“Cleaning is getting the dirt out,” while “sanitizing is what’s used…to get down to a certain level of bacteria”, says John Howard, Director, NIOSH. There can be a lot of confusion when it comes to cleaning vs. disinfecting. While these terms may be used interchangeably, they are vastly different in what they achieve. 

Let’s Clear Up the Basics First: Cleaning vs. Disinfecting vs. Sanitizing

What is Cleaning?

Cleaning is the process of physically removing dirt, grime, and impurities from surfaces. It typically involves the use of water, detergents, or other cleaning agents to break down and wash away contaminants.

The primary goal of cleaning is to create a visibly clean space, free from dirt, dust, and debris. This process is essential in maintaining a pleasant and hygienic environment for people to work and live in. 

For businesses, regular cleaning helps to create a professional and welcoming atmosphere for both employees and customers. While cleaning can help eliminate harmful pathogens, it is not as thorough as sanitizing or disinfecting. 

What is Sanitizing?

Sanitizing is a process that reduces the number of harmful microorganisms on surfaces and objects. This process aims to lower them to a safe and acceptable level as defined by public health standards.

It is an intermediate step between cleaning and disinfecting, combining elements of both processes. Sanitizing typically involves the use of specialized agents that are less potent than disinfectants but still effective at reducing potential pathogens. 

Proper sanitization practices are essential at facilities where complete disinfection may not be feasible but reducing contamination is still crucial – examples include food service establishments and childcare facilities.

What is Disinfecting? 

Disinfecting involves the application of chemicals that can kill or inactivate harmful microorganisms such as viruses, bacteria, and fungi on surfaces. Disinfectants are specifically formulated to destroy or irreversibly inactivate these pathogens. 

The primary goal of disinfecting is to nearly eliminate the risk of infection and the spread of pathogens. Some establishments require disinfection over sanitation if there is a high risk associated with contamination – such as hospitals and medical research centers.

Disinfecting may also be used to eliminate harmful artificial chemicals from surfaces to prevent them from spreading beyond containment. Many research laboratories and chemical processing plants employ such disinfection measures. 

In certain cases, disinfecting may be favored over sanitation in typically lower risk establishments. For example, a restaurant can typically get by with sanitization but may favor disinfection while serving someone with food allergies.  

Cleaning vs. Disinfecting: What’s the Difference? 

The main differences between cleaning and disinfecting lie in their goals, methods, and the substances used. Cleaning focuses on removing visible dirt, grime, and impurities, while disinfecting targets harmful microorganisms invisible to the naked eye. 

However, it’s not unusual for a business to use both processes.

Cleaning is an essential first step before disinfecting. It helps to remove organic material that can interfere with the effectiveness of disinfectants. However, cleaning alone is not enough to eliminate all microscopic pathogens, especially on high-touch surfaces. 

You may also want to employ cleaning methods, sanitation methods, and disinfection methods to various parts of your building. For example, you may want to clean your desks, sanitize your bathrooms, and disinfect your kitchenette. 

Integrating these three processes into a routine maintenance program is essential for ensuring a safe environment. It’s also essential to select appropriate cleaning and disinfecting products, and to follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for use.

More resources you might like: Cleaning Verification vs. Validation Alternatives to an ATP Cleaning Verification System What to Know About Commercial Cleaning Certifications.

Are You Cleaning, Disinfecting, and Sanitizing Effectively? 

Cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting are complementary processes that together provide a complete solution for maintaining a clean and hygienic environment. 

Optisolve’s precision cleaning solutions allow cleaning teams to assess surfaces for contamination, validate cleaning practices, and maintain sites optimally. 

Book a demo to reveal contamination you may have been missing.

 

 

Strict cleaning processes backed by quality control systems that quickly verify and validate surface cleanliness are essential to keep a facility’s occupants safe and healthy. ATP surface testing is one of the methods cleaning professionals can use to ensure their facilities are safe and sanitized. 

However, other methods are available in 2023, and ATP surface testing has limitations.

This article will discuss ATP surface testing its history, its limitations, and explore alternate surface testing solutions.

A Brief History of ATP Surface Testing

Before developing more advanced, more accurate solutions for measuring surface cleanliness, ATP testing was the go-to methodology for biological contamination detection in the cleaning industry. It is still used by many cleaning teams today.

When first introduced, ATP surface testing was revolutionary for the janitorial industry. It was the first test that was easy to use, portable, and also delivered fast, measurable results indicating if live biological material was present on a surface. 

What Is ATP?

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is a biological compound found in the mitochondria of all living beings, including bacteria, viruses and other pathogens. All living cells use ATP to transfer and store energy. 

Live Cells Indicate Risk

Every day, people shed skin cells rich in ATP that can easily find their way onto surfaces. Every time we touch a surface, such as a doorknob, lightswitch or sink faucet, we could leave some of our ATP-containing cells on those surfaces. 

