In the search for safer, more eco-friendly cleaning solutions, it’s important to review different types of cleaners to determine what works best for your cleaning, health and the environment.
Two keywords keep emerging when searching for the best solution: probiotics and enzymes.
What sets them apart and, more importantly, which should you choose? Let’s dive in!
How do they work?
Probiotic cleaners contain beneficial bacteria that penetrate deep into tiny imperfections and pores where persistent dirt hides, which means it continues to work long after the product is applied. Probiotic cleaners use beneficial bacteria to naturally compete with and overtake harmful bacteria, rather than dousing them in biocides. Select strains of beneficial bacteria ensure precise enzymes are produced to break down matter without corroding surfaces, offering safe, targeted and long-lasting cleaning protection without abrasive action. This means that surfaces look new for longer, and repairing or replacing will be far less frequent.
Enzymatic, or chemical, cleaners tend to work at the beginning when they’re first applied, but have no mechanism to provide long-term effectiveness. This can cause long-term damage to surfaces and pose hazards to those in contact with the cleaners. Additionally, if applied incorrectly, these types of cleaners can contribute to the rise of harmful biocide-resistant bacterial strains known as superbugs.
How do they affect the environment?
Probiotic cleaners have a much smaller environmental impact than traditional chemical cleaners, safely helping to keep the world clean. They are typically combined with sustainably sourced, natural, or plant-derived surfactants that have a low carbon footprint, are readily biodegradable, and produce minimal harmful by-products during manufacturing. As a result, probiotic cleaners help protect waterways, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and support a healthier microbial balance in the environment.
Enzymatic cleaners, on the other hand, often rely on non-sustainable raw materials and can also release harmful chemicals during manufacturing, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs) like ethanol and glycol ethers, which contribute to air pollution and smog; aldehydes such as formaldehyde which is toxic and can cause respiratory irritation; and ammonia, which is corrosive and harmful to the lungs. While these products may be marketed as environmentally responsible, closer inspection of the ingredients often reveals a ‘greenwashing’ tactic, where hazardous chemicals are merely diluted to bypass hazard labelling requirements.
Do costs differ?
Probiotic cleaners provide a much larger return on investment, because they reduce labour costs and, as they do not need to be applied as often, protect assets and infrastructure from costly repairs and replacements.
Enzymatic cleaners often have to be diluted to safe levels for use, potentially making them less effective. This means manual labour might get expensive as you try to get a good result when cleaning.
So, which is better?
Enzymatic cleaners offer some quick benefits and seem cheaper at first, but they may have an effect on labour costs and also create hazards to people and the environment. Probiotic cleaners are effective for longer, cost less overall, and keep users and the environment safe. Probiotic cleaners seem to be a clear winner!