Not all cleaning chemicals are created equally, especially when it comes to protecting your equipment. Choosing the wrong solution can lead to corrosion, foaming, seal damage or even complete machine failure. This guide will help you evaluate which chemicals are safe, effective, and compatible with your floor scrubbers, vacuum cleaners, and other industrial cleaning machines.
Enzyme-Based Solutions: Decoding What is Truly Sustainable
Kshitiz Chaudhary, Founder & MD, Cizar Hygienecare Pvt. Ltd.
when evaluating enzyme-based cleaning solutions, buyers should start by closely examining the ingredients. A genuinely sustainable product should use biodegradable, non-toxic components, free from harsh chemicals, and pH is a factor when you can understand if it is safe or not. There could be the claim that a cleaning chemical is enzyme-based, hence considered an eco-friendly cleaning chemical, but you can use enzymes to enhance the efficacy of your present toxic chemical-based cleaning chemicals. Buyers should look for full ingredient disclosure.
Beyond ingredients, efficacy and dilution are where enzyme-based products distinguish themselves. A good formulation will work effectively at high dilutions, reducing both cost-in-use and packaging waste and environmental impact.
Additionally, the contact time required for action should align with the intended application — fast-acting for daily cleaning, longer dwell times for deep cleaning or organic digestion. In sum, enzyme cleaners can offer powerful, sustainable alternatives to traditional chemicals when chosen based on transparent formulation, proven performance, and responsible use recommendations.
Choosing Equipment-Compatible Chemical Solutions
Sahil Jain, Managing Director, columbus Cleaning Machines Pvt Ltd.
Certain chemical solutions, while effective at cleaning, can inadvertently damage cleaning equipment if not chosen carefully. Harsh acids and bases — such as hydrochloric acid or sodium hydroxide can corrode steel and degrade seals, leading to premature equipment failure. Strong oxidisers like hydrogen peroxide, peracetic acid, or bleach may deteriorate plastics, rubber components, and sensitive fittings if not properly rinsed.
Solvent-based degreasers, often used to remove oily residues, can be particularly aggressive — drying out gaskets, softening tubing, or affecting pump seals. Even alcohols like isopropanol, though commonly used, can weaken machines over time. These risks highlight the need to balance cleaning power with chemical compatibility to avoid compromising equipment performance.
Also, for particularly challenging or aggressive environments, we always suggest choosing the right SOPs along with specific machines like stainless steel chassis or oil-resistant squeegees and rubber guards.
On the other hand, certain formulations can help maintain and even extend the life of cleaning equipment. Neutral-pH detergents and low-residue disinfectants are generally safer for internal components and reduce the risk of buildup or clogging. Degreasers, often water-based or emulsifying types, offer strong cleaning action for oily surfaces without the material damage associated with harsher solvents. Anti-foaming agents, when incorporated into cleaning solutions, also play a crucial role by preventing excessive foam generation that can disrupt sensors, or cause suction motors to fail.
Selecting cleaning agents with both performance and material safety in mind ensures operational reliability and extends the service life of critical cleaning equipment. We always advise customers to perform small-scale compatibility and efficacy tests before full-scale implementation, especially when using a new chemical or cleaning a new material.
Preserving Equipment in Critical Environments
Saleel Kodambadan, Sr. Manager – Training & Business Operations (Kerala), Tennant Company
When evaluating chemical solutions for critical area cleaning, it is essential to choose products that do not compromise the performance or longevity of cleaning equipment. Chemicals should be tested and proven non-reactive with sensitive internal components like seals, pumps, tanks, spray nozzles, and dosing systems. This is especially important for machines that rely on automated chemical dosing, where the viscosity and concentration of the solution must remain consistent to ensure accurate delivery. Using incompatible chemicals can lead to equipment breakdowns, inaccurate dosing, clogging, or even void warranties.
Equally important is choosing low-foam, non-corrosive, and residue-free formulations that meet hygiene and environmental standards. In critical environments such as pharmaceutical cleanrooms, hospitals, and food processing units, these solutions must leave no films or residues that could affect sterility or compliance.
Choose chemicals certified by recognised agencies like NSF, CE, or REACH, and aligned with cGMP, HACCP, or ISO cleanroom classifications. Most importantly, ensure they come with documented compatibility for specific equipment types — such as floor scrubbers, vacuum cleaners, or high-pressure washers — to maintain operational efficiency and support compliance goals.
