If you’re in charge of sanitation and maintenance, you may be looking for the best way to safely and efficiently clean large surfaces.You should consider options like CO2 blasting or steam cleaning as methods for doing so. Whether you’re trying to sanitize food prep items or surfaces, carpets, or industrial equipment, steam cleaning or CO2 blasting can be the answer to your problems. Did you know that one in six Americans get sick because of contaminated food or beverages (according to the Centers for Disease Control)? Making sure things are sanitized can eliminate the three main hazards that can lead to unsafe food. These hazards are biological — such as germs — chemical — pest control or cleaning solutions — and physical –hair, dust, dirt, etc. Let’s talk about how CO2 blasting and steam cleaning can be effective solutions for your sanitation needs.

What Is CO2 Blasting?
CO2 blasting is often also known as dry ice blasting. This system creates a high temperature vapor that’s low in moisture. It only has 5-6% water and is less dense than what we breathe in. The CO2 is sped up in a pressurized stream to scour the surface.

Furthermore, carbon dioxide isn’t poisonous and comes in the form of liquefied gas, which can be stored easily and isn’t expensive to store. The dry ice pellets themselves are actually pretty soft, but it’s the force with which they impact against the surface that makes them such an effective sanitizing tool.

There’s two hose and single hose dry ice blasting equipment available; two hose systems are more likely to be used on delicate surfaces, whereas single hose systems work well if you really need to be more forceful in your cleaning.

What is Steam Cleaning?

Steam cleaning uses appliances that process steam to dry, clean, or sanitize surfaces. It’s often used for disinfecting or sterilization purposes, depending on the temperature. A boiler can heat tap water up to as much as 310 degrees Fahrenheit which creates vapor that’s low-pressure and low-moisture. Steam cleaning relies on the heat aspect to actually do the cleaning.

These types of systems get rid of chemical residues while also sanitizing the surface it’s working on. It doesn’t require a lot of water to work — around 1.5 quarts an hour — and is considered essentially mess free. Steam cleaning systems are perfect for using inside buildings or for hypoallergenic situations, since cleaning chemicals aren’t needed.

Steam cleaning is also effective for reaching larger areas effectively in less time. Have you been frustrated at the length of time it takes your cleaning crew to get everything done? Are you still receiving complaints that things aren’t sanitized correctly? Steam cleaning can be your answer.

What are the Advantages of Each?

Dry ice blasting isn’t abrasive, it can’t catch on fire, and isn’t conductive. It’s also considered a green way to clean and doesn’t produce secondary contaminants like solvents. It’s safe enough to be used in the food industry and items can simply be cleaned where they are — disassembling and reassembling isn’t required.

It’s a general enough type of cleaning that it can be used on a variety of surfaces, but you also don’t have to worry about disturbing active electrical devices or that it could turn into a fire hazard. Tough things to get off like paints, oils, or other contaminants can be taken off with dry ice blasting, but it can also be used for gentler applications as well.

In terms of steam cleaning, steam can kill up to 99% of germs commonly found in homes, as well as bacteria like E.Coli, salmonella, or staph, and can eliminate dust mites and bedbugs as well. Faucet handles and paper towel dispenser handles that were steam cleaned had a tenth as many germs as when they were cleaned with traditional, chemical-based cleaning methods.

Branching out when it comes to surveying your cleaning methods is a smart idea, especially if people are counting on you to provide a safe and sanitized working environment. CO2 blasting and steam cleaning systems can provide you with two environmentally friendly and effective options to consider.