Microbicides: Music to the Ears

by Diane M. Calabrese

Microbicidal is a word that’s become music to the ears of many, many people during the last few years. Compounds that can eliminate microbes—viruses, bacteria, fungi—from surfaces allow us to create more hygienic and sanitary environments. Bleach plays a microbicidal role. It also plays a cosmetic role.

For all its ubiquity in the world of cleaning, bleach is a relatively new entry to the tools we use to thwart entities that contaminate the environment. The history of bleach begins with the identification of chlorine in 1774.

Today, when we speak of bleaching agents in our industry, a dilute solution of sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) is most generally what we mean. Sodium hypochlorite is used across many sectors to disinfect, and as a corollary to tamp down odors as well as to whiten.

[Note: There are many bleaching agents/compounds in the chemical sphere. The shorthand “bleach” in the general lexicon almost always refers to a dilute solution of sodium hypochlorite, which corresponds to the meaning attached to it here.]

So useful is bleach that the phrase “bleach additive” might seem curious. But every solid entry in the industrial sphere has a purpose.

To sort things out for us, we turned to an expert on bleach and bleach additives, Joseph Daniel, CEO of ITD Chemical in Tucker, GA.

Let’s start with bleach additives. How are they defined? The additives are chemical products that “enhance the cleaning properties of the bleach,” says Daniel. And there are several types of enhancements, including fragrance, foam generation, detergency and/or solvency, and marking dye.

Daniel explains the basics of each named enhancement: Fragrance masks the odor of bleach. Foam encourages a longer dwell time. Detergents and/or solvents create a robust cleaner that in turn reduces the amount of bleach required for an optimal cleaning outcome. Marking dye helps the soft-wash operator identify where solution has been applied.

“High-quality bleach additives can dramatically increase the effectiveness and efficiency of the cleaning process,” says Daniel. “Bleach by itself is a highly alkaline oxidizer and disinfectant, but it is not a well-rounded detergent.”

Members of our industry who include soft washing in their roster of services are familiar with the power of additives. “Bleach additives are critical for proper and efficient soft washing technique,” explains Daniel.

In fact, there are products that consist of bleach and an additive that contractors use regularly, although they may not realize they are using that combination. “Most products labeled as mold and mildew cleaners are essentially chlorinated detergents, which is bleach plus a detergent additive,” says Daniel.

There are two reasons mold and mildew cleaners are not used to clean an entire structure, explains Daniel.

They are too expensive, and the bleach concentration is typically too low.

In the context of cost effectiveness, Daniel offers a recommendation. “Bleach can and should be bought in bulk locally, and bleach additives added on site.”

Although foam generation and odor masking are perhaps the most common reasons for an additive, there are other ways to gain from use of additives. “The best products bring another level of cleaning efficiency,” explains Daniel.

That efficiency derives from “rinseability” and “bleach extension—in other words, use less bleach,” says Daniel. In fact, his company offers a product, Green Machine, that delivers that combination of results.

Bleach is a well-known entity across industries and even in homes. But that does not signal an invitation to complacency.

“Bleach is a highly corrosive and reactive chemical product,” says Daniel. “Care should be taken to review the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for bleach, also known as sodium hypochlorite, in order to understand proper methods of handling. Proper PPE [personal protective equipment], at a minimum to include eye protection and gloves, should always be worn.”

In the context of safety, it’s imperative that additives and bleach are a match. “Adding an incompatible chemical product to bleach can be highly dangerous and even deadly,” explains Daniel.

And there’s another caution, too, says Daniel. “Contractors using bleach in the field should always stock a bleach neutralizer, such as [our company’s] Neutra Bleach.”

The neutralizer “protects plants, flushes equipment (to prevent corrosion), prevents bleach streak on windows, and neutralizes hazardous bleach,” explains Daniel. Use of a neutralizer is a “critical and inexpensive step”—one that cuts down on “headaches, expenses, and danger.”

A contractor must be committed to getting it right. “Operators should never use products that aren’t specifically designed to be added to bleach, and the product container should state that the product is bleach stable,” says Daniel.

“Acids—water-based chemicals with a pH under 7—should never be added to bleach,” explains Daniel. “This can create a reaction that results in chlorine gas, which is deadly. All bleach additives must be neutral or elevated pH.”

One of the many defining properties that put a compound in the acid category is that it reacts with a base to form a salt. Another is that it dissolves in water-forming hydrogen ions. Acid and sodium hypochlorite must never meet because chlorine gas will be released from the reaction. (Reminder: Chlorine gas was used in World War I.)

Chemicals incompatible with bleach include alcohols, ammonia-containing compounds, and more. “Bleach Incompatibilities,” from Stanford Environmental Health & Safety, is an excellent summary of cautionary notes. Geared to research safety, it’s a handy reference for anyone working with bleach (and other chemicals). See https://ehs.stanford.edu/ wp-content/uploads/Bleach-andincompatible-FactSheet-LSP-20-116.pdf

Bleach need not always be in the picture when abatement of certain microbes is the goal. “The other common mold, mildew, and management product category is quat [quaternary ammonium compounds] cleaners and/ or disinfectants,” says Daniel.