Understanding Green Chemistry and Certification
Sandhya Shrivastava, PhD, Director, Bhavan’s Research Center, Retd. Associate Professor, Department of Microbiology, Bhavan’s College
Green chemicals, also known as environmentally friendly or sustainable chemicals, are substances designed to minimise harm to human health and the environment, as these aim to reduce or eliminate the use of hazardous substances during the design, manufacture, and application of chemical products. Their relevance is growing rapidly, in almost all sectors as the general public, industry, and regulatory bodies are getting more concerned and cautious about environmental safety and sustainability.
Though there are multiple areas where green chemicals are being used, there is a focused approach for using the green chemicals in the areas of cleaning and disinfection, as most of the currently used chemicals are harsh, contributing to not only pollutants, but also leading to development of antimicrobial resistance.
Key Features
1. Non-toxic or low toxicity, biodegradable: Traditional cleaning agents such as bleach, ammonia, phenols are being replaced by biodegradable actives, such as hydrogen peroxide, organic acids (viz. citric, lactic, or acetic), enzymes (viz. proteases, amylases, lipases), plant-based surfactants (viz. coconut, corn-derived).
2. Environmental Footprint Reduction: The green chemicals degrade rapidly in natural environment, bioaccumulation and residual toxicity for aquatic life is minimal. Chemical burden in wastewater is reduced. Rate of development of resistance to antimicrobial agents is also lowered.
3. Use of solvent-free or benign solvent systems: Using water-based or green solvents like ethanol, glycerol, or ethyl lactate, as against chlorinated or petrochemical-based agents.
4. Compliance and Certifications: Products that follow sustainable cleaning chemistry principles are often certified under: BIS Eco Mark (India), ECOCERT (Europe), US EPA Safer Choice (USA), etc.
5. Limitations of using Green Chemicals: Higher cost (H₂O₂ vs phenolics), lesser efficacy (less potent, slow-acting), shorter shelf life (as are more sensitive to temperature, light, or contamination), standardisation and certification challenges.
Transitioning to sustainable cleaning options for a Microbiology laboratory: Considering the nature of operations, a microbiology lab requires continuous cleaning and disinfection. Thus, transition to green chemicals will lead to:
• Reduction in environmental footprint: Green disinfectants (like hydrogen peroxide or plant-based quats) to replace harsher compounds like glutaraldehyde or chlorine-based agents.
• Use of chemicals that degrade more readily, simplifying downstream waste treatment.
• Improves safety for staff, thus helps with alignment with biosafety and regulatory requirements.
• Aligns with ESG goals and sustainability mandates.
In conclusion, with numerous research laboratories and industries working on green chemicals, integration of green cleaning chemicals in all walks of life is a practical and ethical step toward safer, more sustainable practice for meeting one-health objective. While initial adoption may require planning and investment, the long-term benefits — safer workspaces, regulatory compliance, and reduced environmental footprint — make the transition both necessary and worthwhile. With increasing awareness and the growing availability of certified products in India, now is the ideal time for creating awareness and for institutions to embrace green chemistry.
Prioritising Ingredients to Align with Sustainability
Vanchinathan Sivaswamy, Head-Sales, SAARC, Rossari Professional
When evaluating cleaning chemicals for sustainability, we prioritise ingredients and formulations that align with eco-friendly and health-conscious standards. Here are the key points we consider:
1. Biodegradable Ingredients: Our formulations incorporate ingredients that break down naturally and quickly in the environment, minimising ecological impact.
2. Non-Toxic Composition: We ensure our cleaning chemicals are free from harmful substances such as phosphates, chlorine, ammonia, VOCs and synthetic fragrances, promoting safety for both users and ecosystems.
3. Use of Renewable and Natural Raw Materials: Rossari Professional emphasises sourcing ingredients derived from renewable resources, reducing dependency on petrochemical-based components and supporting sustainable supply chains.
4. Elimination of Hazardous Chemicals: Our products are formulated to exclude persistent and hazardous substances, adhering to global safety and environmental standards.
5. Low VOC Emissions: We develop products with low or zero VOC content to improve indoor air quality and reduce atmospheric pollution.
6. Certifications and Eco-Labels: Our products often carry recognised sustainability certifications like Green Seal reflecting our commitment to environmental responsibility.
7. Concentrated Formulations & Eco-Friendly Packaging: We focus on creating concentrated formulas that reduce packaging waste and transportation footprint, paired with recyclable and eco-conscious packaging options.
8. Fragrance and Dye-Free Options: To promote health and environmental safety, many of our cleaning solutions are fragrance-free or utilise natural scents, avoiding synthetic dyes and fragrances.