From repair after site to cleaning after disaster, including maintenance of offices or administrations, cleaning may require the intervention of professionals. This is called industrial cleaning. This article presents the business of these specialized companies and the main techniques used.
Industrial cleaning is a profession in its own right, adapted to the problems of each client in connection with the regulations in force (AFNOR standards, HACCP system, Food Codex, RABC, specific regulations in terms of confidentiality).
Industrial cleaning: what methods?
The different cleaning techniques offered by industrial cleaning professionals cover routine or specialized cleaning for the tertiary sector, but also more complex processes for heavy industry and specialized sectors: cleaning of production equipment, degreasing of machines. tools, stripping, scrubbing, decontamination, …
We will retain the following six methods.
Cleaning or cleaning-disinfection
It concerns all cleaning or simple maintenance services for business premises or places open to the public: floor stripping, end-of-work cleaning, clearing of bulky items and bins, but also cleaning and washing of floors and surfaces. , maintenance of walls and textile coverings, dust removal, window cleaning.
These services can be supplemented by specific and one-off services such as pest control, maintenance of green spaces or even rat control.
For routine maintenance, depending on the surface to be cleaned, cleaning companies will equip their cleaning trolleys with brooms and mops or will use industrial processes (High Speed single-brush, thermoplastic single-brush, etc.)
Dry steam cleaning
This new technology makes it possible to clean, degrease and disinfect surfaces, machines, equipment, etc. while preserving the environment and health. It combines water vapor with / without detergent under high pressure and high temperature. The disinfectant power of steam is very high. It removes the bio film left by manual cleaning and chemical disinfection actions as well as dirt. The method also allows very rapid drying of surfaces.
Dry ice blasting
It is similar to sandblasting and refers to a technology that aims to remove certain coatings on different substrates. The non-abrasive process involves blasting solid dry ice (or dry ice) and requires machines specifically designed for this type of operation. This technique is suitable for cleaning production lines, machine tools, pianos, extractor hoods, etc.
Ultrasonic cleaning
This professional cleaning technique uses the principle of ultrasound whose action is based on the physical phenomenon of cavitation. When sound waves hit a solid surface, they implode, release high pressure, and form micro-jets. The produced effect helps loosen dirt. The method is very efficient on encrustations (blood, albumins, amalgams, cements) and allows the reprocessing of medical devices.
Hydro-stripping
Hydro-stripping involves spraying water at very high pressure using jets. It is intended for the treatment of surface problems such as road surfaces or pedestrian surfaces (road markings, stains, chewing gum, graffiti, etc.). The technique can be applied to all types of substrates without altering them (asphalt, concrete, granite, etc.). It offers an alternative to sandblasting, sanding, shot blasting, … and allows to remove residues, to refurbish dirty substrates and to restore the adhesion of surfaces for greater safety.
