When we visit a new site and we talk to our clients about their main priorities, it is nearly always to stay on top of hygiene and the kitchen comes at the top of their list of places to keep germ free. At a recent new assessment, our client told us about how they use antibacterial cleaner and wipes to stay on top of the germs, they were very surprised to find out that this may not have been doing the job they hoped!

Anti Bac  wipes are not the best cleaner!

We use a number of different products to ensure that when we clean surfaces they are left in a clean and hygienic way, but we have found that a good quality detergent, hot water and a monitored system are the best ways to stay on top of germs in the work place and we are not the only ones to think that anti bac is not all it’s cracked up to be.

An article published in The Telegraph showed the findings of Dr Clare Lanyon, a biomedical scientist, she said “Consumers may be wasting money on antibacterial wipes because common germs, which can replicate themselves in just 20 minutes, quickly recolonise back to original mass even if just one single cell is left over. The minute you walk around the kitchen you’re shedding bacteria and fungi into the area again and it’s just recolonising.”  We have also seen additional studies that show that in order for antibacterial cleaners to be effective they need to be left for two minutes on a surface before being wiped away.

Dr Lanyon went on to say, “You can’t actually remove all bacteria and nor would we want to – exposing ourselves to everyday pathogens is good in keeping the immune system healthy and strong,”

A routine clean with detergents, sanitisers and surface shield will be the most effective way to remove harmful bacteria and we use our tried and tested Crystal Cleaner product, which for years we have found to be very effective in maintaining high standards of hygiene in the workplace. Some of our clients love the product so much they buy extra bottles, so they can use it at home!

The other issue with wipes is the negative impact they have on the water network and the environment. With the recent government proposal to ban single use wipes in the near future, it may be time to look at alternatives anyway. We use good quality cloths, sponges and mop heads at Crystal Clean to ensure that the clean is always of a high standard. We then wash all our cleaning products at our HQ in Sheffield to kill off any bugs and keep the cloths in a good condition for continual reuse. If you are still looking for something on top of regular detergents that are biodegradable to assist with your cleaning regime, alcohol and vinegar are good natural products that kill germs and bacteria and they are both environmentally friendly.

When you think about the best ways to stay on top of hygiene in the work place, it is worth remembering that all your team members need to practice good hand hygiene.

To find out more about maintaining high levels of hygiene in the work place get in touch with one of our team members today info@crsytalcleanservice.co.uk