Antimicrobial or antibacterial. You hear these terms everyday and you use materials containing these agents all the time. From your hand soap to your cutting board, these once new buzzwords are now becoming the norm in the cleaning chemical arena. Now you are even seeing specialty care products, such as those for natural stone, using these terms on their labels. What does this mean? Why is it, or isn’t it, important?
This article summarizes a study conducted to answers these questions.
Countertop contamination – what’s been done
In March of 1999, for example, the Hospitality Institute of Technology and Management published an article on The Reduction of E. Coli on Various Countertop Surfaces . The study looked at six surfaces (Laminate, Wood, Tile (ceramic), Concrete, Stainless steel and Granite) and their cleanability.
All of the surfaces were contaminated with a measured quantity of E. Coli culture. The surfaces were then cleaned with a detergent solution and rinsed. They were then tested to determine the reduction of the bacteria. The surfaces were then cleaned again using a solution of white household vinegar and tested again to determine its cleaning effectiveness.
The study results showed, that every countertop has a different cleanability. In addition, the granite showed the greatest reduction of bacterial contamination after the wash and rinse step while the stainless steel had the greatest reduction after the vinegar sanitizing step. What is of particular interest is that the most “cleanable” materials were stainless steel and granite.