How Dry Steam Cleaning Can Be Used to Help Fight the Spread of #Coronavirus
C&M Editior Neil Nixon recently interviewed our MD Thomas Stuecken to discuss how dry steam can be used to help fight the spread of the Coronavirus (Covid-19)
Read the full article below or at www.cleaningmag.com
"With Coronavirus spreading around Europe & the world it is paramount that good cleaning practises are being followed. The government, WHO and healthcare professionals recommend that good hygiene practises are to be adhered to and specifically state hat one of the most effective ways of reducing transmission is good hand hygiene using soap and water. Much of the focus, quite rightly, is about personal hygiene.
"Good hand hygiene practise is all very well but increased frequency if hand washing can be undermined if a similar approach to decontamination of frequently touched surfaces is not undertaken. Covid-19 is an enveloped virus which is characterised by a fatty outer layer.
"This layer is susceptible to a detergent and steam vapour which will emulsify the layer and safely remove the virus. Deep cleaning using dry steam vapour has the advantage of penetration of common healthcare surfaces which characteristically have a non-smooth, textured or rough surface which can harbour dry biofilm and soil. Steam vapour deep cleaning will also reach into surface areas where manual cleaning is inhibited. Dry steam equipment is a far more reliable and safer alternative to a broad use of chemicals and one growing in favour with many healthcare environments.
"Dry steam is superheated to approx. 180 degrees Centigrade and works quickly to remove dirt and pathogens as well as their biofilms including (but not limited to) MRSA, Acinetobacter, Kleibsiella and C.Difficile via vacuum extraction and/of microfibre.
"Dry steam is also incredibly environmentally friendly, using ony water as an alterantive weapon against HAI'sand thus discouraging any antimicrobial resistance. Dry steam has previously been validated by UCLH (University Colleage Hospital London) and TNO in Holland. These studies focused specifically on the efficacy and removal of biofilm and the microbiological decontamination of risk contact surfaces for patient and clinical staff in a hospital environment.
"The final results demonstrated that dry steam performed equal or better than standard chemical disinfection practises using detergent and chlorine based compounds. Dry steam can therefore safely be used to deep clean, sanitise and disinfect surfaces in an efficient and environmentally friendly way.
"Our technology was recognised in 2009 by the Department of Health and NHS Supply Chain, with an award for technology innovation for providing the greatest contribution to healthcare environment cleanliness. There is no doubt that the cleaning industry's fight against the Coronavirus will continue for the foreseeable future.
"The spread of the virus is yet to peak in many countries around the world but the very clear message from OspreyDeepclean is that we have the technology to ensure the highest level of environmental hygiene and, when coupled with some appropriate "social distancing" we can always keep one step ahead!"