strain on the machine’s cleaning ability. This has a secondary effect of reducing its energy efficiency – the dishwasher has to work harder and still wash less effectively! Jaymak provides commercial dishwasher cleans that can help leave your dishes cleaner and safer. Click Here to learn more about how Jaymak can leave your dishwasher running more efficiently.

How Jaymak Can Help

While these myths have been around for some time, the COVID-19 pandemic has given reason for more people to stop and consider cleaning methods and their efficiencies. We hope that the information outlined here can help clear up some myths and allow people to undertake cleaning that is safer and healthier. As certified cleaning professionals, we’re always here to help implement a cleaning regime that fits the needs of your business. Contact us today for more information on how we can help you.

References:

7 Household Cleaning Myths Debunked | Temple Health

Coming Clean: Debunking Common Myths about Cleaning and Disinfecting (commercialcleaningcorp.com)

A chemist’s guide to disinfectants (acs.org)

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