oils ain’t Oils

Not all cleaning products are the same … just like … ‘oils ain’t Oils’.

This recognisable phrase was the successful catchcry for an advertising campaign that made a clear distinction between ordinary motor oils and engineered lubricants that were optimised to extend the life of an engine, lower maintenance costs, and protect the investment. Similarly, bio ain’t Bio. Innovative biological cleaning solutions go well beyond the short-lived treatment or superficial masking common to most cleaning inventions claiming to be bio-enzymic that are available on the market today.

With countless cleaning options to choose from that target the same problem, how can anyone pick the one that will do the job right the first time every time? Moreover, with several chemical concoctions masquerading as bio-enzymic or environmental alternatives, what criteria can be used to critically judge the effectiveness of the claims that their manufacturers make? To add to the confusion, the explosion of bio-enzymic cleaners on the market is cleverly marketed without reference to the limited lifespan of the enzymatic cleaning action.

The proven results delivered by biological solutions have changed the cleaning landscape leaving customers with the feeling that they have discovered something exceptional. So why go biological, and especially premium biological?

Tackling the problem at the source

Unlike most cleaners, which are often harsh and potentially hazardous for health and the environment, genuine biological cleaning solutions have been developed harnessing friendly bacteria to target organic waste at the source. And it is this organic waste that generates odour and staining; the two most common cleaning challenges. Specially selected non-pathogenic strains, like an enzyme factory, keep breaking down and feeding on dirt long after chemical and enzymatic cleaners have stopped working. Furthermore, these naturally occurring microscopic workers restore the natural balance in plumbing and on surfaces, leaving a protective layer behind that keeps on working in the background.

Most economical solution

Cheap solutions almost always create long-term unintended and costly consequences. Because these inferior products do not tackle the problem at its source, but rather disguises the secondary odour and staining, the issue continues to increase over time. Cheap cleaning solutions also require more effort and use more water to get rid of odour and grime. This ultimately affects the bottom-line of facilities managers and the cleaning contractors they engage. This is evident in increased plumbing costs and higher water bills. It can also lead to declining customer satisfaction that puts cleaning contracts at stake. Biological cleaning solutions on the other hand thrive in slightly damp environments, quickly going to work on restoring the natural equilibrium while getting rid of organic waste. It keeps working without the constant need of large quantities of water and vigorous scrubbing; often halving cleaning time.

Facilities managers know that their biggest cost is labour not chemicals, and by combining the correct approach with the appropriate biological cleaning solution, do they build trust and establish long-term relationships with landlords. For cleaning companies, this offers the opportunity to add value because they are replacing a suite of bio-enzymic cleaning products with a single holistic biological solution.

Proactive treatment with long-term results

Usually, property managers realise there is a cleaning issue only when odour or staining becomes evident; at which stage it is often too late. They then deploy a significant number of resources to address the problem. One fashionable solution is to replace chemical products with enzymatic cleaners. This tactic makes an immediate impact but delivers little long-term benefit because enzymes have a limited lifespan. Biological cleaning solutions however, can be proactively implemented to deal with the problem, and will continue to produce results long after chemical and enzymatic cleaners have stopped working.

Genuinely environmentally friendly

Unlike the promotion strategies that spruik the eco-friendly friendly credentials of many cleaning products, very few can prove that they do not affect natural biomes. Harsh and hazardous chemicals combine with single-use plastic waste to threaten the health of natural environments. Biological cleaning solutions with their friendly microbes, packaged in reusable or recyclable containers, go a long way in reducing the negative impact on healthy ecosystems. And by considerably reducing water use, this precious resource can be channelled towards conservational requirements.

Not all formulations are genuinely ‘biological’

Just like premium engineered lubricants helps engines run better and lower fuel consumption, superior biological formulations provide an improved cost structure and holistic outcome. Most bio-enzymic cleaners use well-known general types of bacteria rather than targeted leading-edge strains that are only to be found in truly biological ones. Single-use enzymic action flows through the system whereas ‘good biological solutions’ colonises surfaces offering prologued protection. Ultimately cheap is expensive. Just like the expression: “oils ain’t Oils”, you would not put cheap oil into an expensive car without costly ramifications. Not all cleaning products will provide a long-term solution while saving money and protecting health and the environment at the same time. How can anyone measure the effectiveness of a cleaning solution? Only proven results reported by satisfied customers matter. The above criteria are a useful starting point to judge the efficacy of any cleaning solution, especially those purporting to be ‘biological’.