In the world of cleaning, we as business owners need to educate ourselves and our employees on how to clean and sanitize the surfaces we care for. Bacteria growth is a big concern for our clients because they want to protect their employees, customers and visitors from unhealthy environments.

Understanding bacteria and how it grows and moves is one of the starting points in learning how to keep the environments we care for, clean.

Bacteria Reproduction Facts:

1. Bacteria reproduce by dividing. Once the cell reaches its maximum size it starts to come together in the middle and eventually breaks in two. This process can take 15 to 30 minutes.
2. In just 5 hours, one bacterium can turn into over 1 million bacteria.
3. Since you would rarely start with just 1 bacterium on any given surface, you can see where bacteria can spread into millions and billions of bacteria very quickly.

How Bacteria Spread:

Bacteria don't spread on their own. Here are some ways bacteria find their way to other surfaces.

1. People are carriers of bacteria and can pass the bacteria to others in a variety of ways.
2. They can travel through the air when someone sneezes.
3. We deposit them on objects we touch, so bacteria can literally be anywhere. This is why cleaning companies must pay particular attention to "touch points" like door knobs, telephones and desk tops when cleaning and disinfecting.
4. Animals and insects can carry bacteria.

Methods of Killing Bacteria:

1. Heat - this method can include sterilization (steam under pressure), moist heat (autoclaves), boiling, and dry heat (hot air sterilization).
2. Cold - cold doesn't actually kill bacteria, but it inhibits the growth.
3. Direct sunlight or ultraviolet light.
4. Chemical Agents like disinfectants or germicides.

By having an understanding of bacteria and how it spreads, you can make more informed choices on the products you choose to use and what areas may be at higher risk of bacteria growth.

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Steve Hanson helps owners of small cleaning companies build a more profitable and successful cleaning business through his online community at TheJanitorialStore.com. Read inspirational cleaning success stories at http://www.cleaning-success.com, and sign up for weekly cleaning tips at http://www.TheJanitorialStore.com.