DeVere has a new app! The app suggests cleaners for you that will best help you in your situation after you answer a short series of simple questions. After the app picks the cleaner for you, you will be able to learn more about it and visit the online store page for that product. Follow these simple steps to find the perfect cleaner for you now:

1. Search “Clean with DeVere” in the Google Play Store or click the “Get it on Google Play” button.
2. Launch the app and press the “Start” button
3. Answer the questions and the app will recommend a cleaner(s) that best fit your situation
4. If you want, you can press “Learn more about [product name]” to see a brief description of the product
5. Press “See On Website” to go to the product page on our website to see a full description and order the product

For a more in-depth guide and an example run-through with pictures, please refer to this guide.

New Features Include:

• A calculator that converts dollars per gallon of concentrated product to dollars per ready-to-use quart.
• An interactive map of a convenience store that will provide a list of cleaners that would work best based on the location in the store that you select.

If you get the app, please leave a review. Your thoughts are important to us because we want to make sure everyone is satisfied with the app. We are open to any suggestions and criticism.

NOTE: This app is more geared towards residential and commercial products and will not recommend industrial products. It will recommend high-strength, industrial-grade products, but only if they are available to order through our website.

If you ever have any questions about which product to use, you can check out the Clean with DeVere app, or, of course, you can always contact us.

Powders vs. Liquids: One of the main choices when picking a cleaning product is the form. In this informational post, we cover many of the differences between the powder and liquid forms of cleaners.

DeVere offers a wide range of products in our attempt to please all customers. One subcategory that each of our products falls into is powders vs. liquids. Some products even have the same purpose, but one is a powder and the other is a liquid.

Powder chemical products typically have the following advantages:

• Ultra concentrated: Shipping these products do not require shipping water.
• Environmentally-friendly packaging: From fiber drums to boxes, these products tend to require less plastic packaging.
• Variety of use possibilities: You can pour powders directly on surfaces (e.g. Degrease Powder or Blacktop & Concrete Cleaner) or diluted in water before use (all DeVere powdered cleaners).
• Easy handling: Products like Security Floor Sanitizer can simply be scooped out of drums and transported to the point of use.  The handling does not require a sealed transfer container or pumps.

Liquid chemical products typically have the following advantages:

• Available concentrated or ready to use: We can make these products available as a concentrate for dilution with water or ready to use as a cleaner, disinfectant, or sanitizer.
• Easily dispensed: Use any DeVere’s dispensers, pipelines, or pumps to dose, transfer, and/or meter liquid chemicals.

Below is a list of some examples of our products that have both liquid and powder versions with the differences.

Chlor Foam vs. Chlor Foam Powder

These industrial, high-foam built alkaline detergents are designed for challenging foam and manual cleaning applications where high foam characteristics are desirable. They have similar uses and chemistry, but slightly different methods of application. Diluting powders and liquids is slightly different. You should use 1-2 oz. of Chlor Foam per gallon of water, while you should use Chlor Foam Powder at 0.5-2% concentration in water, so the measurements are a bit different.

Machine Dishwashing Liquid vs. Machine Dishwashing Powder

These are probably the most different out of any liquid/powder pair. You should only use Machine Dishwashing Liquid in industrial settings, while you could use Machine Dishwashing Powder (MDP) in residential, commercial, or industrial dishwashers. MDP contains a small amount of chlorine to remove protein-based stains. MDP is available in capsules for automatic dispensing in industrial dishwashers, but also can come in pails for manually putting the powder in the dishwasher. Finally, the Machine Dishwashing Liquid can be used with Anti-Corrosion Additive to make it safe to use on aluminum and other soft metals.

Boost Laundry Detergent vs. Boost Powder Laundry Detergent

These are fairly similar and mostly go back to the general points mentioned above. Boost Laundry Detergent and Boost Powder Laundry Detergent are moderately-foaming laundry detergents that can be used for industrial, commercial, and residential applications. The liquid is available in a wider range of product sizes. Liquids will not always have more available sizes, but product size and how much you need is something to consider.

If you have any questions about powders vs. liquids, please visit the store pages above for more specific information about each individual product, or contact us with any questions.

Considerations for Reduced Usage of Quaternary Ammonium Compounds in Food Production and Healthcare Environments

Quaternary Ammonium Compounds (QACs or quats) are cationic, broad-spectrum antimicrobials that are widely used in food production and healthcare environments. Their low odor profile, ability to be used on soft metals, foaming capability and residual efficacy has made quats a biocide of choice for a variety of applications in these industries. However, the increase in resistance of microorganisms to QACs and the potential link between biocide resistance and antibiotic resistance has created the need to reevaluate the usage of these compounds in some sanitizer and disinfection treatments.

