Steam Vapor: A Green Disinfectant
Cleaning & Maintenance Management (06/10) Vol. 47, No. 6, Tanner, Benjamin D.

Disinfectants registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency are efficacious when the directions on the label are followed. The labels generally call for pre-cleaning followed by disinfection, but in hospitals, cleaning staff often do not pre-clean, thoroughly wet surfaces, allow them to stay wet for the full contact time, or clean surfaces frequently enough. To improve compliance with best practice surface disinfection procedures, cleaning staff should be in contact with trained infection prevention personnel, understand the strengths and weaknesses of the different disinfectants used, and have tools at their fingertips that simplify the surface disinfection process. Commercial steam vapor systems are recommended because they are non-toxic, quiet, portable, do not require pre-cleaning, and disinfect surfaces in a matter of seconds. Disinfection can occur frequently without concerns about long-term chemical exposure, and the steam does not cause surface stickiness or discoloration. Furthermore, unlike the "spray and wipe" method of disinfection, steam vapor systems do not move pathogens from one surface to another.
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