And Daniel’s company offers products such as Bio Bomber and Sani Quat 23. “They can serve a critical role in abatement efforts,” he explains. “However, they are slower acting than bleach-based products and can be more expensive for large projects.”

Owners choose alternatives such as quats when they want to avoid bleach or when surfaces of the structures are sensitive to bleach. “The advantage of these products is they provide a long-lasting barrier to future mold growth on the surface, which reduces the frequency of cleaning required in the future,” says Daniel.

But back to bleach and additives… “When bleach is being used, a bleach additive should always accompany it for best results,” explains Daniel. “There is no exterior soft-wash case where bleach would be better without an enhancing additive.”

The key for contractors is planning. Quat-based products provide “a long-lasting barrier on the surface, retarding future mold growth,” says Daniel. As such, they should be part of “a proper long-term mold management strategy.”

Bleach is fast-acting, says Daniel. But alone it is not a long-term mold management strategy.

To develop the best management plan, contractors should take advantage of the expertise of industry members who manufacture and distribute chemicals. And keep safety in mind.

In fact, says Daniel, it is possible to develop a plan based on periodic application of a quat-based product that eliminates the need to use bleach at all CT

Providing Encouragement Women Of Ceta

by Diane M. Calabrese

Agood start leads to good growth.

Women of CETA [WOC] got off to a great start in 2009. Make that an official and great start because women had been meeting informally to help fortify the industry and network since the inception of CETA [Cleaning Equipment Trade Association].

Members of WOC take many roles. Some own companies. Others work in management or administrative positions. All women affiliated with CETA are welcome and urged to join. The group includes women who have spouses in the industry and who technically do not take a role themselves. (“Technically” because spouses confer and offer each other advice, and a woman may work outside the industry but still be deeply involved in her spouse’s efforts.)

“Being able to come together in all of our many roles in the industry, connecting as women, is so important,” says Theresa Rasmussen with Royce Industries L.C. in North Las Vegas, NV, who currently serves as chair of WOC.

“WOC celebrates women in all roles of the industry, from dealership, manufacturer, ownership, and sales positions to involvement as the wives that support their husbands in business,” explains Laura Barker, marketing manager at Nilfisk HPW in Fort Pierce, FL, who responded on behalf of herself and Alexis Campbell, sales director at the same company. She and Campbell add that they look forward to the WOC event at PowerClean each year.

Orlando, Florida (just 120 miles north and a bit west of Fort Pierce), will be the location for PowerClean® 2024 (October 31–November 4). There will, of course, be a WOC session.

“I attended my first Women of CETA event in 2022,” says Stephanie Birmingham, sales representative with Kärcher N.A. in Fayetteville, AR. “This event marked the changing of the guard with outgoing founding member/president Brenda Purswell stepping down and passing the torch to Theresa Rasmussen to lead this group.”

Birmingham recalls the “energy” of the meeting, which was “positive” in every way. “You were able to see the respect and appreciation” the members of the group have for one another.

Each person who joins a new industry welcomes advice from those who have “been there and done that.” “WOC has promoted and increased the representation of women in the cleaning equipment industry and provided space for mentorship,” says Birmingham.

CETA is a welcoming organization. Most importantly, women have been part of its core since it began. Brenda

Purswell, for example, only retired from the industry two years ago after launching and then owning and operating a business (Alklean in Pasadena, TX) with her husband, John Purswell, for 50 years.

Yet it’s natural for young women new to the industry not to realize the contributions of the veterans in the industry who are women. WOC, besides looking forward in all endeavors, ensures that the history of women in the industry is understood and appreciated. That’s part of the “visibility”— or highlighting what integral players women have always been in the industry, which the group facilitates.

“As someone relatively new to WOC, my experience has been centered around the welcoming environment it provides at the annual meeting,” says Ann Hardisty, executive director—dealer relationships, Lease Consultants Corporation in

Urbandale, IA. “The opportunity to connect with other women in the industry, share experiences, and build relationships has been incredibly important to me.”

The relationships can generate ideas that inform new workplace ventures. They can also highlight ways in which women might become more involved in the industry.

WOC eases paths to relationships that make it easier to tap into industry expertise. Newer members to CETA may have trepidation about committee service. But with the ability to call on a member of WOC for a bit of encouragement throughout the year, if needed, taking on a role in service to a professional organization becomes a reasonable step.

Newer members of WOC also bring experiences to share. Some of them grew up in a strictly digital world. They see the benefits of marketing through multiple channels and tailoring approaches to specific customers.

Rasmussen has an abiding belief in the value derived from the vigor of a collegial and genial environment for women in the industry. Encouragement—informal and formal—often makes the difference to a person weighing a new venture or a new path in the workplace. Women find that encouragement in the WOC group.

From accountants to design engineers to administrative professionals and owners of businesses, and spouses—truly industry roles of all kinds—all women in the industry are welcomed by WOC. The diverse backgrounds and professional contributions of the group add to its strength.

“The friendships that are forged through the Women of CETA are remarkable,” says chairman Rasmussen. “Even though many only see each other once a year, the friendships run deep.”

Know the past. Use it to build the future. Share. Connect. Learn. Be visible—no hiding your light under a bushel. Join Women of CETA, which offers a standing open invitation to each woman affiliated with the association CT