At low concentrations, QACs work by creating ‘holes’ in the cell membrane that cause the cell contents to leak out. At higher concentrations, they also target the carboxylic groups of the microbe and cause general coagulation within the cell.¹ There are several well-characterized efflux pumps in adapted microbes that can make low concentrations of quats ineffective by simply pumping them out of the cell. Additionally, some gram-negative microorganisms have demonstrated an adaptive response to environmental stress that results in changes in the cell wall composition causing impermeability, which prevents the penetration of QACs into the cells.¹  Of particular concern is the use of subinhibitory levels of QACs which may induce these adaptive responses in microbes.

“Microorganisms are the prime example of ‘survival of the fittest’, having continuously evolved to thrive in their ever-changing environments for billions of years. Because of this, scientists are constantly on the lookout for pathogens that may emerge and/or adapt in ways that make it difficult for currently available technologies to control them and render them particularly harmful to human health” said Crystal Maira, Principal at SciTech Consulting LLC. Some recent examples include Clostridium difficile, Candida auris and Listeria monocytogenes.

1. C. difficile and C. auris are two emerging pathogens that have become a fundamental concern in the healthcare industry. Infection with either organism is extremely difficult to get rid of and patients with compromised immune systems are at the highest risk for contracting a hospital-acquired infection (HAI). It has been reported that “some medical facilities have had to replace floor and ceiling tiles to remove all traces of the organisms from patient rooms.”² C. difficile is a spore-forming bacterium for which the spores have a very high resistance to conventional biocides. Exposure of C. diff planktonic cells to quats may stress the organism which facilitates formation of the spore state. Candida auris is a fungus that has recently emerged as a very serious threat in healthcare settings. In a 2017 commentary on the fungus C. auris given by Dr. Tom Chiller of the CDC, he stated: “This hardy yeast can live on surfaces for a month or more, and preliminary testing suggests that quaternary ammonium compounds commonly used for healthcare disinfection may not be sufficiently effective against C. auris.”³ While quats are effective general hospital disinfectants, the CDC recommends that EPA-registered products with claims against C. difficile be utilized in areas where C. auris is present until there are hospital disinfectant products registered with a specific C. auris claim.⁴

Listeria monocytogenes is a zero-tolerance organism that is a frequent problem encountered in food processing facilities. It is often found in environmental niches, floors, walls and drains and QACs are typically used to sanitize these surfaces. However, as Martinez-Suárez, et al. reported, dilution in the environment with water and organic matter results in QAC concentration gradients and “in certain cases, the relationship between low-level resistance and the environmental persistence of L. monocytogenes in different food production chains has been previously established.”⁵ Furthermore, investigations of listeriosis outbreaks usually trace the contamination source back to the processing environment and equipment. Thus, it is believed that the persistence of certain strains of L. monocytogenes even after cleaning and sanitizing is related to different situations that result in subinhibitory sanitizer concentrations and in turn adaption of the organism to the sanitizer(s) through genetic changes.⁵ The growing number of cases demonstrating a low-level resistance of QACs and persistence of L. monocytogenes in the food processing environments, it is recommended that technologies other than quats be utilized to sanitize areas where further dilution with water is likely, such as floors and drains.

The possibility of cross-resistance exists when both a biocide and antibiotics induce cell death via the same pathway or target.⁶ As such, the proper use of sanitizers and disinfectants, including the pre-cleaning of surfaces and using the indicated concentration and contact time, is essential. Akile Ozkan stated, “If subinhibitory concentrations are used, it will exert a selective pressure on the microorganism leading to the activation of stress responses. The end result of this would be a change in gene expression which will lead to superbugs that are resistant to disinfectants, while being unresponsive to antibiotics.”⁷ With some changes to sanitizing and disinfection protocols in the food and healthcare industries, it is hoped that this situation can be avoided.

References:

1. To, M.; Favrin, S.; Romanova, N.; Griffiths, M. Postadapational resistance to Benzalkonium chloride and subsequent physiochemical modifications of Listeria monocytogenes. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 68: 5258-5264.
2. net. Emerging Super Fungus: Beginning of An Epidemic? April 9, 2019. https://www.worldhealth.net/news/emerging-super-fungus-beginning-epidemic/ (accessed on June 3, 2019)
3. CDC Commentary. The Unexpected and Troubling Rise of Candida auris. August 24, 2017. https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/884470 (accessed on June 5, 2019)
4. United States Environmental Protection Agency. New Guidance on Environmental Control of Candida auris with Antimicrobial Pesticides. February 17, 2017. https://www.epa.gov/pesticides/new-guidance-environmental-control-candida-auris-antimicrobial-pesticides (accessed on June 6, 2019)
5. Marteinez-Suárez JV, Ortiz S, López-Alonzo V. (2016) Potential Impact of the Resistance to Quaternary Ammonium Disinfectants on the Persistence of Listeria monocytogenes in Food Processing Environments. Front. Microbiol. 7:638. Doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.00638.
6. Chapman, J. Disinfectant resistance mechanisms, cross-resistance and co-resistance. Int. Biodeterior. Biodegradation. 51: 271-276.
7. Ozkan, A. Disinfectants as a double-edged sword: Are disinfectants promoting antimicrobial resistance? Catalyst. 3: 18-25.

