Unprecedented Times -- Why Antimicrobial is Critical

With the current need for increased sanitation and diligence due to the COVID-19 outbreak, protecting your staff and consumers is more important than ever. Cleaning, material handling and personal protective equipment (PPE) with antimicrobial qualities can add a critical extra layer of protection and microbe-fighting capability to your sanitation practices.

The use of antimicrobial and hygienically-designed cleaning products reduces the spread of harmful microbes, including the risk of COVID-19 infection, in your facility – especially in high-risk areas in hospitals and food manufacturing plants. Our antimicrobial cleaning products kill/inhibit microbes, including bacteria like MRSA, Listeria, Campylobacter and E. coli, protozoans, fungi (mold and mildew), and viruses such as COVID-19. ‘Antimicrobial’ must not be confused with an ‘antibacterial’ that only prevents the growth of bacteria.

Minimize the risk of microbial spread through cleaning and disinfection

Good cleaning practices are effective in removing the presence of organic matter, such as biological fluids and foods, that inhibits the effectiveness of disinfectants and surface antimicrobials. Visibly dirty surfaces should always be cleaned prior to disinfection. Viruses like COVID-19 can survive on surfaces for several days, requiring more extensive cleaning practices. These include more frequent cleaning and disinfection of touchpoints like door handles, handrails, door push plates, hoses, instrument panels, faucets, cleaning tools, and utensils. Plus, cleaning and disinfection of surfaces in non-food handling areas such as restrooms, locker rooms, offices, break rooms, and vehicles.

Importance of Antimicrobial Hygienic Cleaning Products

Our antimicrobial products are designed for areas that require exceptionally high standards of cleanliness and contamination control. Pairing the correct cleaning tools with chemical cleaners is the best way to ensure effective and thorough removal of microbes, especially in hard to reach areas. Chemicals alone, or using them with insufficient tools and brushes not hygienically designed for the job, will leave behind harmful microbes and increase the risk cross-contamination by holding the microbes on bristles and in crevices. All cleaning activities/equipment can spread contamination. Using cleaning methods and antimicrobial and hygienically designed (easy to clean and disinfect) products that maximize contamination removal and minimize its spread will yield the best results.

ANTIMICROBIAL PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS

Hygienic Cleaning Brushes & Tools

Our hygienic antimicrobial cleaning brushes and tools are designed for areas that require exceptionally high standards of cleanliness and due diligence in controlling microbial contamination. This product line includes a variety of brushes, scoops, hand scrapers, floor scrubs, squeegees, buckets/pails, handles, wall brackets, brooms and dustpans.

Hygienic

Each component of our Hillbrush line of antimicrobial hygienic cleaning brushes and tools contains Biomaster® Antimicrobial Technology. Biomaster uses a silver-ion based additive to inhibit the growth of a wide range of harmful microbes. Silver is a natural antibacterial metal as it does not contain the toxins that other metals can do, so it is safe to use anywhere that germs can spread and cause illness. Used with standard cleaning procedures, it effectively inhibits the growth of a broad range of microbes on the surface of the products themselves. All plastics in the products, including the brush filaments, contain a silver-based Biomaster additive. Biomaster works constantly in-between cleans and reduces bacteria levels by up to 99.99%, providing permanent product protection.

Tested and Proven

These products are specifically designed for usage in high risk areas which require stringent standards of cleanliness and due diligence. All components are FDA/EU food contact approved and effective for the lifetime of the product.

Biomaster® meets several industry standards and beyond:

• The silver based antimicrobial additive has successfully been tested by the Department of Public Health at the University of Helsinki in Finland and received the U.S. EPA (environmental protection agency) registration (EPA Reg 40810-18)
• Tested to ISO 22196:2011standards
• Registered with the FDA and EPA and uses actives that are being supported through the Biocidal product regulation EU no 528/2012
• Independent migration testing confirms that the additive will not wear off or leach out of the product, including the filament and resin. This is because it’s infused into, not coated onto the product.