In addition to our skin cells, any bacteria or viruses on our skin are also left on the surfaces we touch.

Learn more about cleaning and disinfecting on our blog: What Is Cleaning Validation? What to Know About Commercial Cleaning Certifications What to Know About GBAC Star Accreditations

Therefore, the presence of live cells indicates that harmful contaminants may be present on a surface. With ATP testing, living cells on a surface can be detected, which means dangerous pathogens may also be on that surface.

How Does ATP Surface Testing Work?

ATP surface testing uses a biochemical assay that induces a bioluminescence response from ATP compounds when exposed to a reactive organic substrate.

When ATP is exposed to the chemical luciferin, ATP produces a bioluminescent flash. This flash isn’t detectable by the human eye, but it can be detected using a device called a luminometer. The higher the number of live cells on the surface being analyzed, the greater the response from the luminometer.

What Are the Limitations of ATP Surface Testing?

False Negatives

False negatives are a problematic limitation of ATP surface testing. A false negative is when a test result indicates a surface is clean when it is actually contaminated. Certain disinfectants, degraded ATP samples, technical errors, sample scope, and uncalibrated test devices can easily result in a false negative ATP test result.

False Positives

False positives can also occur with ATP testing. In the event of a false positive test, cleaning staff can use more cleaning supplies, testing equipment, and more valuable time than necessary to clean and validate a surface’s cleanliness. False positives can be caused by compromised test swabs, cross-contamination, and residual ATP from dead cells. 

No Visual Validation Capability

With an ATP test, it’s difficult to determine where contamination is present on a surface. If a surface test result indicates contamination, it’s impossible to know precisely where the live cells were found on the surface. This means you can’t easily verify if cleaning efforts mitigated a contamination risk.

Inconsistent Results

Another limitation of ATP surface testing is that results can be inconsistent. Sample size, sample scope and the amount of contact time with a surface all contribute to getting an accurate result. If any of these three factors are compromised, getting an inaccurate reading is easy.

Alternatives to ATP Surface Testing 

In recent years new solutions to surface testing have emerged, providing janitorial companies with viable alternatives to the decades-old ATP surface test.

Surface Imaging Technology

With surface imaging testing methods, cleaning professionals can quickly identify and track a surface’s contamination level with precision and accuracy. This innovative technology is a hygiene monitoring tool that shows a lack of cleanliness (removal of organic contamination from a surface). The colour intensity increases from yellow to red based on the signal strength.  It provides feedback on the level of potential environmental risk on hard, non-porous surfaces as a measure of cleaning thoroughness. Pathfinder combines surface imaging tools and cloud-based computing to make an all in one robust, cost-effective quality management system.

Do Better Than ATP Surface Testing and See the Germs Pathfinder™ surface imaging technology makes the invisible visible Find Out How

With surface imaging technology, cleaning companies have access to numerous benefits, including the following:

• Visually identify biological material on a surface
• Measure the efficacy of a cleaning process
• Verify and validate janitorial protocols
• Track hygiene monitoring remotely

Currently, this type of surface testing is only available through Optisolve^® and is a GBAC Star Registered product and technology. It’s also the only surface testing method that shows the precise location of contamination on a surface.

Microbial Testing

Instead of testing for ATP, janitorial teams use microbial-specific assays to test surfaces for specific types of bacteria or fungi. This can provide a more targeted approach to testing and help identify particular areas that need additional attention. 

However, these tests are limited in their ability to identify all types of biological material, such as viruses and non-targeted bacterial spores.

Black Light Testing

Janitorial teams can also use  black light units to identify areas of contamination that might not be visible under normal lighting conditions. Some types of bacteria and fungi will fluoresce under ultraviolet light, making it easier to identify areas that need additional cleaning. 

Black light testing requires multiple steps, including a room to be dark to detect contamination and, therefore, is not ideal for high-traffic areas where routine cleaning is needed.

Rapid Surface Hygiene Kits

Commercially available surface testing kits can be used to test for surface contamination. These kits typically use a colorimetric or enzymatic reaction to detect the presence of food material or specific yeasts, mold spores or bacteria on a surface. These are commonly used in the food safety industry.

Keep Falling Short on Cleaning Inspections? Track results and save resources with SAVI® cleaning validation software Learn More

Unlike the surface imaging solution mentioned above, rapid surface kits cannot identify all types of biological material or accurately pinpoint a potential contaminant’s location.

Trust Optisolve for Elite Hygiene Monitoring

Whether you’re looking for a way to visually identify biological material, measure the efficacy of cleaning efforts, verify and validate janitorial protocols or track hygiene monitoring remotely,  Optisolve^® provides the best solution.

With our surface imaging technology combined with cloud-based computing and photographic evidence of surface contamination, we have revolutionized how janitorial companies can test for contamination on surfaces. Contact our team to learn how to easily transform and streamline your team’s surface cleaning efforts.

