This message is for all of you cleaning at home and all the industrial and institutional (Jan-San) professionals; those of you who are cleaning our critical infrastructure facilities during this unique time. Thank you for your efforts and service. As a microbiologist who formerly worked for a chemical company who sold chlorine and bromine oxidizer products (similar to bleach), I suggest everyone take note of the CDC Recommendations to Clean AND Disinfect. These two common terms are both very different and important.
According to the CDC, “cleaning refers to the removal of germs, dirt, and impurities from surfaces. Cleaning does not kill germs, but by removing them, it lowers their numbers and the risk of spreading infection. Disinfecting refers to using chemicals to kill germs on surfaces. This process does not necessarily clean dirty surfaces or remove germs, but by killing germs on a surface after cleaning, it can further lower the risk of spreading infection.”
It’s likely that most people at work and at home are disinfecting right now, judging by the empty bleach shelves and inability to find Clorox wipes anywhere. While disinfecting is important, we need to be sure we are also cleaning.
Cleaning removes dirt, debris, impurities and lowers the number of germs on a hard surface. While this doesn’t kill germs, it does lower germ numbers by removal. If you are familiar with oxidizers like bleach, it is the free form of chlorine within the product which has the most germ-killing abilities. Once the free form of chlorine becomes bound, it is less biocidal, meaning its ability to kill germs weakens. What binds the free form of chlorine? Dirt, debris, and impurities; the material you should be removing by cleaning.
Putting this all together, the free chlorine in your bleach solutions and wipes is great for disinfecting. However, if the free form chlorine binds with debris or other material, it becomes less effective at killing germs. In the future, remember you must first clean before you disinfect to allow the bleach to work at its best.
We apply our Trusted Process to everything we do, and we customize the individual steps for each market we work in. In the human health market, for example, the process of developing and manufacturing high-quality probiotic ingredients may look different from our workflows in other markets we serve, but it…
We are excited to announce our upcoming attendance at the 2024 Biostimulants World Congress, the largest international biostimulants event dedicated to the latest advancements and innovations in the plant health industry. The event takes place in Miami, Florida, November 13–15, 2024, at the Miami Beach Convention Center. We invite you…
At MDG, we are dedicated to helping you scale up your bacterial ingredients efficiently and economically so you can find success in your microbial product lines. The process of formulating those product lines can include quite a few steps. You need to identify your desired bacterial strain, grow that strain,…
As a manufacturer of industrial and institutional cleaning solutions, you have a lot to think about when creating your product lines. Using components that clean effectively, meet your customers’ needs, and drive your success in the marketplace is important, and microbial ingredients can be a great way to achieve those…
As experts in Bacillus, we’re dedicated to teaching our partners and potential customers about bioaugmentation and its benefits in the wastewater industry. Throughout the year, our microbiologists and technical support leads host webinars on a wide range of topics, from how to formulate quality microbial cleaning products to managing FOG…
We are excited to announce our attendance at WEFTEC 2024, the largest annual water quality event in North America, taking place October 5–9 in New Orleans. As leaders in bioaugmentation with Bacillus, we will be showcasing our innovative solutions designed to improve sludge digestion and H2S gas mitigation in wastewater…
At MDG, Real Science matters; it is our foundation. Our teams conduct rigorous, market-informed research and development while innovating new solutions for our partners. Let’s hear from Praful Aggarwal about what it’s like to be an Associate Research Scientist at MDG. What is your role at Microbial Discovery Group (MDG),…
MDG has the resources and production capacity to meet your custom fermentation needs, helping you create a high-quality microbial product for your formulations. With decades of experience in microbial manufacturing, our microbiologists, fermentation team, and production specialists are here to answer your questions and provide guidance to scale your strains…
Whether you’re a manufacturer just entering the microbial cleaning world, or you’ve been using bacterial ingredients in your industrial and institutional cleaning products for a while, it’s always important to go over the fundamentals of how these ingredients work. Let’s explore a few common questions about Bacillus and discover how…
Microbial Discovery Group (MDG) is excited to announce that we will be attending Aquatech Mexico 2024, the largest water technology exhibition in the Latin American region. The event will take place from September 3–5, 2024, in Mexico City, and will feature cutting-edge innovations, industry leaders, and networking opportunities. We will…
