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The choice of your hygiene and cleaning products reflects your concern for the well-being and safety of your teams, and the protection of the planet. The main challenge is to find the right balance between efficiency and risk to the health of your employees and the environment. This guide includes all important elements to consider when shopping.<\/p>\n
Hand hygiene is key to preventing hand-carried spread of viruses, bacteria and yeast. European regulations govern dedicated products to ensure their effectiveness.<\/p>\n
At the beginning of the health crisis, one of the first actions was to check that soap<\/a> in common areas was virucidal. The purchase of disinfectant soaps should be encouraged in order to prevent the risk of an epidemic and to guarantee optimal hygiene.<\/p>\n In view of the frequency of use of soap, prefer products that are gentle on the skin and pH neutral. Paraben-free, EDTA-free and preservative-free solutions are best to avoid allergies and skin irritation.<\/p>\n Remember to choose soap dispensers<\/a> adapted to your premises (toilet, workshops, changing rooms, etc.). Consider the following criteria when making your purchase:<\/p>\n Finally, buying foaming soaps is often more economical. By creating a larger volume of foam in their hands, users tend to use less.<\/p>\n Some professions are very dirty and require the use of industrial soaps. Conventional soaps are not strong enough to remove oil, glue, paint, resin stains.<\/p>\n Professional soaps are sold as paste, powder, or gel form. For those who do not have access to a water source, some no-rinse gels or wipes are effective on industrial soiling. For the sake of the environment, use gels instead of wipes.<\/p>\n Exfoliating microbeads are recommended for use in the industrial sector, as they remove the most stubborn stains. For grease residues, choose a formula enriched with glycerine. Products containing solvent are suitable for paint traces.<\/p>\n To ensure good hand hygiene, hand sanitisers<\/a> must comply with the requirements of the European Biocidal Products Regulation. They are effective from a volume of 60% alcohol. The mention of standards in their product sheet certifies that they have been tested on a category of micro-organisms. Complete disinfection is ensured by gels with a triple action:<\/p>\n For good skin tolerance, choose products that do not contain dyes and have been tested under dermatological control. Glycerin-enriched formulas are more comfortable to use, as they moisturise the skin without sticking to the hands.<\/p>\n By installing sanitiser dispensing stations<\/a> in your common areas, you will encourage your employees and visitors to disinfect their hands frequently. Place them in strategic locations. Captive dispensers should be refilled with products of the same brand. Universal dispensers are more economical, as you can refill them with 5 litre containers of your choice.<\/p>\n Do you know the Sinner Circle? This system defines the four actions for quality cleaning: chemicals, mechanical power, temperature and contact time. When these steps are followed, it is possible to reduce the amount of product used. In order to maintain optimum cleaning quality, you need to use products that are suitable for your premises.<\/p>\n Does hygiene have a place in your CSR policy?\u2009 Yes, and even a central place when it comes to buying cleaning products. These cleaning substances lead to air and water pollution. By choosing environmentally friendly brands<\/a>, you can significantly reduce their impact on the environment and the health of your employees. You can recognise them by the Cradle to Cradle<\/a>, European Ecolabel<\/a> or Ecocert<\/a> labels. To obtain these labels, manufacturers must limit or ban the use of certain hazardous substances.<\/p>\n Reinforce your eco-responsible policy by buying concentrated and refillable products. This is an excellent way to reduce the amount of waste, but also the consumption of products. Indeed, your maintenance operators will be able to dilute them according to the use they make. The European Ecolabel certifies the effectiveness of a product, even at low doses. These products are biodegradable.<\/p>\n Traditional products (soap, white vinegar, black soap, bicarbonate of soda, etc.) have become key components of ecological cleaning. They offer a highly effective cleaning action. Note, however, that they are not disinfectants.<\/p>\n Are these products more expensive? No, they are equal to non-green products, both in terms of price and quality.<\/p>\n What are the families of cleaning products? The two main categories are detergents and disinfectants. The former removes dirt and up to 80% of micro-organisms. The latter has a bactericidal, fungicidal or virucidal action. For example, the EN 14 476 standard guarantees their effectiveness against viruses. These are the products to be used to clean surfaces, floors, sanitary facilities, windows, etc.<\/p>\n\n
Professional soaps<\/h3>\n
Disinfectant gels<\/h3>\n
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Adequate maintenance of the premises is guaranteed by a good knowledge of the products<\/h2>\n
Their impact on the environment and health<\/h3>\n
The effectiveness of detergents and disinfectants<\/h3>\n