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What are the advantages of cleaning and disinfection with foam?

When using liquid cleaning or disinfection methods, the efficacy of the product always depends on the interaction between the application time and concentration. Even though a grower can influence the concentration, this is not always the case with the application time. This depends on application techniques and climate conditions. With cleaning foam as a cleaning or disinfection method you can also influence the application time. In this article our specialist explains the advantages of a foam cleaner and disinfectant.
Advantages of cleaning and disinfection with foam?
Jasper Verhoeven
Specialist Hygiene & Disinfection | February 7, 2020 | 4 min. reading time

Advantages of a foam cleaner

Growers are more and more using foam based cleaning and disinfection products. Using a foam cleaner has more advantages compared to liquid disinfection products:
  • Cleaning foam lengthens the application time and with that the efficacy of the treatments, as foam has more adhesiveness. This adhesiveness prevents fast washing away, which makes foam more suitable for disinfecting or vertical surfaces such as greenhouse walls. 
  • The creeping capacity of foam also allows difficult to reach surfaces or cornes to be treated. 
  • Cleaning foam is a safer choice, because less aerosol is formed by using foam.
Perfect cleaning of cultivation materials with Menno Hortisept Clean  

Different products for different applications

Each form of contamination requires a different product for cleaning and/or disinfection:
Foam disinfection with Menno Florades  
​​​​Disinfecting your greenhouse with Menno Florades​​​​

Supplies for cleaning and disinfection foam applications

To apply a foam cleaner or disinfectant, you can use several products: a Menno disinfection sprayer, a foam gun or a V1K mobile cleaning unit. The best choice of product depends on (the size of) the surface to be treated.

Cleaning and disinfection foam techniques

For the best quality cleaning and disinfection foam it is necessary that a number of requirements are met. The first step is to check and if necessary clean the tank. There should be no residual liquid from other products in the tank, as these can have an effect on the pH value. The water quality also influences the cleaning foam. Use rainwater or osmosis water. If this is not available, and other water (for example tap water) is used, check the pH value beforehand. This value should be ±pH 6, this can be achieved by acidifying (e.g. tap water) to a slightly more neutral pH. This saves on your product consumption. The lower the EC (salt content) the better the foam cleaner. For the foam gun, a pump pressure of 30-45 bar is recommended. No foaming agent needs to be added, the products Menno Ter Forte, Hortiseptclean PLUS, Menno Florades is by itself foaming at a sufficiently high concentration. For Menno Florades, the activity is guaranteed at a pH of 3.5 - 4. If the pH is increased by contamination, you can easily add extra Menno Florades until a new pH value of 3.5-4 is reached.

Nursery Reijm Nieuwerkerk
Gerbera grower Johan Reijm, Reijm Nursery Nieuwerkerk:

"Effectively kill fungal spores with Menno Florades"

HortiHygienz

The total solution for hygiene issues in horticulture

We believe that growers worldwide can maximize the yield of their crops with optimum hygiene. HortiHygienz can be used worldwide as a total solution for operational hygiene. Whatever the question or challenge in the area of operational hygiene, HortiHygienz has the solution for you!
Related products
Contact form
Can't find your answer? Fill out the contact form and our specialist Jasper Verhoeven will get back to you. On weekdays, even within 24 hours.
Also interesting for you

What are the advantages of cleaning and disinfection with foam?

When using liquid cleaning or disinfection methods, the efficacy of the product always depends on the interaction between the application time and concentration. Even though a grower can influence the concentration, this is not always the case with the application time. This depends on application techniques and climate conditions. With cleaning foam as a cleaning or disinfection method you can also influence the application time. In this article our specialist explains the advantages of a foam cleaner and disinfectant.
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Jasper Verhoeven, product specialist hygiene
Jasper Verhoeven
Specialist Hygiene & Disinfection | February 7, 2020 | 4 min. reading time
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Advantages of cleaning and disinfection with foam?

Advantages of a foam cleaner

Growers are more and more using foam based cleaning and disinfection products. Using a foam cleaner has more advantages compared to liquid disinfection products:
  • Cleaning foam lengthens the application time and with that the efficacy of the treatments, as foam has more adhesiveness. This adhesiveness prevents fast washing away, which makes foam more suitable for disinfecting or vertical surfaces such as greenhouse walls. 
  • The creeping capacity of foam also allows difficult to reach surfaces or cornes to be treated. 
  • Cleaning foam is a safer choice, because less aerosol is formed by using foam.
Perfect cleaning of cultivation materials with Menno Hortisept Clean  
Foam applications for cleaning and disinfection | How to use foam 

Different products for different applications

Each form of contamination requires a different product for cleaning and/or disinfection:
Foam disinfection with Menno Florades  
​​​​Disinfecting your greenhouse with Menno Florades​​​​

Supplies for cleaning and disinfection foam applications

To apply a foam cleaner or disinfectant, you can use several products: a Menno disinfection sprayer, a foam gun or a V1K mobile cleaning unit. The best choice of product depends on (the size of) the surface to be treated.

Cleaning and disinfection foam techniques

For the best quality cleaning and disinfection foam it is necessary that a number of requirements are met. The first step is to check and if necessary clean the tank. There should be no residual liquid from other products in the tank, as these can have an effect on the pH value. The water quality also influences the cleaning foam. Use rainwater or osmosis water. If this is not available, and other water (for example tap water) is used, check the pH value beforehand. This value should be ±pH 6, this can be achieved by acidifying (e.g. tap water) to a slightly more neutral pH. This saves on your product consumption. The lower the EC (salt content) the better the foam cleaner. For the foam gun, a pump pressure of 30-45 bar is recommended. No foaming agent needs to be added, the products Menno Ter Forte, Hortiseptclean PLUS, Menno Florades is by itself foaming at a sufficiently high concentration. For Menno Florades, the activity is guaranteed at a pH of 3.5 - 4. If the pH is increased by contamination, you can easily add extra Menno Florades until a new pH value of 3.5-4 is reached.

Nursery Reijm Nieuwerkerk
Gerbera grower Johan Reijm, Reijm Nursery Nieuwerkerk:

"Effectively kill fungal spores with Menno Florades"

HortiHygienz

The total solution for hygiene issues in horticulture

We believe that growers worldwide can maximize the yield of their crops with optimum hygiene. HortiHygienz can be used worldwide as a total solution for operational hygiene. Whatever the question or challenge in the area of operational hygiene, HortiHygienz has the solution for you!
Related products
Contact form
Can't find your answer? Fill out the contact form and our specialist Jasper Verhoeven will get back to you. On weekdays, even within 24 hours.
Jasper Verhoeven, product specialist hygiene
Also interesting for you
3 tips for the maintenance of disinfection mats
A disinfection mat is a preventive hygiene solution for locations in which there is a movement of people and traffic in the horticultural industry. It helps prevent the introduction of micro-organisms and the consequences of such invasions.
The difference between cleaning and disinfection
Cleaning and disinfection are of great importance for hygienic cultivation. It’s the only way to prevent diseases, bacteria and pests, and to prevent infection of crops. But they are not the same; there is an important difference.
How do I clean materials?
Soiling caused by the remains of plants, plant sap, soil, dust and other organic materials strongly adheres to various surfaces. A thorough cleaning is therefore of great importance in order to work hygienically and should always occur prior to starting the disinfection.