Disinfection methods

There is no single universal disinfection method. The choice depends on what has to be treated (air, surfaces or material), how large the space is, what materials are in it and how long the space can be left out of use.

In practice we often use two methods together: one for surfaces, another for the air and for places that are hard to reach.

Comparing the methods

Method	What it treats	Suited to	Space must be vacated
Surface treatment	Contact surfaces	Routine disinfection, after illness	Briefly
Ozone treatment	Air, textiles, hard-to-reach places	Smells, musty mould odour	Yes, then air the room
Cold fogging (ULV)	Air and all surfaces	Large spaces, broad treatment	Yes
Hot fogging	Gaps, cavities, structures	Basements, attics, warehouses	Yes
UV-C	Air and surfaces in direct line of sight	Additional treatment, airflow	Yes
Air disinfection	Air and the ventilation system	Offices, institutions	Depends

Why the methods differ: gas, droplets and light

All six methods differ in one basic respect — how the active substance reaches the surface. That single difference determines both the strength of each method and its limit.

1GasOzone spreads through the whole volume of the room and reaches everywhere air reaches — gaps, upholstery filling, ducts. It leaves no residue.

2DropletsFog stays airborne for a while and then settles on surfaces, leaving a thin layer of the active product that keeps working.

3ContactSurface treatment only works where the product has physically been applied and where it stays for a set length of time.

4LightUV-C works only in a straight line of sight. Behind an object, in shadow or under a layer of dust there is no effect.

This difference explains why the methods are not interchangeable. Gas reaches everything but does not stay. Fog stays but cannot reach anything hermetically sealed. Contact treatment is precise, but only where a hand can reach. Light is clean and chemical-free, but stops at the first shadow.

The task determines the method, not the other way round: first you need to know exactly what has to be treated.

How we choose the method

Inspection

We assess the property, the floor area, the materials and exactly what has to be treated.

Defining the objective

Whether surfaces, air or material need treating, or a smell needs removing — that sets the method.

Checking the constraints

Whether the space can be left empty, for how long, and whether there are sensitive materials, plants or animals.

Choosing the method

We often combine two methods — one for surfaces, one for the air.

Treatment and airing

We carry out the work and tell you how long the space needs airing before you return.

In practice the choice is usually set by three constraints: how long the space can stand empty, what materials and equipment are in it, and whether the source of the contamination has been dealt with. If the space cannot be cleared at all, the choice narrows to surface treatment. If there is a lot of textile and a smell, the answer is almost always ozone treatment after surface treatment.

What matters with any method

Treatment does not work on a dirty surface. If there is a layer of dirt or grease, the product never reaches what is underneath it. That is why mechanical cleaning is often the first step.
Contact time matters. Every product has a time it needs to stay on the surface. Wiped off straight away, it does not work.
No method removes the cause. If there is damp or a constant source of contamination, the treatment is only temporary while the cause remains.
Porous materials are the limit. If fungus or contamination has got inside the material, the reliable answer is usually to remove the material.
No method is permanent. Treatment acts on what is in the room at the moment of treatment. Where footfall is high, a regular schedule makes sense rather than a one-off job.
Ventilating is part of the work. After fogging and ozone treatment the room has to stay closed for a set time and then be aired thoroughly — that is not an optional extra.

The most common combinations in practice

On most real jobs we use two methods, not one. The logic is always the same: one method removes the source from the surfaces, the other treats what a hand cannot reach.

A flat with a smell

Surface treatment or degreasing — removes the source.
Ozone treatment afterwards — textiles, furniture, gaps.
Airing and a check of the result.

A large property after flooding

Mechanical cleaning and removal of soaked materials.
Cold or hot fogging — all surfaces in one pass.
Drying, because without it the treatment is short-lived.

The season affects the choice too. During the heating season rooms are warm and dry, so airing after fogging goes faster, but the outdoor temperature limits how long windows can stay open. In autumn and spring, when humidity is high, drying after flooding takes longer than the treatment itself — and it is the drying, not the treatment, that then decides how long the property is out of use.

The third typical case is an office or institution where the space cannot be cleared: there the basis is regular treatment of contact surfaces on a schedule, with fogging or ozone treatment done separately, outside working hours, when it is genuinely needed.

What we do not do

It is worth stating the limits too, so you do not waste time.

We do not carry out plumbing repairs or drain cleaning — we treat the premises afterwards.
We do not clean whole ventilation risers throughout a building; we treat the grilles and the accessible part of the duct.
We do not sell a treatment if the cause has not been dealt with — in that case we say what needs sorting out first.
We do not promise a result for material that is already lost; then we recommend replacement, because it costs less.

Methods

Each method solves a different problem. We often combine two.

Ozone treatment for premisesOzone oxidises odour molecules and micro-organisms rather than masking them. But it is a powerfu Cold fogging (ULV)A ULV machine breaks the product into droplets so fine that they stay airborne for a while and s Hot foggingHeating the product creates an even finer fog that penetrates gaps and cavities in structures be Surface disinfectionThe simplest and often the most necessary method: we treat exactly the surfaces people touch.UV-C disinfectionUV-C acts only where the radiation physically reaches. That is both its strength and its main li Air disinfectionTreating the air only makes sense alongside working ventilation. Without air exchange any soluti

Frequently asked questions

Which method is the best?

There is no such thing — each one solves a different task. For a smell the best is ozone treatment, for contact surfaces it is surface treatment, and for a large space with hard-to-reach areas it is fogging. We often combine them.

Can I choose the method myself?

You can tell us your constraints — for example, how long the space can stand empty. We recommend the method after the inspection, because the wrong method simply will not work.

Is there any residue left on surfaces afterwards?

Ozone breaks down into oxygen and leaves no residue. After fogging and surface treatment a thin layer of product remains on surfaces — food preparation surfaces should be rinsed afterwards.

How long is the space out of use?

Depending on the method and the volume of the room — from a few hours to half a day. We tell you the exact time before the work so you can plan around it.

Are the methods safe for children and pets?

During treatment no people, animals or houseplants may be in the room. After treatment and proper airing the space is usable again — we tell you on site when you can return.