School disinfectant has taken on new importance and urgency with the impact of COVID-19.
However, schools must rely on effective and thorough cleaning regimes even in normal times.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has published information about COVID-19 transmission in schools.
It states measures schools take must:
“Consider the need to prevent transmission as well as to present children with an optimal social and learning environment.”
Keeping a school environment as clean and bacteria-free as possible at all times is vital, and this requires the right disinfectant.
Oxyl-Pro is a next-generation hand and surface disinfectant with a proven track record of effectiveness against bacteria, viruses, fungi, yeasts and moulds.
How to Keep Schools Clean
Keeping schools clean requires a systematic approach to both cleaning and disinfecting.
First, does it matter what type of cleaner you use?
The short answer is: ‘Yes’. While you can clean surfaces with soap and water, this will not leave them free of germs and pathogens.
Therefore, applying a disinfectant is essential. But you need to clean the surface first. If there is visible dirt on the surface you’re cleaning, then the disinfectant will not be able to do its job properly.
What Disinfectants are Recommended in UK Schools?
Cleaning products for schools generally include a small amount of a powerful chemical, such as bleach, that has been diluted to a level where it is safe to use.
Traditional cleaning methods then apply this diluted chemical using mops and cloths.
However, there are disadvantages to this approach.
- First, and as we have already highlighted, surfaces that you are disinfecting must be clean first, otherwise, the disinfectant will not be effective.
- Second, the traditional method of application, with mops and cloths, can end up spreading dead and surviving microbes, rather than eliminating them altogether. When this happens, the surviving microbes can feed off the dead ones, multiplying rapidly as a result.
Some multipurpose cleaning products used in schools claim to disinfect surfaces as they clean them, but if they are not left on these surfaces for a minimum length of time, they will not be fully effective in removing germs and bacteria.
School disinfectant should be left on surfaces for between five and 10 minutes.
This raises practical issues around time and resources, as well as safety too – with strong chemicals present in many disinfectants, you should wear gloves when applying them.
The Benefits of Antibacterial Disinfectants for Schools
Bacteria grow when they multiply at microscopic levels, and even small numbers can grow quickly because individual bacteria reproduce by doubling repeatedly.
For a school disinfectant to be effective, it needs to prevent this reproduction process from happening.
Antibacterial disinfectants contain compounds that interfere with this growth and stop it in its tracks. Once this type of disinfectant contacts any bacteria on a surface, they will stop multiplying.
The best disinfectant for schools should:
- Work to prevent bacteria from multiplying
- Remain effective once you apply it
- Be safe for human contact.
Why Choose Oxyl-Pro for Schools?
Oxyl-Pro is based on stabilised hydrogen peroxide. This is a versatile chemical compound and, when added to water, it is a highly effective cleaning and disinfecting agent.
In its stabilised form, it not only inhibits the growth of bacteria but also destroys organisms that have high catalase activity. Catalase is an enzyme found in cells, and it can protect bacteria and aid their growth.
The hydrogen peroxide in Oxyl-Pro is stabilised using only food-safe ingredients, rather than silver, giving it a good environmental footprint, and ensuring its safety as a multi-purpose school disinfectant.
It acts aggressively against pathogens, attacking their cell walls, but its components break down into water and oxygen, leaving no harmful by-products.
It is perfect for applying to surfaces, furniture, and equipment and disinfection carries on long after you have applied it.
For more information about Oxyl-Pro as a disinfectant for schools, please call us on +44 1606 851 782, email enquiries@oxylpro.com or fill in our contact form and we will be in touch.