Over 50 years experience, UK trusted experts in specialist disinfection
RSPH trained operatives, expert, consultant-led risk assessment on every job
Rated excellent on GMB and Trustpilot by our customers
Disinfection Methods
Specialist disinfection methods go above and beyond standard sanitisation of surfaces. While cleaning physically removes most germs, dirt, and impurities, and sanitising reduces the number of germs to safe levels, specialist disinfecting uses innovative equipment to actively kill remaining germs on surfaces, further lowering the risk of spreading disease.
According to the CDC (Centre for Disease Control), Disinfection is the process of reducing germs such as bacteria and viruses down to a very low level by chemical or physical means, in order to create a hygienic environment. In many situations however, effective disinfection of surfaces is not possible without innovative equipment and specialist training and know how; that's where Specialist Disinfection comes in, utilising cutting edge technology to carry out disinfection of surfaces in commercial and residential properties where traditional methods such as a spray bottle and cloth just won't cut it.
Disinfecting is not the same as cleaning, sanitising or sterilising. Cleaning physically removes most germs, dirt and impurities from objects and surfaces, whereas sanitising reduces the number of germs on objects and surfaces to levels considered to be safe. Sterilising is the complete destruction of all life on a surface but requires very specialised equipment and techniques and is usually only requested in very specific situations such as surgical equipment.
What Are Specialist Disinfection Methods?
Specialist disinfection reduces germ levels to independently tested safety thresholds. For example, a disinfectant claiming >99.99% effectiveness against viruses means a maximum of one viral particle would survive out of 10,000, offering a very high level of control.
Specialist disinfection services go beyond standard cleaning, using powerful, professional-grade chemicals and specialised equipment with the to quickly destroy harmful pathogens in commercial or residential properties.
What Specialist Disinfection Methods do Rentokil Specialist Hygiene Use?
Generally speaking there are two methods of disinfection; Physical, such as Ultraviolet, heat and steam treatments, or Chemical, such as applying liquid or aerosolised chemicals. Rentokil uses both Physical and Chemical methods as part of our Specialist Disinfection to ensure whatever the size or type of disinfection service required, we can provide a rapid and extremely effective disinfection of your building to restore clean, hygienic and safe conditions for staff, visitors and customers alike.
UV Disinfection
What is UV Disinfection?
UV, or ultraviolet disinfection is the use of powerful UV lamps to destroy pathogenic bacteria, viruses and mould on surfaces without the use of liquid based disinfectants. At certain wavelengths (between 180and 280 nm), UV is an extremely effective disinfectant, destroying and disrupting bacteria and viruses alike with no possibility of chemical resistance.
Where and when to use it
As UV disinfection is a chemical-free and liquid-free method is it ideal for use on sensitive equipment such as computers and electronic devices. It can also be used where traditional disinfectant chemicals cannot, such as where staff have chemical sensitivities. UV disinfection is a thorough and meticulous process, and can only be used in unoccupied areas by technicians who have been fully trained in handling and using the equipment correctly and safely.
Benefits of method
UV disinfection provides disinfection of rooms and equipment where other methods cannot be used, and is often the only method suitable where electrical equipment is present such as server rooms and IT suites.
Electrostatic Disinfection
What is Electrostatic Disinfection?
Electrostatic disinfection is the application of a disinfectant mist with an electrical charge applied to the liquid molecules before they are released. This creates an attraction between the mist molecules and the surfaces being treated, drawing the disinfectant to the surface and providing a far better level of coverage with less liquid disinfectant being wasted.
Where and when to use it
Electrostatic disinfection is ideal for any space where traditional application of a liquid disinfectant could be carried out. Office areas, retail, schools and universities, accommodation, and hospitality venues all benefit from electrostatic disinfection of surfaces, either as a one off in the event of an outbreak of a disease, or as part of regular disinfection work to help prevent viruses spreading.
Benefits of method
Using an electrostatic disinfection sprayer is highly effective and efficient making it a very sustainable method of disinfecting surfaces. This method is perfect for treating areas with lots of furniture and equipment, like offices, as the charge particles can easily reach difficult areas that traditional methods can miss.
Mist Blowing (ULV fogging) Space Treatment
What is Disinfection Mist?
