The Difference Between Fogging Methods And How To Choose One That's Right For Your Facility
During the pandemic you've probably heard about "fogging" offered by some office cleaning companies. If you're not already familiar, fogging is a disinfecting method using disinfectants that must be approved by Health Canada, and carry a Drug Identification Number (DIN) that is dis. "Fog" is a term that can be referred to particles of a combination of water and disinfectant that can be dispersed in different sizes. ULV (Ultra Low Volume) fogging is what best for use in office areas as it disperses large volumes of air at low pressure to transform liquid into droplets that are then dispersed in the intended environment.
However, while fogging used by office cleaning services has been shown as an effective way to control pathogens in the commercial space, there's more than one option offered. More specifically, looking up office cleaning services near me will reveal some offer wet fogging or dry fogging (or potentially both.)
Let's look at the main differences between the two methods, and which might be better for your purposes.
Wet Fogging vs. Dry Fogging
The "fog" created by these handheld machines is made up of tiny droplets. When it comes to "wet fogging" for office cleaning, these droplets are about 20 to 30 microns across.
Meanwhile, the droplets in "dry fogging" are only about 10 to 15 microns across, which appears to be less misty-looking due to the size. Droplets that are between 10 and 30 microns (from ultra-low volume foggers used by many office cleaning services) are beneficial to businesses because it allows a more even distribution.
It's important to note that proper fogging also involves using an approved disinfectant, regardless of what method is used.
Which One Is Better?
Neither option is "wrong," but it comes down to the specific applications.
The smaller droplets from dry fogging usually makes it easier for office cleaning services near me to disperse over larger indoor spaces. However, also because of the small droplet size, a couple of applications might be needed to effectively disinfect a surface.
Wet fogging, on the other hand, is more suited for more targeted disinfection and even mold control, offering enough volume to sufficiently "coat" a surface. However, keep in mind that an experienced office cleaning company often uses equipment that can adjust droplet size depending on need.
An Added Layer Of Safety
While it's wise to disinfect common surfaces such as doorknobs and light switches daily using disinfectant wipes, hiring office cleaning services means adding an element of deep disinfection from fogging that can ensure all pathogens hiding in hard-to-reach places are also eliminated.
Learn more about the benefits of fogging from Arelli Cleaning.