With increasing concern about the health of our planet, more and more businesses are looking for ways to lessen their impact on the environment. For instance, many global companies are getting rid of plastic for good and others are adopting a circular business model.  Janitorial companies can easily do their part simply by adopting sustainable cleaning tools and eco-friendly cleaning products.

In this article, we’ll explore how conventional cleaning products can harm our planet and share three alternative cleaning products and cleaning management processes that are gentle on the earth and safer for cleaning teams and their clients.

How Do Commercial Cleaners Harm the Environment?

Most commercial cleaning products, such as laundry detergent, floor cleaners and disinfectants contain chemicals that can pollute the environment. These can include phosphate-rich compounds, ammonia, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), or other chemicals that can cause harm to water reserves, the air, and plants and animals.

How cleaning companies handle, store and use commercial-grade cleansers can significantly impact their natural surroundings. If poorly handled and disposed of, the chemicals and resulting runoff can find their way into local water supplies, air, and the environment. These compounds can have long-term effects on the environment that can take years of costly remediation efforts to reverse.

While indoor air pollution and locally contaminated water are immediate impacts of using unsustainable cleaning products, there are also other far-reaching implications.

• Unsustainable cleaning products: Cleaning product production processes are often unsustainable. A commercial cleanser’s supply chain also requires a significant amount of energy, which leads to the emission of greenhouse gasses and contributes to climate change. 
• Water Consumption. Additionally, the production of commercial cleaners requires a lot of water, which can strain water resources in areas with limited water availability.
• Paper consumption: Many commercial cleaners still rely on large volumes of paper products for their cleaning and verification processes. This contributes to unnecessary landfill waste and overconsumption of Earth’s natural resources.
• Wasteful Verification Processes: Common cleaning verification systems, such as the ATP-based system, rely on unsustainable materials and supplies that cannot be recycled or composted.

Learn more about cleaning processes in our blog: What Is Cleaning Validation? What to Know About Commercial Cleaning Certifications What Is a BioRisk Commercial Cleaning Services Certification What to Know About GBAC Star Accreditation

3 Sustainable Cleaning Tools Your Business Needs

Fortunately, many sustainable efforts, processes and solutions are as effective as traditional cleaning chemicals but much less harmful to the environment. Let’s take a look at the three of them.

1. Sustainable Cleaning Products

Switching from harsh chemical cleansers that can irritate the skin and lungs and pollute local groundwater to more sustainable sources can help cleaning teams better care for the environment.

What to look for in eco-friendly cleaning products

Look for options that rely on natural ingredients, such as citric acid, sodium citrate or borax and are certified by any of the following organizations:

• EPA Safer Choice
• B-Corp
• Leaping Bunny
• USDA
• ECO Logo

Additionally, opt for products that rely on recycled material or plastic-free packaging. For instance, Seventh Generation commercial all-purpose cleaners come in recycled plastic bottles and are certified by the EPA’s Safer Choice program.

2. Paper-Free Cleaning Verification and Management Processes

For decades, cleaning companies have relied on paper records and documents to record, track and manage critical cleaning processes.

Paper records of cleaning processes can be inefficient and time-consuming for cleaning teams, as they require manual data entry, are easily misplaced or damaged, and lack visibility into real-time updates. Research estimates that incorrect data entry costs businesses at least 30% or more of their revenue. Plus, paper production can harm essential natural resources, including trees and freshwater.

Switching to paper-free records helps to save trees and increase efficiency. They provide a better way to manage cleaning teams and keep accurate cleaning records. 

For instance, cleaning professionals using SAVI software can track data, verify cleaning processes, manage employee performance and access information in real time without the use of paper records. Customers have been able to get back more than 7 hours a week when switching from paper records and manual data entry. A saving of 25% a year in both material and labor.

3. Eco-Friendly Cleaning Verification Systems

Cleaning verification systems are essential for commercial cleaning teams to test, measure and verify their cleaning processes are effective and consistent. However, the solutions and equipment used in many cleaning verification systems aren’t eco-friendly.

Many cleaning verification systems, such as ATP testing methods, rely on single-use testing materials that generate waste that is non-compostable and non-recyclable. Plus, the inaccurate and inefficient nature of these tests means cleaning teams use copious amounts of cleaning products to clean a surface.

Looking for Sustainable Cleaning Tools? Optisolve’s family of products help you to use less and clean more Pathfinder Surface ImagingSAVI Cleaning Validation

Environmentally Friendly Verification: Surface Imaging Technology

A surface imaging cleaning verification system, such as Pathfinder™ by Optisolve, is a sustainable alternative to ATP-based cleaning verification programs. It allows cleaning staff to see precisely where surface contaminants reside on a surface; this means they will use less cleanser to sanitize a space.

Surface imaging verification also removes the need for cleaning companies to purchase and use single-use testing materials that become landfill waste.

