Thermal disinfection
Germ-free through heat: thermal disinfection is a highly effective cleaning method for efficiently reducing the number of germs on temperature-resistant hard and exterior surfaces. The objects and surfaces to be cleaned are heated using hot water and water steam. Germs that cause illnesses in people cannot survive above 70 °C. Almost all harmful or dangerous germs, viruses and bacteria are sensitive to temperature and can be reliably killed and removed in this way.
Thermal disinfection with steam cleaners and steam vacuum cleaners
Steam cleaners and steam vacuum cleaners from Kärcher, as well as the corresponding accessories, are tested by an independent laboratory regarding their effectiveness in disinfecting surfaces, and have been proven to effectively remove bacteria* and viruses**. They are therefore ideally suited to routine disinfection, such as sanitising floors as well as worktops and work surfaces in kitchens, canteens or restrooms.
How does disinfection with steam work?
The efficiency of thermal disinfection with hot water steam is based on a simple principle. While viruses, bacteria, yeasts and other pathogens survive without difficulty for a long time on surfaces such as metal, stone, wood, ceramic, plastic or paper and can remain infectious, they are extremely sensitive in reacting to high temperatures.
Steam cleaners and steam vacuum cleaners from Kärcher produce hot water steam, which escapes from the nozzle at 100 °C and higher under high pressure. With this, even extremely short contact times are sufficient to reliably kill or inactivate bacteria and viruses. So an independent laboratory was able to prove that, with a slow traversing speed of 30 cm a second, bacteria and viruses are disinfected – for bacteria by 99.999%*, for viruses by 99.99%**.
Thermal sanitation with hot steam therefore proves itself to be a reliable and easily applicable means of inactivation or killing of micro-organisms without the aid of chemical disinfectants. Hot steam can also effortlessly penetrate into difficult-to-access points, such as crevices or joints, and clean these thoroughly. Only coarse dirt should be removed in advance, as germs could be hiding underneath.
Advantages of disinfection with steam cleaners and steam vacuum cleaners
- Especially eco-friendly, as completely free of chemical additives
- No (product) residue on treated surfaces
- Completely free of chemical additives
- No need for time-consuming rinsing if you use a steam vacuum cleaner
- Prevents pathogens from developing tolerance
- Effective against bacteria*, enveloped viruses and adenoviruses, rotaviruses and noroviruses (limited virucidal PLUS according to RKI)** on hard surfaces, certified to EN 16615:2015-06
Areas of application of disinfection with steam cleaners and steam vacuum cleaners
Thermal disinfection with steam cleaners and steam vacuum cleaners is not only extremely effective, but will also impress you with its extremely easy application. As only water is required for sanitation with steam and there is no need for chemical additives, this kind of routine disinfection is especially suitable anywhere where the focus is on food, such as
- in food processing and the food industry
- in the hotel and restaurant trade, in canteens and industrial kitchens
- in supermarkets for freezers, deli counters or shelves
Chemical-free sanitation is also extremely well suited to smaller to medium-sized surfaces in kitchens, sanitary facilities and changing rooms, such as
- in hospitals, care homes and retirement homes, doctor's practices, schools and nurseries
- in sports facilities and in the wellness sector
Sanitation of plastics for vehicle interior cleaning is also possible.
Professional steam cleaners and vacuum cleaners
Kärcher offers a wide range of steam cleaners and steam vacuum cleaners for professional use in a huge range of performance classes and versions. Thanks to our comprehensive range of accessories, our devices are used on almost all hard floors, glass and tile surfaces.
* According to EN 16615, PVC surface, test device SG 4/4 and SGV 8/5, test germ: Enterococcus hirae ATCC 10541.
** According to EN 16615, PVC surface, test device SG 4/4 and (SGV 8/5 through conclusion by analogy), test germ: MVA, murine norovirus, adenovirus (except hepatitis B), under low organic load.
Thermal disinfection with high-pressure hot water
Hot water high-pressure cleaners from Kärcher effortlessly achieve the water temperatures of at least 65 °C required for the reduction, inactivation and complete removal of viruses, bacteria and germs. Even with contact times of less than a minute with hot water, contaminated surfaces are demonstrably disinfected – completely without chemical additives. Hot water high-pressure cleaners are therefore extremely suitable for disinfection in outside areas and on large surfaces.
How does thermal disinfection with hot water work?
An independent laboratory* confirms: even at 65 °C and a contact time of under a minute, hot water high-pressure cleaners from Kärcher effectively remove enveloped viruses such as coronavirus from contaminated surfaces – from 75 °C, non-enveloped viruses are also effectively reduced and inactivated.
Particularly spray lances from Kärcher that were originally developed for weed control, such as spray lances WR 10, WR 20, WR 50 and WR 100, are suitable for dispensing the hot water. As these also allow applications without pressure, splash-free disinfection can also be realised without a problem on large surfaces and in outside areas.
For this, the lance and appropriate nozzle are simply connected to the hot water high-pressure cleaner and the water temperature set to maximum so that the water escapes the boiler outlet at approx. 90–98 °C.
Finally, the surface to be disinfected must be treated with slow movements.
* Effective against enveloped viruses and adenoviruses, rotaviruses and noroviruses (limited virucidal PLUS according to RKI).
Advantages of thermal disinfection with hot water high-pressure cleaners
- Accelerates cleaning by up to 40% compared with the use of cold water with additional germ reducing effect
- Completely without chemical additives, therefore ideally suited to disinfecting outside areas
- No residue of disinfectants on treated surfaces
- No need for time-consuming rinsing
- Prevents pathogens from developing tolerance
- Quick drying times
- Especially effective even with albuminous dirt
Areas of application of thermal disinfection with hot water high-pressure cleaners
Everywhere where the use of chemical cleaning agents and disinfectants is not desired or is forbidden for reasons of environmental protection, disinfection measures with hot water high-pressure cleaners from Kärcher are a reliable alternative. Possible areas of application on large surfaces in inside and outside areas are, for example, train stations and stops, playgrounds and park benches, stadiums and swimming pools, or in the hotel and restaurant trade, on campsites and on cruise ships. Can also be used in agriculture to combat bird flu and African swine fever.
Professional hot water high-pressure cleaners
Kärcher offers a wide range of hot water high-pressure cleaners for professional use in a huge variety of performance classes and versions.
Individual hot water high-pressure cleaners from Kärcher can heat water to 155 ° C, whereby a temperature of 80 ° C is sufficient for disinfection with hot water. The following of our hot water high-pressure cleaners have been awarded with the silver seal for "Tested hygiene quality":
- The devices of the HDS compact class, HDS middle class, HDS super class, HDS trailers and models
- HDS 1000 DE/BE and HDS 8/20 De
