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The Complete Guide for Choosing Disinfectant mats
A disinfectant mat helps to keep harmful micro organisms outside and is therefore an important part of greenhouse hygiene. For the best result, it is important that you take a number of things into account. That starts with the purchase! For you it is important to fully benefit from the disinfecting mats that they have to offer. In this guide we will help you with making the right decision for a disinfectant mat suiting your situation. You can find the 11 common mistakes people making while buying or using a sanitizing mat.
1. Type of disinfectant mat
Before you buy a disinfectant mat, it is important to think carefully about its use. Is the mat to be used intensively, does transport pass over it, or are only people walking on it?
2. Size of disinfectant mat
Sometimes people choose mats that are too small. Even with passenger traffic, a larger mat is necessary in order that several steps are taken on the mat. If you also need transport equipment to drive over it, then you should choose a longer mat so that the entire wheel surface is decontaminated. Watch the video below for more information.
Tip: Turn the subtitles on
3. Disinfection mat without tunnel
Disinfection mats are available with and without tunnel. Growers often opt for a mat without a tunnel, but then forget to refill the mat. It is therefore preferable to choose a disinfectant mat with tunnel. You can connect a filling pump to this so that the mat will be filled automatically. As a result, you have less trouble with the decontamination agent in the mat, resulting in the mat working better. A mat with a tunnel is also much easier to clean.
4. Place the mat in the walking route
It sounds very logical, but yet we regularly see this go wrong: mats that are not in the walking route, or around which you can walk. Think about this when purchasing by choosing the right size and try to create a loop current in which people cannot get around the disinfection mat. If you have several walking routes (for example because the greenhouse has several entrances), make sure that each door is equipped with a disinfection mat.
5. Instructions
Did everyone at your company receive instructions on the disinfection mat? Make sure that employees know why it is important that they walk over the mat before entering the greenhouse. Also, hang up clear instructions with the mat so that visitors are also aware of the hygiene measures on your premises.
6. Dirt on the mat
Cleaning the disinfectant mat is very important, if there is a lot of dirt on the mat, the mat cannot make sufficient contact with the surfaces to be cleaned. In the video below you can see how to clean a disinfectant mat.
Tip: Turn the subtitles on.
7. Dirt around the mat
The more dirt there is around the mat, the more dirt eventually gets on it. Keep not only the mat itself clean, but also the entire space around the mat.
8. Incorrect disinfectant
Another common mistake is the use of a wrong means. We regularly see that growers use dangerous, corrosive substances. Of course, this is not desirable. Also, non-stable means are often used, so that not every shoe or wheel is disinfected equally well. It is therefore important to use the correct disinfectant. We recommend the disinfectant Menno Florades. In this article, our specialists provide tips for using and maintaining a disinfectant mat.
9. Too dry or too wet
A disinfection mat should never be too dry. The mat not only has a lesser effect, but is also broken in no time. On the other hand, the mat should not be too wet. This will waste a lot of the disinfectant and also make the mat very slippery, making it easy for people to slip.
10. Products on the mat
Do not place any products on top of the mat. First of all, this is not safe, but second, it also has a negative effect on the use of the mat, because people walk around it earlier. Sharp edges or protruding nails are also the main cause of damage to the mat.
11. Outside locations
Finally, never place a disinfectant mat outdoors. During a rainstorm, the solution dilutes quickly with disinfectant. In case of evaporation, the mat dries out and can increase the concentration of the disinfectant. As a result, the mat will work less well or not at all.