Find Sustainable Cleaning Systems from Optisolve^®

A facility’s cleanliness and hygiene are vital for guests, occupants and residents to feel safe and comfortable. However, that comfort shouldn’t be at the expense of the natural ecosystem and environment. Fortunately, janitorial companies now have more sustainable options than ever when it comes to cleaning tools and systems.

At Optisolve, we’re committed to providing cleaning and maintenance teams with sustainable solutions to ensure your cleaning processes are practical and efficient and always meet the criteria of elite hygiene regulation standards.

Our sustainable cleaning tools are designed to help janitorial teams raise their standards and improve the quality of their cleaning procedures with smarter, green cleaning practices that protect the environment. To learn more about our sustainable products and services, get in touch with Optisolve today.

The rise of cloud computing and Software as a Service (SaaS) businesses has created a new era of convenience and flexibility for organizations worldwide. With the ability to store data and run applications in the cloud, businesses can operate with greater agility and scalability than ever before. However, this convenience also comes with increased risks and regulatory requirements, which can have severe consequences if ignored.

One of the most significant concerns for SaaS-based businesses is security compliance. SaaS businesses store sensitive data in the cloud, including financial information, personally identifiable information (PII), and intellectual property. This data is often targeted by hackers and cybercriminals, making it essential to maintain strict security controls to protect against data breaches.

To address these concerns, organizations can achieve compliance with the System and Organization Controls (SOC) framework.

What is SOC2

SOC2 Type 2 is a widely recognized standard for security compliance in the SaaS industry. SOC2 Type 2 attestation involves a rigorous auditing process by an independent third party, which evaluates an organization’s controls related to security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy.

SOC2 Type 2 compliance is critical for several reasons. First, it provides a level of assurance to customers and stakeholders that the organization has implemented effective security controls. This attestation can help build trust and credibility with customers, who are increasingly concerned about data security and privacy.

Second, SOC2 Type 2 compliance can help organizations avoid costly data breaches and associated legal, financial, and reputational consequences. By implementing strong security controls and regularly testing and monitoring them, organizations can reduce the risk of data breaches and other security incidents.

Third, SOC2 Type 2 compliance can improve overall operational efficiency by providing a structured framework for managing security controls. This can help organizations identify and address security risks more quickly, reducing the potential for downtime, loss of productivity, and other operational disruptions.

Optisolve’s Journey to becoming SOC2 Type 2 compliant.

The journey to achieve SOC2 Type 2 attestation as a SaaS startup showcases a dedication to security, privacy, and compliance. The Optisolve team managed to complete this rigorous process in as little as eight months. Beginning with the SOC2 Type 1 report, Optisolve demonstrated the design effectiveness of our internal controls, policies, and procedures in alignment with the Trust Services Criteria. The Type 2 report further validated the successful operation of these controls over a defined period.

However, obtaining SOC2 Type 2 attestation is not a destination; it is an ongoing journey that requires a continuous commitment to maintaining and improving security and compliance measures.

“As an emerging technology company achieving SOC2 Type 2 Attestation highlights our priority and the investment to safeguard our platforms and customer data, providing our customers with the added peace of mind they deserve. I am extremely proud and thankful for the efforts and commitment of all our employees on this initiative and of course our vendors and stakeholders for this hard-won accomplishment in addition to the confidence it gives on our innovative Pathfinder™ and SAVI® platforms.”  – Sanjaya Abeysinghe, CTO Optisolve Ltd.

By embracing this mindset, Optisolve not only garners customer trust but also positions itself as a reliable and secure solution in the rapidly evolving Cleaning Validation and Auditing landscape.

In conclusion, security compliance is essential for SaaS-based businesses to protect against data breaches, build trust with customers, and improve operational efficiency. SOC2 Type 2 compliance provides a robust framework for managing security controls and demonstrating compliance with industry standards. By investing in security compliance, SaaS businesses can safeguard their sensitive data, maintain their reputation, and avoid costly security incidents.

 

Cleaning verification vs validation are two closely related but different cleaning procedures – both of which can lead to serious consequences if not followed correctly. 

While these two processes are closely related, they are distinct in their objectives and methods. Failure to properly implement either process can have serious consequences, such as legal action, loss of clients, and reputational damage.

Consider a scenario in which an outbreak of a contagious illness occurs in a commercial office building, and elevated levels of harmful bacteria or viruses are detected. Upon investigation, it is discovered that inadequate cleaning and sanitation procedures were the root cause of the contamination. This situation highlights the importance of following proper cleaning validation protocols in the building services sector to ensure a safe and healthy environment.

As a result, inadequate cleaning and sanitation procedures in commercial office buildings can result in serious consequences, such as legal action, loss of clients, and reputational damage for cleaning services providers or building management. Therefore, it is essential to implement proper cleaning validation protocols in the building services sector to prevent these risks and ensure a safe and healthy environment.

