How Specialist Chlorine Dioxide Cleaning Systems Can Help Safely Eliminate The Coronavirus

The spread of the Coronavirus disease, known as COVID-19 has caused a surge in the sales of cleaning and disinfection products. Regular cleaning of frequently touched surfaces, together with thorough hand washing is highly recommended in helping slow the spread of viruses and bacteria.

There’s plenty of good evidence that suggests the novel Coronavirus is one of the easiest types of viruses to kill, however, scientists are still determining its exact nature and how these transmissions occur. Therefore, if you’re looking for a product that specifically promises to kill the virus that causes COVID-19, you may be disappointed.

At O’Shea’s, we offer a specialist chlorine dioxide cleaning system that work in a range of markets to safely eliminate harmful pathogens from a vast array of sources. With more than 25 years of experience, O’Shea’s can provide much needed solutions efficiently, expertly and locally. This is how specialist chlorine dioxide cleaning systems can help you safely eliminate the coronavirus.

What is Chlorine Dioxide?

Chlorine Dioxide (CIO2) is a small, volatile and very strong molecule consisting of 1 chlorine atom and 2 oxygen atoms. Chlorine dioxide exists as a free radical in dilute solutions. It’s a powerful oxidising agent proven in the effective treatment of viruses, bacteria, listeria, fungi, algae, biofilm and parasites.

CIO2 is a highly soluble gas that’s effective in eradicating airborne spores and waterborne passages. As the novel Coronavirus continues to spread mainly through respiratory droplets from person to person, CIO2 disinfection with new generation equipment and control technology can be a powerful tool in the fight against the transmission of coronavirus.

Despite its name, chlorine dioxide should never be confused with chlorine (CL2). They are two distinctly different chemicals in both structure and behaviour.

How Does Chlorine Dioxide Kill Bacteria?

The oxidising properties and nature of chlorine dioxide make it an excellent virucidal and bactericidal agent in a large pH range.

Compounds within the cells and on the surface of cell membranes, that contain oxidisable material, react with chlorine dioxide, causing cell metabolism to be disrupted. Chlorine dioxide also reacts directly with disulphide bonds in the amino acids and the RNA in the cell. Unlike non-oxidising disinfectants, chlorine dioxide kills microorganisms even when they are inactive.

The oxidative load placed on the cells, by the action of chlorine dioxide, mean that most microorganisms are unable to build up resistance to chlorine dioxide. In practical terms, however, few bacteria live alone and are most often found in water and on surfaces in the form of a “biofilm”, which is a close association of many millions of bacteria.

Many biocides have particular problems in penetrating this biofilm and unlike most biocides, chlorine dioxide can effectively penetrate the polysaccharide layer of biofilm without being used up in reacting with the inert sugars. This allows the ClO2 to act on the bacteria themselves, destroying the biofilm. Chlorine dioxide is one of a number of disinfectants that are effective against Giardia Lambia and Cryptosporidium oocysts, which cause diseases, such as Cryptosporidiosis in public drinking water supplies.

With the use of O’Shea’s chlorine dioxide cleaning systems, we’re able to ensure surfaces are disinfected in accordance with procedures and products containing compounds active against coronaviruses as recommended by South Australia’s Health and Federal Government.

What Are its Benefits?

Oxidising biocides such as ozone, hydrogen peroxide and peracetic acid are known for their instability and difficulty in being handles and applied safely.

Chlorine dioxide may belong to the same family of biocides as these oxidising biocides but it has a number of advantages over other oxidising biocides, that make it more suitable for use in a number of water treatment applications.

When compared with other oxidising biocides, chlorine dioxide has a significantly lower oxidation strength – causing it to react with fewer compounds such as organic compounds and ammonia – yet is strong enough to attack the disulphide bonds, found in the membranes of bacteria and other biological material. This process of “selective oxidation” allows chlorine dioxide biocide to be targeted where it is needed most, disinfecting areas quickly and at lower dose rates, leading to greater cost efficiencies.

Other key benefits of using chlorine dioxide cleaning systems include:

• Acts only by oxidation and does not combine with organic compounds to form environmentally hazardous by-products, such as Trihalomethane and other chlorinated organic compounds that have been listed as potentially carcinogenic.
• It has a lower oxidation potential and does not hydrolyse to form an acid, making it less corrosive.
• Destroys biofilm completely at the source by penetrating polysaccharide layers to destroy pseudomonas and other base bacteria within the biofilm.

What Chlorine Dioxide Products Are Available?

O’Shea’s diverse range of CIO2 products and delivery systems make it unique in the market place. These include:

• Tablets – These self-dissolving tablets can be used for hard surface disinfection, animal and human drinking water, swimming pools and the treatment of hoof fungal infections
• Gas – Widely used to destroy mould, as well as pathogens & malodours in medical facilities and commercial properties
• Liquid – Used to disinfect drinking & waste water, swimming pools, cooling towers, agricultural & horticultural facilities, beverage facilities, as well as seafood & meat processing plants
• Powder – Neutralises odours in rubbish bins, mouldy rooms, pets, smoke & cooking odours, as well as protects against mould and bacteria in food storage & cooling rooms.

These chlorine dioxide treatments are also approved by a variety of regulatory bodies across Australia and beyond. These regulatory approvals for applications include;

• Australian Drinking Water Guidelines
• Food Standards Australia & New Zealand General Food Standard
• Australian Pesticides & Veterinary Medicines Authority
• National Health & Medical Research Council
• USA Environmental Protection Agency
• USA Food & Drug Administration and World Health Organisation.

If you’re looking for commercial cleaning services or residential cleaning services in Adelaide that you can rely on to minimise the spread of coronavirus at home or in the office, O’Shea’s has over 26 years of experience providing quality cleaning and maintenance services. Contact the friendly and knowledgeable team at O’Shea’s today to find out more about how we can help you.