ULV, or Ultra-low volume fogging disinfection is a method applying powerful disinfectants thoroughly but efficiently throughout a large area. Using specialised ULV fog generators, small amounts of disinfectant can go a long way, penetrating into gaps and crevices where other methods might miss. The specialised application equipment produces a very small droplet size for dispersal, meaning the disinfectant remains airborne for longer, travelling further and getting into every gap, thereby maximising how efficient the disinfection process is.
Where and when to use it
Ultra-low volume (ULV) fogging is ideal for disinfecting large, open spaces. It can be used proactively as part of a planned maintenance program to prevent the spread of pathogens, or reactively to quickly treat an area following a viral or bacterial outbreak. This technology is particularly effective in large-scale environments, such as warehouses, supermarkets, sports stadiums and events venues.
Benefits of method
For larger areas, slower methods of disinfection are not practical and often not necessary. ULV fogging provides a rapid disinfection method to save time and quickly get control of a microbial emergency.
For both our electrostatic disinfection and ULV space treatments, our powerful, professional liquid disinfectants provide up to 99.9999% destruction of viruses and bacteria on surfaces*, ensuring rapid control of outbreaks such as Norovirus or seasonal Flu.
All of our technicians are trained and skilled in selecting the correct method of specialist disinfection appropriate for the situation in front of them. In many instances, there will be an immediate risk of infection and cross infection if not dealt with correctly. Our technicians are all trained to RSPH (Royal Society for Public Health) industry standard and are experienced in dealing with potentially contagious disease outbreaks. Whatever the emergency, we can assist.
Why Choose Us
With over 50 year experience, Rentokil Specialist Hygiene are the UK trusted experts in providing specialist disinfection for a range of emergency and non-emergency situations.
24/7 rapid response across the UK, dispatch within the hour.
Wholly employed, RSPH trained operatives with specialist PPE and equipment
Expert, consultant-led risk assessment on every job
Discreet, respectful and professional service during difficult situations
Cutting edge application equipment & specialised PPE and RPE
Full regulatory compliance and detailed post-clean reporting
Safe waste disposal through licensed carriers
Trustpilot rated - Excellent
Trust us to restore safety, hygiene, and peace of mind
Physical Disinfection: such as using heat or steam as well as UV (Ultraviolet) disinfection equipment.
Chemical disinfection: typically involves applying liquid chemicals known as biocides.
There are advantages to all disinfection methods depending on where and how they are used. Our UV disinfection service for example is a far safer technique around electrical equipment or where liquids cannot be used.
When should I choose UV vs electrostatic vs mist blowing?
UV disinfection is ideal where liquids cannot be safely used or where there is a risk of contamination from liquid disinfectants entering water courses or affecting the environment. Electrostatic disinfection is brilliant for most situations where a thorough disinfection of surfaces is needed such as an office space. For larger spaces such as sports stadiums or warehouses, mist blowing is the best option as it can apply disinfectants throughout a large volume in a rapid and efficient manner.
Is electrostatic disinfection safe around electronics?
As long as equipment such as computer monitors can be turned off, they can be safely disinfected using electrostatic methods ensuring certain safety precautions are taken. For this reason it's always best to contact a specialist cleaning and disinfection company. For sensitive equipment which cannot be safely isolated e.g. server rooms, Electrostatic disinfection methods which don't use any liquid are advised.
How fast can you deploy a disinfection team?
Rentokil Specialist Hygiene's expert disinfection team recognise the urgent need for specialist disinfection should an outbreak of disease occur. We can respond within the hour to ensure we contain and treat your biohazard emergency quickly and efficiently.
Do you offer emergency disinfection 24/7?
Yes, we offer UK wide coverage for emergency disinfection services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and we often dispatch within the hour.
What documentation/reporting do I receive?
Once your premise has been effectively treated, we will hand over to you with full, written reports that detail what, where and how we have treated. All our work is in accordance with COSHH regulations and a written report will provide evidence of works to support your due diligence.
How long before an area can be used again?
This depends on a few factors, such as the size of the area, how it has been treated and how well it can be ventilated. UV disinfection for example leaves no residues so the area can be handed back immediately after treatment. Where we use chemical disinfection methods we will typically advise on a 2-4 hour re-entry time once we finish.
How to get in Touch to Arrange a Specialist Disinfection