Understanding Cleaning Validation and Verification

Cleaning verification and cleaning validation are critical processes for maintaining a clean and hygienic environment, and are often used interchangeably. However, there are distinct differences between the two, and it’s important to understand the distinction to ensure that your facility is properly cleaned and disinfected.

On one hand, cleaning verification is the process of confirming that a cleaning procedure has been performed correctly. This involves testing equipment and surface areas to ensure residue limits fall within acceptable limits and that all meet predetermined cleanliness standards. 

Need Help Fine-Tuning Your Cleaning Protocols? Discover how effective your cleaning protocols are and what you may have been missing by arranging a demo today. Book a Demo

On the other hand, cleaning validation is the process of proving that a cleaning procedure is effective in removing all traces of contaminants from a surface or equipment. This involves a more rigorous testing process, including a risk assessment and a detailed cleaning validation plan. 

Cleaning Validation is typically performed less frequently than cleaning verification, such as once a month or once a quarter, depending on the industry. Validation is critical in ensuring that high-risk areas, such as operating rooms, cleanrooms, dining halls, and classrooms are properly cleaned and disinfected.

For example, cleaning verification is often used to ensure that high-touch surfaces, such as doorknobs and light switches, are properly cleaned and disinfected on a regular basis. Cleaning verification can also be used to ensure that cleaning validation guidelines are being followed consistently, even in areas that may not be considered high-risk.

Whereas, cleaning validation may be used in more critical areas, such as operating rooms or cleanrooms, to ensure that all contaminants have been removed from the surfaces and equipment. 

Validation is also required in industries such as pharmaceutical manufacturing or food processing, where the risk of contamination and microbial growth is high and the consequences of failure can be severe.

Cleaning Verification & Validation Methodology Differences

To quickly recap, cleaning verification is the process of ensuring that a cleaning procedure was performed correctly, often done via visual inspections and surface testing. Whereas, cleaning validation requires a more in-depth analysis of the cleaning procedure and tests that verify the cleaning process meet acceptance criteria. 

Cleaning Verification Methodology and Occurrence
Methodology	Function
Swabs	Cleaning validation swabs are used to collect samples from surfaces for testing. The swabs may be moistened with a sterile buffer solution to make residue easily removable with manual cleaning.
Test Strips	Small pieces of paper or plastic that have been coated with a chemical indicator. When the strip is moistened with a liquid, the indicator color changes to indicate the presence of a particular substance.
Visual Inspection	A qualitative assessment of the cleanliness of a surface. This involves visually examining the surface to look for any signs of residue, discoloration, or other abnormalities.
Chemical Testing	Analyzes samples from surfaces for the presence of specific chemical residues, such as detergents or disinfectants. Can be done using analytical methods such as high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) or gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS).
Microbiological Testing	Involves collecting samples from surfaces and testing them for the presence of microorganisms, such as bacteria, fungi, or viruses.  Can be done using techniques such as swabbing, air sampling, or surface contact plates.
ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate) Bioluminescence Assay	A rapid testing method that measures the amount of ATP present on a surface. A high ATP reading indicates that the surface may still be contaminated and requires further cleaning.

The frequency of cleaning verification depends on a variety of factors, including:

• The type of facility
• The level of risk associated with the contamination
• The regulatory requirements governing the industry

In most cases, cleaning verification procedures should be performed after each cleaning cycle to ensure that the cleaning process has been effective. However, for facilities with a high risk of contamination, such as hospitals or food processing plants, more frequent verification may be necessary.

Regulatory bodies such as the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) require cleaning verification to be performed at regular intervals, typically as part of a cleaning validation program. 

The frequency of cleaning verification may be specified in the facility’s standard operating procedures (SOPs), which outline the cleaning and verification protocols for each area of the facility. 

Otherwise, verification is typically performed on a regular basis, such as daily or weekly.

Cleaning Validation Protocol, Methodology and Occurrence
Methodology	Function
Surface Sampling Swabs	Used to collect samples from surfaces after cleaning to assess the level of residual contamination. Moistened swabs with a sterile buffer solution that helps remove continents for an acceptable residue level.
Environmental Monitoring	Involves taking air or surface samples from the environment to detect and quantify the presence of microorganisms or other contaminants that may pose a risk of product contamination.
Rinse Water Testing	Involves testing rinse samples of the water used to rinse equipment after cleaning to ensure that it is free from contaminants.
High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)	Used to identify and quantify the presence of specific residues or contaminants, like disinfectants.
Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR)	Used to analyze samples for the presence of organic residues, such as proteins or lipids.
Microbiological Testing	Involves collecting samples from surfaces or equipment and testing them for the presence of microorganisms, such as bacteria, fungi, or viruses.

Generally, cleaning validation should be performed at regular intervals to validate the effectiveness of cleaning processes and minimize the risk of contamination. 

