When hygiene is key
Kärcher steam cleaners, scrub vacuuming machines and more – useful allies in the fight against viruses and bacteria.
There are many aspects to cleaning: From appearance, value retention and maintenance to hygiene and safety. It is also of crucial importance to human health. Global outbreaks of life-threatening diseases such as influenza and COVID-19 raise awareness of the need for cleanliness and hygiene. What many people do not realise is that thorough cleaning with water at high temperatures is often sufficient to kill over 90% of germs, viruses and bacteria and prevent new infections. Kärcher offers an extensive range of machines and cleaning agents, from steam and high-pressure cleaners to scrubber driers, to guarantee a high standard of hygiene.
This means clean, germ-free homes and optimal hygiene in heavily used areas. These include sanitary facilities, kitchens, retail stores and, in particular, highly sensitive locations such as hospitals and nursing homes, where mechanical cleaning helps to prevent the propagation of micro-organisms and contact infection.
High temperatures to combat viruses and bacteria
Whether in a professional setting or at home, Kärcher steam cleaners offer proven effectiveness at cleaning hard surfaces. Their high steam temperature means they are not only effective tools for combating dirt; when used correctly, our steam cleaners will also eliminate common household bacteria and enveloped viruses such as coronaviruses and influenza viruses1. Our steam cleaners can ensure adequate hygiene using just water and high temperatures, and therefore do not require chemical cleaning agents.
Our high-pressure cleaners can also guarantee a high standard of hygiene using water and high temperatures alone. They are particularly useful for cleaning and disinfecting large areas such as ceilings, walls and floors, and are effective at combating germs, bacteria and viruses. A measurable microbial reduction can be achieved by using a Kärcher hot water high-pressure cleaner, which operates with a water temperature of 85 °C. Cleaning or disinfection agents can also be applied using a foam lance to break chains of infection.
Preventive hygiene for floors and surfaces
Kärcher scrubber driers are ideal for the wet cleaning of hard and resilient floor coverings. These machines wet and scrub the floor in a single step and immediately absorb the dirt again. Absorption permanently removes germs, minimising the potential for recontamination. The risk of contamination via the hands is reduced through non-contact cleaning.
Regular cleaning of surfaces is recommended to prevent the spread of disease. It is important not to focus solely on removing visible dirt, but also to take preventive hygiene measures. This helps prevent contact infection. For additional disinfection of surfaces, Kärcher supplies cleaning agents with a virucidal action on enveloped viruses.
Infectious germs, which spread through the air, are difficult to contain. In offices, public and medical institutions, hotels and restaurants, clean, germ-free air is especially important. Kärcher air purifiers can help to eliminate 99.98% of airborne germs.
1 Kärcher's steam cleaners have been tested by an independent laboratory to assess their effectiveness in combating viruses and bacteria. The result: When spot cleaning for 30 seconds at maximum steam pressure in one area, 99.999% of enveloped viruses such as coronaviruses and influenza viruses (except the hepatitis B virus) are removed from typical smooth and hard household surfaces (based on PVC surfaces; as per EN 16615:2015-06); Test organism: Modified vaccinia virus Ankara. When cleaning at a speed of 30 cm/s with maximum steam pressure, 99.99% of all household bacteria on smooth, hard household surfaces are eliminated (Test organism: Enterococcus hirae). 99.999 with professional steam cleaner SG(V) as per EN 16615:2015-06, PVC floor, test organism: Enterococcus hirae ATCC 10541.
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