Note of Appreciation:

Thank you to Crystal Maira, Principal at SciTech Consulting LLC for her work in putting this article together.  Her expertise and resolve to improve our industry made this possible.

If you have any questions about the article or any of our products, please contact us.

Security Floor® Treatment and Security Floor® Sanitizer are powdered, QAC-free products for use in entryways, on floors, and around/in drains. These products are available throughout the United States and a handful of other countries. Both products improve facility hygiene and comply with USDA and FDA guidelines.

Both products…

• Are backed by nearly a decade of research, independent studies, and use in some of the world’s most successful food production facilities
• Are QAC-free, meaning they do not contain quaternary ammonium chlorides, which have been shown by the U.S. National Institute of Health and others to create superbugs and are not effective when used dry
• Can be registered with an organic certification agency
• Work as an entryway control, as a floor treatment, and in drain care

Given that both products have nearly identical formulas and uses, what is the difference?

• Security Floor Treatment was registered with the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI).
• Security Floor Sanitizer is registered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Security Floor Treatment was registered with OMRI until they changed their policy and stopped reviewing sanitizers (link). We can still use the registration status to ease approval from certified organic production or food processing and handling. This product was registered under the “Processing Products: Sanitizers, Disinfectants and Cleaners” category which OMRI no longer updates.

Security Floor Sanitizer is EPA-registered, meaning it has been tested using the Non-Food Contact Surface Sanitizer Test and proven effective against the following organisms:

Listeria monocytogenes (ATCC 15313)
Enterobacter aerogenes (ATCC 13048)
Salmonella enterica (ATCC 10708)
Cronobacter sakazakii (ATCC 29544) 
Escherichia coli (ATCC 11229)
Streptococcus agalactiae (ATCC 12386)
Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 6538)

If you have any questions, please visit the store pages for Security Floor Treatment and Security Floor Sanitizer, or contact us for more information.

DeVere offers a series of quick reference cleaning guides for the hospitality industry. Need an entryway control product for a food plant? Simply go to the food plant cleaning guide, or food truck cleaning guide look at the facility floor plan, find the number located at an entryway, and refer to that number in the list below the food plant layout for the list of DeVere entryway control products.

Here is the food plant cleaning guide that shows where DeVere products are used in food plants for cleaning and sanitizing. We continually work to create and improve tools that help to support you. This new flyer shows a typical food plant layout with information on the DeVere products made to clean each location within the plant.

If you are interested in mapping your facility similarly to the map in the flyer, visit this post to learn more.

Evaporative cooling pads are a critical component of evaporative cooling systems. When functioning properly, the pads can help evaporative cooling systems obtain temperature drops of 25ᵒF or more. These systems are most effective in hot, dry climates. Humid areas like the Midwest U.S. still benefit from these systems with typical temperature drops between 10 and 15ᵒF.

Evaporative cooling systems work by causing the water to go from liquid to steam which evaporating water and pulling it through an area. The evaporative cooling pads are the most expensive, consumable part of these systems. The most common reason for pad replacement is mineral build-up.

Mineral build-up on in the system and on pads can cause clogged headers so water does not flow. The minerals will also plug the evaporative cooling pads, so air does not flow through and they do not work. The mineral build-up will also shorten the life of the system by weighing down and deforming pads and making the fans work harder. The only product we have found that removes minerals from headers and pads without needing to shut down is Powder Descaler.

Powder Descaler is a concentrated powder additive that removes mineral scale from evaporative cooling pads. Just 4-pounds of Powder Descaler for every 100-gallons of water will keep evaporative cooling pads clean for up to 2 weeks with no wash required. Powder Descaler will also remove stubborn mineral deposits in the water storage system, pumps, headers/water nozzles, spray deflectors, and drains.

Clean evaporative cooling pads will work more effectively and last longer. Using Powder Descaler will protect your investment and make the entire system last.