For some, this means the frequency of validated cleaning procedures may be specified in the facility’s standard operating procedures (SOPs), which outline the cleaning and process validation protocols for each facility area.

For more relevant information, visit our related blogs: What is Cleaning Validation?  The Problem with ATP Meters What to Know About Commercial Cleaning Certifications

Maintain Safe and Hygienic Facilities With Our Cleaning Validation System

Cleaning validation and verification processes are essential for maintaining a hygienic environment, especially in high-risk settings such as hospitals, long term care facilities, and schools.

That’s why Optisolve’s cleaning validation tools, including the SAVI software and Pathfinder surface contamination imaging software, provide a comprehensive solution for cleaning quality management procedures. 

By utilizing our tools, cleaning teams can easily record and analyze regular cleaning verification data and use detailed trend analysis for cleaning validation, ensuring that cleaning procedures are consistently performed to the highest standards.

With our solutions, you can rest assured that your facility is properly cleaned and disinfected, reducing the risk of contamination and infection. Our commitment to innovative and effective cleaning validation solutions makes us an essential partner for any organization looking to maintain the highest standards of cleanliness and hygiene.

Contact us now to cover your cleaning needs today.

According to Market Watch, precision cleaning is set to be a multi-million dollar industry by 2029. It’s an essential part of many industries to meet safety and performance standards, so this market growth isn’t surprising. 

But what is precision cleaning, why is it important, and how is it done? Here we’ll answer these questions to make sense of the technical process. We’ll begin with how precision cleaning needs and systems are planned: with cleaning validation studies.

 

What Cleaning Validation Studies Tell Us About Precision Cleaning

Cleaning is done to support the health and safety of people using an indoor environment or product. Cleaning validation studies allow you to identify where contamination risks exist. By being aware of these high-risk areas, you can make informed decisions about a proper cleaning strategy and set of cleaning standards to address these risks.

For example, take the transmission of viruses in high-traffic areas. Various studies show that viruses like influenza A, norovirus, and many others can live on indoor surfaces. When left without proper cleaning, these surfaces can pass along viruses making people sick.

For industries where the transfer of infections is of concern (like health care or educational institutions), cleaning validation ensures that you can properly identify which surfaces are at the highest risk for transferring contaminants. This helps to reduce health and safety risks with targeted cleaning. 

Cleaning validation also ensures that the cleaning standards developed are properly executed and maintained. It even addresses key challenges and concerns related to precision cleaning systems including:

• The level of film, contaminant, or particles acceptable on each surface after the cleaning process is completed
• The frequency with which the cleaning processes need to take place for optimal safety and performance
• Where productivity can be increased without sacrificing the quality of the clean
• Where cleaning costs can be reduced (90% of which can be attributed to labor)

Used effectively, cleaning validation can help to save both time and money for organizations in a wide range of industries.

 

Take a deeper look at cleaning validation with these recent blog posts: What Is Cleaning Validation? Cleaning Validation and Workforce Satisfaction

 

What Exactly is Precision Cleaning?

Regular cleaning allows us to keep surfaces clean but it doesn’t specify to what level surfaces need to be cleaned. When it comes to industries where the micro level can have harmful impacts if cleaning needs aren’t met, more precise and targeted cleaning systems are needed. This is when precision cleaning enters the picture.

Precision cleaning refers to the cleaning process required to reach set cleanliness requirements. It’s cleaning at the micro level to remove contaminants to ensure the safe use of high-traffic spaces and high contamination-risk surfaces. 

Rather than require more time and resource, precision cleaning is about working smarter. With precision cleaning, surfaces are regularly tested to determine the efficacy of cleaning methods, allowing you to calibrate the most efficient cleaning regimen.

The cleanliness requirements set out for precision cleaning services only allow a small number of particles, volatile residue, film, or contamination to exist on the surfaces being cleaned. 

The standards are either set out with the help of validation studies as industry standards or an organization’s standards. For example, the standards set out by Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC) for various industries. GBAC offers gold-standard accreditation to facilities that can meet their rigorous standards.

 

 

Precision Cleaning Methods & Tools

With an understanding of what precision cleaning is, we can take a closer look at the processes used for it.

There are several methods used and, in some cases, more than one method will be used to achieve the cleaning goals. Cleaning methods include:

Aqueous Cleaning

This method of cleaning primarily uses water as a base for cleaning and involves submerging surfaces to be cleaned in a cleaning solution.

Ultrasonic Cleaning

This method of cleaning uses high frequency sound, in other words, sound waves, alongside a chemical solution to remove contaminates from surfaces and achieve a satisfactory level of cleanliness.

Solvent cleaning

This method involves using chemicals to clean surfaces and product parts. This method is particularly useful for complex surfaces that include part rotation or holes and crevices in the surface.

High Pressure Spray Cleaning

With this method of cleaning, kinetic energy is produced through water jets with high pressures to remove contaminates from surfaces.