Durable

These antimicrobial brushes feature a specially-designed Resin-Set DRS® (dual retention system) to minimize filament loss. This system secures the filaments into the brush back with anti-microbial epoxy resin and stainless-steel staples, creating a sturdy, durable option for any area needing to avoid the risk of foreign object contamination.

Effective

Harmful microbes can be transported on cleaning equipment, so color-coding is a critical extra step in your sanitation practices. In addition to the hygienic design and durability of these brushes and tools, this antimicrobial line is available in six colors, enabling products to be used effectively in color-coded HACCP and 5S programs and helping to further minimize the chance of cross contamination.

Personal Protection Equipment (PPE)

Our Top Dog brand of reusable personal protective equipment (PPE) includes gowns and aprons in various sizes, thicknesses and lengths, and protective sleeves. These PPE products are ideal for those in the food, healthcare and other industries requiring exceptionally high standards of cleanliness and contamination control.

Pure Polyether Polyurethane

Made of pure polyether polyurethane, these products offers supreme personal and contamination protection. Comfortable and lightweight, the pure polyether polyurethane is a superior and long lasting material. They do not include plasticizers and fillers, or similar sub-quality materials like vinyl, PVC and polyolefin.

Antimicrobial Properties / Hygienic Design

This food safe protective gear has outstanding antimicrobial qualities. The hygienic one-piece designs also reduce harborage points for pathogens and will not absorb any fluids or substances at all. All gear is washer and dryer safe to 180°F/82°C. It can also be cleaned and disinfected by using a dip and hang air-dry process. These PPE products are an excellent option for any application that requires hygienic and easily disinfected/decontaminated protective wear.

Sanitizing Footbath Mats

Our Grade “A” sanitizing footbath mats by Wearwell's are available in 30" x 36" and 30" x 60" and are designed to combat fatigue while addressing specific issues unique to food production environments. They are also an important level of sanitation for any facility that needs additional measures to prevent the spread of microbes.

Antimicrobial Properties / Hygienic Design

The specially formulated Nitrile rubber composite of these mats has inherently antimicrobial qualities and is designed to withstand solutions used in a wide variety of food processing environments: vegetable oils, animal fats, citrus, and fish oil. The Nitrile compound passes NSF test ASTM G21-96 (2002), has GRAS status and is CFIA approved – meeting standards for antimicrobial properties/resistance to microorganisms. Combined with sanitizer liquids, this mat offers an ideal combination of microbe-fighting elements. The hygienic design features substantial underside knob style under structure that provides superior drainage, preventing pooling that can provide breeding grounds for microbes. Built in handles provide for easy removal and cleaning. Hygienic 15/16" portholes and a solid underside design simplify cleaning and virtually eliminate areas where food collects. Cleaning options include autoclaving or manually cleaning with a mix of hot water and mild soap with a pH between 4 and 9, or a high pressure hose.

View all our sanitizing footbath mat options here.

Wash-Down Hose Assemblies 

Our premium wash-down hose assemblies by Continental ContiTech come in 25’, 50’ and 75’ lengths (interior diameter of ¾”). They are ideal for cleaning floors and surfaces in food processing plants, dairies, packing houses, bottling plants, breweries, canneries and creameries. The super abrasion and oil-resistant covers provide maximum protection against the adverse effects of oil and animal fats.

Antimicrobial Covers/ Hygienic Design

The covers are smooth, blue, abrasion-resistant Nitrile rubber, RMA Class A (high oil resistance). They are manufactured with Microban® product protection, incorporating an important layer of antimicrobial protection. In addition, the inherent nature of the Nitrile rubber has antimicrobial qualities. These antimicrobial product features are critical in helping prevent the spread of microbes in food processing facilities and any environment where high sanitation levels are required.

How can we help?

We are dedicated to providing the highest quality hygienic cleaning and material handling tools to the most critical work environments. Please reach out to us at 800-672-8119 or via our contact form with any questions about how to best implement the use of our antimicrobial products in your facility.

Union Jack -- Your Partner in FSMA /HACCP Compliance

Keeping it Clean Since 2006