How Electrolyzed Water Can Be Integrated into Facility Cleaning Practices to Improve Worker Safety

This safe and effective alternative to toxic cleaning chemicals can help protect your staff as well as your bottom line.

• By Joshua Schwartz
• Oct 01, 2024

The safety and well-being of cleaning staff are crucial components of any facility management plan. Traditional cleaning chemicals, while effective at eliminating soils and pathogens, often come with a range of health risks. They can cause respiratory issues, skin irritations and other long-term health problems due to prolonged exposure to harmful substances. Electrolyzed water offers a safe and efficient alternative, providing facilities with a powerful cleaning and disinfecting solution without the associated risks.

What Is Electrolyzed Water?

Electrolyzed water is created by applying an electrical current to a mixture of water and salt (sodium chloride). This process, known as electrolysis, separates the molecules into two distinct components with powerful cleaning and disinfecting properties:

• Hypochlorous acid (HOCl). A highly effective disinfectant that is safe and natural and is used in many industries, including healthcare, food safety and water treatment. It is capable of killing bacteria, viruses, fungi and other pathogens on contact. Hypochlorous acid is naturally produced by white blood cells in the human body to fight off infections, which makes it a particularly safe option for cleaning.
• Sodium hydroxide (NaOH). This component is an effective cleaning agent and degreaser. It emulsifies oils, fats and grime, making it suitable for cleaning hard and soft surfaces, equipment and floors.

Both solutions are free of toxic chemicals, biodegradable and safe for human contact, making them ideal for a range of cleaning applications in facilities.

What Are the Benefits of Using Electrolyzed Water in Cleaning?

Electrolyzed water has a number of advantages over traditional cleaners that make it the preferred choice for more and more industries. 

It’s hypoallergenic and does not release harmful fumes, reducing the risk of respiratory problems, skin irritations and allergic reactions, which can be common for workers who use traditional cleaning chemicals. 

It’s also easy to use and handle even without protective gear such as gloves or masks, reducing the risk of accidental exposure or injury. This ease of use can increase worker productivity and morale while decreasing the likelihood of accidents.

Another operational benefit is that it eliminates storage and disposal hazards. Unlike many chemical cleaners, electrolyzed water does not require special storage conditions or disposal methods. This simplifies inventory management, reduces the risk of chemical spills or leaks and lowers costs associated with hazardous waste disposal.

Electrolyzed water also helps companies and facilities comply with a growing number of various health and safety regulations such as those set by OSHA in the U.S. and other international bodies. Electrolyzed water helps organizations meet these standards by providing an effective cleaning solution that does not introduce hazardous substances into the workplace.

Practical Integration of Electrolyzed Water into Cleaning Practices

Electrolyzed water is relatively easy for companies to adopt, and it offers several advantages that make the transition smooth and practical. 

The first is its simple, on-site production. Electrolyzed water generators are compact, easy-to-install machines that can be set up on-site in various facilities, such as offices, schools, hospitals, food processing plants, or manufacturing sites.

These machines require only water, salt, and electricity to produce electrolyzed water, eliminating the need to purchase multiple types of traditional cleaning chemicals.

Companies can then save money by reducing expenditures on traditional cleaning supplies, storage, transportation, and waste disposal. Since it is free of harsh or toxic chemicals and hypoallergenic, employees can safely use it without the need for personal protective equipment (PPE) like gloves, masks or special ventilation systems, simplifying cleaning protocols and procedures.

It’s also suitable for multiple cleaning and disinfecting tasks, such as wiping down surfaces, mopping floors, disinfecting high-touch areas and even cleaning food-contact surfaces. This versatility allows companies to replace several different products with one effective solution.

Better for Our People, Better for Our Planet

In addition to being safer for the people who use and are exposed to it on a daily basis, Electrolyzed water is also better for the environment due to its natural composition, biodegradability, and minimal environmental impact compared to traditional chemical cleaners.

Its two core chemical components – hypochlorous acid (HOCl) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) are both free of toxic ingredients, unlike many conventional cleaning products that contain harsh chemicals like ammonia, chlorine bleach, or quaternary ammonium compounds (quats) that can be harmful to aquatic life and ecosystems. Electrolyzed water in comparison decomposes rapidly back into its original components—water and salt—leaving no harmful residues behind. 

It also helps companies reduce their carbon footprint through less transportation and distribution impact. On-site production of electrolyzed water eliminates the need for transporting large quantities of cleaning chemicals from manufacturers to facilities, which reduces greenhouse gas emissions associated with transportation and logistics. 

Companies looking to improve worker safety and their general sustainability efforts should strongly consider using electrolyzed water as part of their facility maintenance strategy. Using electrolyzed water is a practical and impactful way for companies to enhance their worker safety profile and sustainability efforts. It aligns with environmental goals, supports health and safety, reduces costs, and helps meet green standards and certifications. Adopting electrolyzed water not only benefits the environment but also enhances the company’s reputation, operational efficiency and overall commitment to a more sustainable future.