Flush Cleaning

This cleaning method is for internal workings, like pipes, that can not be easily cleaned. It involves forcing a cleaning solution through the pipe to clear the surface of contaminants.

 

Learn how Optisolve assists cleaning services and teams in different industries: Optisolve Announces Attestation of HIPPA Compliance Healthcare-associated Infections will be Canada’s second leading cause of death by 2050… and Optisolve will help reduce them Cleaning Solutions for Institutions Food Manufacturing Cleaning Validation

 

Wipe Cleaning

This method is used for delicate surfaces that require a gentler approach. The surface is wiped by hand using particle-free wipes which are either dipped in deionized water or a cleaning solution.

Vacuum Breakout

This cleaning method uses a vacuum baking machine to remove and eliminate hydrocarbon contaminants.

Testing, Cleaning Verification, and Cleaning Validation

In addition to these methodologies, having cleaning validation tools like surface imaging and tracking systems can aid in streamlining your cleaning systems and looking more deeply at their effectiveness. These let you monitor and maintain high standards. Here are just a few of the methods commonly used to determine the effectiveness of cleaning methods:

ATP

ATP testing uses a light sensor to detect a reaction with adenosine triphosphate (ATP), a chemical in all living things. With ATP testing, a chemical reagent is applied to a 4×4 inch square area, and a device called a luminometer is used to detect the presence of ATP.

Glo Germ

With glo germ, a UV reactive contamination simulation gel is applied to an area to be cleaned. After a standard cleaning, the area is swept with a UV light to determine how effective the cleaning procedure was.

Pathfinder

Pathfinder is a new contaminant visualization system from Optisolve. Pathfinder uses a chemical spray that reacts with DNA and a special camera that enables you to see where the germs are.

 

Empower Your Precision Cleaning Efforts with Optisolve

Ensure your precision cleaning systems are running as smoothly and effectively as possible with the support of Optisolve’s Pathfinder and SAVI cleaning validation systems. 

• Pathfinder allows you to make the invisible visible with bio-tracking so you can see areas of high contamination risk. This system also allows you to plan out and check the results of your cleaning efforts.

• SAVI is a cloud-based software that allows your cleaning team to plan, track, record, and report all aspects of the cleaning process. Unlike the checklists and sheets of paper used in the past, everything is digitized, so you can get cleaning insights like you’ve never seen before.

These cleaning validation tools help identify where you can reduce costs and time spent on your cleaning service and enable you to maintain the high standards you’ve set for your organization. 
Book a demo to see how Optisolve can fit into your organization’s cleaning services framework.

ATP cleaning verification systems have been a staple in healthcare, food processing/ manufacturing and the commercial cleaning industry since the mid-90s. They were the first portable, rugged and easy-to-use testing system that gave cleaning professionals insight into the effectiveness of their cleaning processes and efforts.

However, technology has changed dramatically since the ATP testing devices first hit the market. Now, cleaning businesses can choose cleaning verification system alternatives to ATP  that are more accurate and  more efficient.

What is a Cleaning Verification System?

Cleaning verification systems are essential to demonstrate the effectiveness of cleaning and hygiene processes. They rely on various testing methods, such as ATP testing, UV and black light kits, or glow gel, to locate residual contamination or show proof that contamination has been removed from surfaces properly.

They are used in numerous industries; some examples of these include:

• Food manufacturers rely on verification processes to prove their sterile processing equipment is clean and their products are free from contaminants. 
• Healthcare facilities depend on verification management tools for infection control and prevention of pathogen spread. 
• Janitorial service providers use cleaning verification systems to monitor the efficacy of their cleaning processes, ensure their facility complies with its governing bodies’ standards, and manage their employees’ performance and skills development.

What is an ATP Cleaning Verification System?

With an ATP cleaning verification system, cleaning and facility personnel rely on ATP testing methodologies to evaluate and monitor surface cleanliness.

What is ATP?

ATP stands for adenosine triphosphate; it is a compound found in the mitochondria of all living cells and organic matter. The human eye cannot see ATP, but levels of ATP can be easily detected with a testing device called a luminometer. 

What is an ATP Test?

An ATP test is a biochemical assay that detects the presence of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). 

How Does it Work?

When exposed to a bioluminescent compound, ATP creates a tiny flash of light, called a bioluminescent flash. The flash is too faint to be detected by the human eye, however, it can be detected with the luminometer.

In an ATP test, a 4×4 inch area is evenly swabbed with a pre-moistened swab containing a bioluminescent compound called Luciferin. If ATP is present on the surface, it will be gathered up onto the swab.

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Next, the swab is placed into the luminometer. If ATP is present on the swab, the flash of light it generates from exposure to the testing solution will be detected by the luminometer. The greater the amount of ATP present, the greater the reading from the luminometer.

What Does ATP Indicate?

When ATP is found on a surface, it means live cells are present on that surface. If live cells are detected, it indicates a biohazard risk may be on the surface. This is because humans are the greatest transmitter of harmful pathogens. 

