The war rages on in the antibacterial wipes vs antibacterial sprays saga! The two demigods of disinfecting lock horns to see who will eventually emerge victorious!
Ok… we might be being a little dramatic, but this is definitely an important question and one worth exploring more. While at face-value there doesn’t seem to be much difference between these products, there are some major distinctions between how the two are used that dictate which one should be favoured for certain jobs.
For example, in an environment where extreme cleaning is necessary, such as a hospital, sprays don’t make the cut because they don’t prevent cross-contamination as well as antibacterial wipes. In fact, it can be quite tough to use sprays as a cleaning method in the healthcare industry as they can be very fast-paced environments where cleaning needs to be performed in a timely manner. This is another benefit to using fast-drying wet wipes, like those supplied by Guardpack.
Why is using sprays slower than wipes?
Most consumers that buy disinfectant sprays don’t realise that they aren’t necessarily killing bacteria. Disinfectants certainly can kill a lot of bacteria, but usually only if left on a surface for several minutes. Does this sound like how sprays are usually used? Not to us, it doesn’t! People generally use the Mr Miyagi approach to cleaning with sprays and a cloth. Spray on, wipe off. Spray on, wipe off. This is far too fast and it is very likely that bacteria and germs are still squirming around on that surface.
It almost goes without saying, but we’ll say it anyway; these cloths can carry germs for quite a long time too. Constantly using one cloth can be very hazardous in some environments and can lead to the spread of diseases, putting people in danger. Sprays can also leave potentially harmful chemicals in the air or on surfaces if not wiped sufficiently. This can be an issue for those with breathing difficulties. Of course, these are mainly issues for the healthcare industry, which is a lot more demanding than other establishments where health isn’t such a concern.
Of course, this doesn’t mean antibacterial wipes can just be used with complete abandon. There is definitely still a right and wrong way to use them. Wipes are designed to be used just once, so should be discarded after they have served their purpose. If they are used across many surfaces then this could potentially still spread germs from one to the other. Don’t over-use a wipe!
What are the differences between antibacterial wipes and sprays?
For starters, the main difference is the ease of use between the two cleaning mediums. Wipes are a lot easier to use, taking no prep time at all as they are already saturated with the cleaning agent before being packaged. Sprays, on the other hand, can’t work without a cloth or something similar to effectively cover a surface. This may only be a small inconvenience, but it’s just another thing to sort out, which can be annoying for small jobs.
This is especially true in customer-facing environments, such as retail and bars, at the moment. It is more important than ever to keep environments clean to help reduce the spread of Coronavirus. It simply wouldn’t be appropriate to keep whipping out the spray and a dank cloth in many situations, whereas it can be really convenient to just take one wipe out of a pack, give a surface a once-over and pop it in the bin. This will look a lot more welcoming than seeing bottles of cleaning equipment on display regularly.
Of course, it isn’t all doom and gloom on the spray-front. They can be really useful for situations where you need to clean a lot at the same time, like cleaning restaurant tables before it opens or after it closes. Sprays allow for a large area to be covered at once, without necessarily using more than one cloth. This can save a lot of time overall.
However, throughout restaurant operating times, single-use wipes are the better choice. For starters, pun 100% intended, you avoid the risk of spraying customers or hitting them with the dreaded splash off the table. The main advantage here is that you are only dealing with one table at a time. Wipes are perfect in that situation as they are designed to ensure an even and accurate coverage, which means the antibacterial agent will be most effective. The ol’ spray and cloth method can leave a table with an uneven coverage, reducing its effectiveness.
To conclude…
So, with both sprays and wipes having their benefits for different situations, maybe you think you could use both at the same time to be the most effective? However, Antibacterial wipes and disinfectant sprays are full of chemical compounds in very complex solutions that are designed to work together within their own product. Introducing new chemicals to the mix may interfere with the formula and compounds could break down, making them ineffective against germs and bacteria. It’s best just to pick the solution that is best for the job and use it as effectively as possible!
Contact Guardpack
Should you be interested in learning more about our range of antibacterial wipes, or perhaps our other contract manufacturing services – such as, private label wet wipes manufacturing and contract sachet filling, please don’t hesitate to get in touch! You can contact Guardpack today on 01245 505807 or by filling out an online enquiry form on our website.
