A clean kitchen is essential for keeping our food clean and our family healthy. According to the Center for Disease Control, viruses, bacteria, parasites, toxins, metals, and prions cause more than 200 known diseases that are transmitted through food. We cook, eat, chat, and hang around the kitchen every day, so kitchen hygiene is the single most important factor in preventing foodborne illnesses. And with the threat of COVID-19, a safe and reliable sanitation system is even more important in preventing our loved ones and ourselves from getting sick. So shouldn’t sanitizing our home kitchens be a priority?
Those looking for a sanitation solution for their home kitchen might look to chemicals such as chlorine. However, there’s a better option that works more efficiently and without the chemical residue that chlorine leaves. Ozone and ozonated water is a sanitation technology that has been used to disinfect water for over a hundred years. It has been used predominantly in Europe and Asia, and thanks to developments in electrolytic ozone generation technology, it’s gaining greater appeal in the US and East Asia as a perfect sanitizing solution for home and central kitchens.
Benefits of Ozonated Water for the Home Kitchen
Ozonated water does not add any chemicals to the water (as with chlorination), meaning that the surfaces, the cooking utensils, and even the hands that come into contact with it do not have trace chemicals. With ozonated water, you can disinfect and sanitize leaving only safe and harmless oxygen as a byproduct.
How Ozonated Water Works
Ozone is a reactive gas consisting of three oxygen atoms. The gas will readily degrade back to oxygen, and during this process, a free oxygen atom will form that will be highly reactive against bacteria and viruses. Compared to chlorination, ozone works faster and more effectively in sanitizing. In addition, ozone’s oxidizing properties work against concentrations of iron, manganese, and sulfur, and fight or eliminate unpleasant odors, making it effective in keeping kitchen odors from traveling to other parts of the home.
In the past, ozone generation sanitation systems used dated methods to generate ozone water. Ozone sanitation required expensive machinery and trained specialists to install them. Now, hygiene-minded homeowners can easily install a Waterline Sanitation System (WSS) to water lines in home kitchens. These devices, also referred to as electrolytic ozone generators, work by injecting ozone into the water tap water with the push of a button, which then kills bacteria, viruses, biofilm, and more dangerous particles within seconds.
Ozone for Hand Washing
Home cooks and professional chefs have a responsibility to do their part in keeping food clean and sanitary when dealing with food — and it starts with handwashing. Handwashing with ozonated water is a safe and effective way to prevent bacteria and viruses from ending up in our food. 75% alcohol sprays are the standard, but they leave a pungent odor in the air, and inhaling alcohol can be harmful to us over time. Instead of using 75% alcohol spray after washing your hands, you can use ozonated water. It brings the same result without the harsh chemicals. With COVID-19 a major health threat for the foreseeable future, homeowners can integrate ozone water systems for handwashing in their home kitchens and keep themselves and their loved ones safe.
Ozone Spray for the Home Kitchen
Although ozonated water has numerous advantages over chemical cleaning methods like chlorine, some homeowners may prefer to use ozone spray to spray and wipe down potentially contaminated surfaces. Ozone spray bottles, like the Biolux handheld Mobile Ozone Spray (MOS) are a new, handheld solution. It’s a simple, rechargeable bottle that uses an advanced electrolytic oxidation process to convert tap water into dissolved ozonated water making for an instant, chemical-free sanitizer. The MOS allows you to effortlessly spray down and instantly sanitize any utensil, countertop, table, or surface. As with all ozonation processes, it’s effective, safe, and environmentally friendly, and quickly and thoroughly kills bacteria, viruses, and disease-causing microorganisms (organic and inorganic). It also kills pathogens in foods that can lead to illnesses, including Salmonella, Shigella, Campylobacter, and E. coli.
BES MOS for Even Easier Kitchen Sanitation
The BES’s Mobile Ozone Sprayer (MOS) can be used to disinfect produce, cooking utensils, cutting boards, and other tools and surfaces that come in contact with food. The MOS is easy to use. Once the sprayer is charged, fill it with tap water and it’s ready. Push the ozone generator button on the bottle and quick, easy, and instant sanitation for your kitchen is in the palm of your hand. It’s safe for rinsing food as ozonated water does not leave any chemical residue. The MOS is safe for children to use and does not irritate the skin upon contact. It’s also great for deodorizing appliances and waste-causing smells; the odors that emanate from trash cans and kitchen garbage disposals.
While chlorine and chemical sanitation methods have been used in the past, the threat of COVID-19 entering our homes means taking extra precautions. Using chemicals on a daily basis causes harm to you and your family over time. Thus, ozonated water technologies are a more healthy and environmental option.
As the kitchen is the focal point of your home. Care and cleanliness are essential. With BES’s full suite of electrolytic powered technology home care products, you can cover all your sanitizing needs to keep your kitchen, and your family, safe, healthy, and happy.