Storage units are a basic necessity for people who run their own businesses, regardless of their scale. These help owners keep important stuff in safe spaces. Moreover, storage spaces also come in handy when the owners need to free up space in their offices. They do this by keeping their extra stuff in storage spaces, ready to be used when necessary.
However, storage units do require some level of maintenance. From following state laws to ensuring the storage space is not infected, owners do need to check up on the spaces every now and then.
There are also certain instances where a thorough disinfecting of the whole space is required. Below is all the information you need to know before disinfecting your storage unit.
When to disinfect storage units?
Storage units often contain sensitive items that need regulation and maintenance. In case of infections, they could lose their efficiency or become completely useless.
A storage unit can become infected if you don't follow the storage unit laws properly or when your unit becomes infected by insects, rodents, or fungi.
Moisture and soil are only some of the many reasons that could lead to problems in your facility. Other reasons could include a natural calamity or an accident. In most cases, your unit will be bombarded with a large number of insects, fungi, and bacteria.
All this could lead to your storage space becoming unsafe for keeping important equipment. This is mostly because there are many insects and funguses that not only infect food items but also eat away wood and hence destroy your expensive furniture. So, it's vital that as soon as you find out that your storage space has undergone an infection, you should immediately start the disinfecting procedure.
If your equipment has undergone any of the problems listed below, then it is likely that your storage unit has been compromised and needs disinfecting.
1. Physical damage
This is the most obvious kind of damage that your items can undergo. Physical damage to a package is often the easiest to detect. Holes or tears in the packages inside your unit might indicate the presence of rodents or mice. Another reason for the physical damage could be the improper handling of the equipment by workers.
The tears and holes allow airborne bacteria and dust to penetrate the packages inside your unit and compromise their condition. Moreover, these bacteria can also increase in number if prompt action is not taken by the relative authorities.
2. Moisture
If your storage unit has become wet or water has penetrated inside its wall, then its disinfection becomes necessary. Moisture can be caused due to leakage or an accident.
Moisture allows the microorganisms from the air and the surfaces to penetrate inside the equipment. The extra humidity provides microorganisms, such as bacteria, and fungi the optimum conditions to grow in number. Hence, moisture can become a huge reason for you to disinfect your unit.
There are, however, many ways to avoid moisture destroying your items. You can avoid placing warm water on cool surfaces to inhibit condensation. Moreover, sensitive items should be placed far away from sources of moisture, such as the sink and water pipes.
3. soil
Since most storage units are not located in the main city, rather outside it, there is a possibility that soil can sweep into the facility and compromise its cleanliness. The presence of soil can make your items contaminated. Soil from transport carts, unclean bins, or soiled hands could create this specific problem.
In the presence of a stain to any package, the package should be discarded or sterilized. However, if the soil has damaged more than one package and can be seen lying around the unit, then that would indicate that it requires disinfecting and thorough cleaning.
4. Other reasons
The above-mentioned instances are more obvious to detect; however, there can be other instances when your storage unit might need cleaning.
- Keeping perishable/wet food items in the unit.
- Storing medicines without properly sealing them.
- Keeping wheat, barley, rice openly.
- Keeping toxic or hazardous chemicals inside.
Important things to remember when disinfecting your storage unit
Storage units don't need very frequent cleaning; hence, it is important that whenever you decide to carry out the disinfecting process, you do it thoroughly. There are many disinfectants that are available in the market. They are often used alone, or in combinations, for instance, hydrogen peroxide works best when it is combined with peracetic acid.
Remember that each disinfectant is made with a group of certain chemicals and hence designed for a specific purpose. Therefore, it is important that you either hire a professional to carry out the cleaning process or in case, you can't get the help and have to do it yourself, you should read the labels of your product carefully. On the bottle of the disinfectant, there would be ample information regarding the correct usage of the product.
Disinfection of your facility is an important part of keeping the facility safe; therefore, whenever you are disinfecting your storage space, it is important that you follow the necessary precautions. These could include:
- Reading labels of the product.
- Using the right disinfectants
- Combining the correct concentrations of your disinfectants.
- Wearing rubber gloves (because chemicals can give you skin rash)
- Wearing a mask while carrying out the cleaning.
- Wearing goggles could also prevent eye infection (however, not all disinfectant harm the eye).
- Making sure the storage space is properly ventilated, and the windows and doors are opened during the cleaning process.
- Asthma patients or patients with other breathing issues should avoid carrying out the cleaning themselves.
What disinfectants should i Use to clean my storage unit?
You should always know that disinfectants are not interchangeable and hence, incorrect combinations or concentrations of the disinfectant might lead to excessive costs. It can also lead to health problems since extra concentrations of certain chemicals might lead to skin rash or nausea in the user. Here are some of the top disinfectants that you can use to disinfect your storage unit.
- Alcohol
- Formaldehyde
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Chlorine and chlorine compounds
- Glutaraldehyde
Ways to keep your storage space free of infection
Disinfecting your facility requires time, money, and energy. You could save a lot only if you follow some basic guidelines that will help keep your storage space free of infection.
Foremost, there are some basic state laws that you should follow that restrict you from storing certain items in your unit. It's important to adhere to the guidelines because the restricted items are often the ones that cause bacteria and fungi.
Moreover, proper packaging and handling of items and regular checkups on sensitive items can also keep the unit clean. An additional precaution could be keeping the facility properly ventilated. These guidelines, when followed properly, ensure that you don't need to disinfect your storage unit frequently.