| Q. Can I Clean and Sanitize in One Step? |
| A. BIRKO does not feel that it can be done reliably in a food establishment with significant soil loading. |
| There is always the ability of soil to consume the sanitizing portion of the formulation. All oxidizing sanitizers (peracetic acid and peroxides, chlorine bleach, chlorine dioxide, and iodophor as examples) are consumed rapidly when put in contact with organic soil. Quaternary type sanitizers have a surfactant effect, and so are rapidly absorbed onto organic soil. |
| Also, there is usually a compromise in either the cleaning or sanitizing portion of a combination formula. For instance, a cleaner with bleach is typically very alkaline in order to support bleach stability. Alkalinity supplies other properties for cleaning. Bleach, however, is a very poor sanitizer when it is in a highly alkaline environment. Please note: This is NOT a recommendation to acidify bleach!! Quaternaries are more effective detergents and sanitizers in acid environments. Unfortunately, most degreasing formulae are alkaline. |
| Q. Why do I have escalating microbe counts? The numbers were good at cleaning. |
| A. There are a couple things to look at. |
| If the surfaces weren’t clean to start with, you might have sanitized the surface of a biofilm, only to have the bugs return after the sanitizer was consumed. You can check for this condition with one of the many luciferase testers on the market. They indicate biologically derived soils, whether dead or alive. |
| Another thing to consider might be later introduction of microbes by a "hot" airstream, such as from a fouled cooler unit. This can be checked by exposing an agar plate for 2 minutes in the suspected airflow. If the plate comes up hot, you need to take corrective action at the air source. |
| Q. What causes white film and how can I deal with it? |
| A. Film can be caused by several things. |
| If you have more hardness (minerals in your water) than your cleaner’s water control package can handle, than you can get either hard water soaps or complex silicates forming . Hard water soaps can be removed by a periodic acid step. Silicates will sometimes respond to a concentrated acid product, but are generally formed by either chlorinated products or acid products. Silicate scales require a special acid formula. |
| Another way to get films is to allow your chemical foam package to dry prior to a rinse step. If this is a problem, proceed as with waxing a car. Work the room in sections. |
| For more information E-Mail the Tech Desk |
