How is water converted into an effective cleaning agent?
Water is passed through a cell in which a small electric current is applied. This dose of energy excites the water molecules, causing them to separate into positive and negative ions. These ions have the attributes of a general purpose cleaning agent and attract themselves to dirt particles. The dirt particles are lifted off the surface of the floor, get suspended in the water and are thus easily scrubbed away.
Apart from being eco friendly, does EC-H2O offer higher standards of cleanliness? How effective is the process?
EC-H2O is designed as a daily cleaning technology and is recommended for light to medium soilages. One of the tests we conduct with EC-H2O is the ATP test which measures the amount of organic residue on the floor. Residue could come from food, beverage or human sweat that fall on to the floor and dry up overtime. This residue is not visible to the naked eye but may contain allergens or bacteria. We have found that regular usage of EC-H2O greatly reduces the ATP content, thereby increasing the quality of the air and reducing health risks.
What are the main advantages of using this technology compared to cleaning with chemicals?
By operating at a molecular level, EC-H2O is able to achieve good performance with only one third of the amount of water typically used with chemical cleaning. This means it is also very productive because it reduces the number of dump/refill cycles and allows the machine to cover a bigger area with the same amount of water. Not only that, you save in terms of cost of chemicals and water.
EC-H2O technology uses only plain water so there is no danger of chemical residue being left on the floor after scrubbing. The benefit is an increase in safety to the public, particularly in spaces such as hospitals, retail malls and supermarkets. Using less water than conventional cleaning enables the scrubber to recover water from the floor more effectively. There is no more need for a second worker to follow behind the scrubber with a mop. Apart from being more productive, this further reduces the risk of slip and fall accidents. Above all, it shows the professionalism of the contractor and enhances the image of the facility owner in the eyes of the public.
What are the applications?
EC-H2O can be used in retail, healthcare, hospitality, places of worship as well as sports facilities. It can also be used very effectively in many food & beverage manufacturing facilities. It will work very well on tiled floors, vinyl floors, coated floors and even wood. And, because no chemical is used, it will not leave any residue that affect the gloss of marble floors.
Because the cleaning agent is water, this could ideally be used in hospitalsand schools?
Yes, most of our early adopters in the US are schools and hospitals. They have high standards of hygiene and are places where people we care about spend a large amount of time.
Where do you think in India, this can find wider usage?
There are many beautiful malls in India today that are built with expensive flooring material and are comparable to shopping venues worldwide. Very often in many countries, I’ve seen these deteriorate quickly with poor maintenance. In supermarkets where there is usually high human traffic and exposure to spillage, we often see cleaners with mops because current scrubbing technology is too noisy and unsafe to be operated during retail hours. However, with EC-H2O technology, these spaces can be cleaned anytime and still be safe and non-intrusive to shoppers.
