Electrostatic disinfecting uses a sprayer or fogger that charges the droplets of a disinfectant solution so they cling to surfaces from several angles. It is used in offices, clinics, schools, gyms, vehicles and homes, often as a supplement to everyday cleaning, and in places where mold or bacteria outbreaks are suspected.
It is a tool, not a replacement for cleaning. The surface must be cleaned first, the product must be one whose label includes directions for this method, and the application must follow those directions.
What EPA says about the method
In a 2020 news release EPA stated that a disinfectant product’s safety and effectiveness may change based on how it is used, and that if a product’s label does not include disinfection directions for electrostatic spraying, EPA has not reviewed any data on that use. The agency told users to always follow the directions and safety information on the label.
That is the rule this service follows. The product is chosen because its label includes electrostatic directions, the label sets the droplet size, the protective equipment, the surface wet time and the room clearance, and the technician follows each of them. If the label does not cover electrostatic application, the product is not used with a sprayer.
How a treatment runs
The technician agrees the areas in the scope of work, clears people and pets from the space, and cleans visible soil off the surfaces. The disinfectant solution is then applied with an electrostatic sprayer or fogger in all agreed areas. Application is done in protective equipment, and surfaces stay wet for the contact time on the label before the area is reopened.
You do not need to be present. Leave a garage or door code or a hidden key and tell us about pets and plants.
Odor removal
Pet, smoke and cooking odors live in porous materials, fabric and air. Surface cleaning removes the source residue where it can be reached, and the electrostatic application treats the exposed surfaces and soft furnishings the product label allows. Heavy smoke or pet odor may need repeated treatment, and the quote notes when that is likely.
ATP testing: checking the result
ATP stands for adenosine triphosphate, the energy molecule found in all living things. A technician swabs a surface, places the swab in a handheld luminometer, and gets a reading in seconds. A high reading means more organic residue on the surface. The test is offered as an add-on or as a stand-alone check of cleaning practices.
ATP testing has limits. A 2014 study in PLOS ONE tested leading ATP meters and found limited sensitivity at low levels of microbial contamination, and found that most disinfectant chemistries tested quenched the readings to varying degrees in different meters. The test shows how clean a surface looks to the meter. It does not identify an organism, and it is best read alongside the cleaning schedule rather than as a standalone verdict.
Words you will hear on this job
- Electrostatic sprayer
- Fogger
- Label directions
- Contact time
- Luminometer
- ATP swab
- Odor removal
How a visit runs
Define the areas
List the rooms or vehicles and any surfaces to avoid.
Choose the product by its label
Only products whose labels include electrostatic directions are used.
Clean, then apply
Surfaces are cleaned first, then the solution is applied and left for the label contact time.
Optional ATP check
Swab key surfaces before and after if you want a numerical record.
Questions about electrostatic disinfecting
Is electrostatic spraying approved by EPA?
EPA says a product’s label governs. If the label does not include directions for electrostatic spraying, EPA has not reviewed data on that use, so the product is not used that way.
Do I need to leave the space?
People and pets leave the area during application, and it is reopened after the contact time on the label.
Does it replace regular cleaning?
No. Surfaces are cleaned first. Disinfecting works on a clean surface.
Can it remove odors?
It treats exposed surfaces and soft furnishings the label allows. Heavy smoke or pet odors may need more than one treatment.
What is ATP testing?
A swab of a surface is read by a luminometer that measures organic residue. It checks cleanliness and does not identify a specific organism.
Can I book ATP testing alone?
Yes. It is offered as an add-on or as a stand-alone service.
Where this service is quoted
Electrostatic Disinfecting is quoted across the north side of metro Atlanta. Pick your town to see the buildings, districts and local notes that shape a cleaning schedule there.
Related services: House Cleaning, Deep Cleaning, Move-In and Move-Out Cleaning, Pressure Washing, Office Cleaning, Medical Office Cleaning, Gym Cleaning.
Sources: [1] epa.gov [2] pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov [3] dphhs.mt.gov