Spartan News © Spartan Chemical Company, Inc 1999

Spartan Chemical Company, Inc.
1110 Spartan Drive, Maumee OH 43537
Phone: (800) 537-8990
www.spartanchemical.com

Training Information

IMPORTANT FACTS ABOUT FLOOR DISINFECTION

Procedures:

I. Contact Time

A. Disinfectant cleaners should remain wet on the floor for 10 minutes.

B. In critical areas, (e.g. operating rooms) dwell time is especially important.

C. In other areas of the facility, ten minutes may not seem practical.

1. The longer a disinfectant solution is in contact with the floor, the more bacteria will be killed.

II. Fresh Solutions

A. Dirt, blood and "organic soil" inhibit the action of a disinfectant.

B. Even the best disinfectant can be neutralized by too much dirt.

C. Diluted disinfectant cleaners should be kept as clean as possible.

1. Use the double bucket method.

2. Change the disinfecting solution often as you clean:

a. After four or five rooms have been cleaned.

b. Sooner if the disinfecting solution is visibly soiled.

3. Use the spray down, mop up method.

III. Clean Mop Heads

A. Dirty mop heads are reservoirs teaming with bacteria.

B. Mop heads should be changed daily.

C. Dirty mop heads should be laundered and thoroughly dried before reuse.

D. Clean buckets also contribute to good disinfection.

IV. Dust Mopping

A. Dust Mopping a floor prior to cleaning with a disinfectant cleaner has a major impact on the reduction of bacteria found on the floor.

B. Effective methods of dust removal:

1. Vacuum cleaner equipped with a hospital grade filter.

2. Chemically treated, freshly laundered or disposable dust mop.

C. Poorer methods of dust removal:

1. Freshly laundered,

non-treated

dust mop.

2. Broom.

a. Brooms kick up dust and bacteria into the air causing serious contamination problems.

b. Brooms should not be used in nursing homes or hospitals.