When we shed skin cells from our hands, we also shed other kinds of cells that may be on our skin as well, such as flu virus or bacteria. 

Therefore, when ATP is detected, it means live human cells are present indicating a potential for bacteria or virus material to be present as well.

ATP Testing Limitations

While ATP testing devices are rapid, convenient, and portable, ATP systems are limited and can only sometimes meet the criteria of a facility’s cleaning protocols. 

Cost, difficulty of use, equipment maintenance and inaccuracy, limitations of what can be detected, and cross-contamination are examples of limitations that cleaning teams encounter with an ATP cleaning verification system.

With ATP, there is a lack of objective interpretation of test results. Further, the luminometers themselves need to be regularly recalibrated in order to correctly detect contaminants. Lastly, because of the limited read range, a complete test would need to be conducted one 4×4 inch square at a time, with potential for cross contamination during the swabbing process. Additionally, the chemicals used in ATP testing can interact with certain disinfectants to produce false positives.

Alternatives to ATP Testing and Cleaning Verification System

ATP testing is arguably the most widely known cleaning process for professional cleaning verification systems that are fast, portable and provide results on-site. However, there are other methodologies out there that we discuss below.

Pathfinder® Surface Imaging

Surface imaging uses UV technology to capture the fluorescence emitted by bacteria, which indicates the level of bioburden on the surface. The collected data is then processed by specialized software to generate heat-mapped images that reveal the precise locations of contamination in real-time. This innovative approach enables cleaners to immediately identify and address problem areas, improving the effectiveness and efficiency of surface cleaning.

Pathfinder allows staff the unique ability to test areas over six times larger than what is possible with ATP testing, providing unparalleled visualization capabilities that cannot be achieved with other methods. With this cutting-edge technology, staff can effortlessly gain a comprehensive understanding of the bioburden distribution across larger surfaces, enabling them to identify and address areas of concern with ease.

Surface imaging is portable and robust; it eliminates the need for cleaning staff to execute chemical assays or work with complicated testing devices.

Protein Residue Testing

Testing surfaces for residual protein is another way to measure and verify cleaning processes. Similar in theory to ATP-testing, if protein residue is detected on a surface, it indicates that live bacteria is also on the surface being tested. 

Another way protein residue verification is akin to ATP methods is it cannot pinpoint where contamination is within a testing area and requires users to be skilled in analytical methods and handling sensitive testing equipment.

5 Steps of a Cleaning Verification System

All cleaning verification systems follow a basic outline regardless of the testing methodology, acceptance criteria or tracking tools. The development and validation of a cleaning verification procedure should include the following four steps:

1. Surface Testing. The first step of a cleaning verification procedure is to set the baseline for a surface’s initial cleanliness. This is similar to a project’s “before” photo and is done with a valid testing method such as surface imaging testing, visual inspection or an ATP test.

2. Cleaning. Once a baseline is established, step two is to clean the surface using an approved method, cleaning supplies and equipment.

3. Verification. After cleaning, the cleaner will test the surface again using the test method used in step one. This is to determine an “after” picture. The results from the first and second tests are compared and then used to determine if the surface meets compliance or if further remediation is required. 

Looking for a Better Way Than ATP Testing? Pathfinder is a contamination visualization system that lets you see where the germs are Find Out More

4. Tracking/Data Management. All test results are recorded as per data management protocols. This could be by handwriting results on a paper record, manually entering test results into a digital spreadsheet, or the testing device can automatically record results into a central data repository through a janitorial data management software platform.
5. Remediation. Using the data from your test results, identify chronic problem areas and establish improved protocols and training.

Cleaning Verification vs. Validation

When establishing a cleaning verification process, it’s important to understand the difference between cleaning verification and cleaning validation, as the two can easily be confused.

Cleaning Verification

Cleaning verification systems define the processes used to manage surface cleanliness in a facility. This includes acceptable test methods and results criteria, surface testing frequency, data information management and incident response measures.

Cleaning Validation

Cleaning validation focuses on determining the effectiveness of the tests and materials used in the cleaning verification system. For instance, if ATP testing is the primary testing method for ensuring a hotel’s public spaces are sanitized, the cleaning validation process would prove the test’s ability to identify harmful pathogens.

Many Good Manufacturing Process (GMP) standards are established by testing cleaning validation protocols in thorough validation studies.

Gain Cleaning Verification Excellence with Optisolve^®

Cleaning verification is a critical step in ensuring the safety of customers, employees and anyone who visits the facilities you safeguard. With Pathfinder™ by Optisolve^® you gain access to industry-leading expertise and testing methods that are superior to ATP metering, UV and black light, and glow gel to name a few and will propel your company’s cleaning verification system to the next level. Contact us today to learn more about the possibilities of Pathfinder™ surface imaging and our comprehensive janitorial management solutions.