Features and Benefits of Powder Descaler:

• Only 4 pounds of Powder Descaler for every 100 gallons of water will last up to 2 weeks
• No wash required
• Removes all mineral scale
• Low-foam wetting agents to improve cleaning and rinsing efficacy in a variety of conditions

For more information on Powder Descaler, visit the webpage or contact us.

The business of food safety is literally the business of saving lives.  Here is an article from Food Safety News and our own Ryan Dunn that highlights some important aspects of food safety including food processing facility zones and environmental monitoring programs.

Are you getting ready for spring cleaning? DeVere has the products to help you get the job done more efficiently than ever. From carpet cleaners to glass cleaners, we have it all. You may be wondering, “What cleaners do I need?” We can help you answer that question.

At DeVere, we make hundreds of different cleaners and sanitizers. We manufacture the right product for all your cleaning needs in the plant, offices, and where your customers go. You define what works best for you and your business. Do you want to be quick with ready to use cleaners, or do you want to save space and money with concentrates? See the guide below for more information.

Ready to use cleaners:

Citrus Ready To Use – Mildly alkaline, all-purpose hard surfaces cleaner and degreaser.
QDII Sanitizing Wipes – Quickly and effectively clean and disinfect hard non-porous surfaces with these textured, dust-free, tough wipes.
C-Clear Glass Cleaner – Best-selling of DeVere’s aerosol ready to use cleaners. Quickly and effectively cleans glass.
Window Cleaner – Removes dirt, oil, and grease stains from mirrors, plate glass, and windshields.
Restroom Cleaner & Deodorizer (only RTU in quarts) – Detergent/deodorizer that quickly removes soils from hard surfaces.
Bowl Cleaner – Acidic liquid designed to quickly remove soils commonly found in toilet bowls.
Carpet Stain Remover – Aerosol that removes tough spots and stains from carpets instantly.
Lightning – Newest and strongest mold and mildew stain remover.
Thunder Blast Degreaser –  Quickly dissolve the toughest grease, dirt, and oil.
SprayWOW Foaming Cleaner – Aerosol for all purpose cleaning that quickly penetrates soils for easy removal.
Citrus Plus Foaming Cleaner – Aerosol for all purpose cleaning that quickly penetrates soils for easy removal and leaves behind a fresh citrus scent.

All-purpose concentrates:

WOW All Purpose Cleaner – The world’s first of many general purpose cleaners, works best in most situations.
Citrus – Similar to WOW, but uses d-limonene and has an orange-citrus scent.
Liquid Cleaner – Works best on delicate surfaces as it does not contain any harsh chemicals. Great for cleaning a large variety of surface when you are spring cleaning.
Pine Cleaner –  Very environmentally friendly and leaves behind a fresh pine scent.
Pure Clean – GreenSeal registered and the most cost-effective product.

Glass Cleaners:

C-Clear Glass Cleaner – Best-selling of DeVere’s aerosol ready to use cleaners. Quickly and effectively cleans glass.
Window Cleaner (Ready-to-Use) – This product removes dirt, minerals, oil, and grease stains from glass, windows, mirrors, fixtures, chrome and other washable hard surfaces. Window Cleaner is lightly ammoniated to optimize soil removal and drying. Simply spray and wipe to clean away most light soils.
Window Cleaner Concentrate – Dilute 1 part to 9 parts water to make Window Cleaner (Ready-to-Use).

Carpet Cleaners:

Extraction Carpet Cleaner – Works on a variety of carpet types and facilitates deep cleaning to remove dirt and grime with ease.
Carpet Stain Remover – Aerosol that removes tough spots and stains from carpets instantly.

Do you need more help finding the right product for your spring cleaning?  Check out the “Clean With DeVere” application on the Google Play Store.

Please contact us if you have any questions about your spring cleaning or would like one-on-one training or support.

Are you tired of putting up with bad smells? DeVere has an extensive line of professional deodorizers to suit your needs from restroom odor control to general room deodorizing and beyond.

With our many professional deodorizers, it can be challenging to find the right one.  This guide will help you select the right product for any deodorizing need.

Spring Mist has a new formula. Its new scent is stronger and more pleasant than ever before. This new formula is strong enough to penetrate any odor. It clears away all odors including (but not limited to) the smell of smoke and dirty shoes. Spring Mist’s new, cationic formula bonds with, encapsulates and neutralizes odors. We extensively tested this product on odors left by cigarettes, heavily-used gym shoes, wet pets, garbage, and sewage.  This uniquely reactive encapsulating, professional deodorizer works like magic.

Spring Mist Fabric & Air Freshener – Eliminates odors on contact and leaves a fresh, clean scent.
LED Air Neutralizers – Metered Air Fresheners (use with the DeVere LED Dispenser) – metered aerosol air fresheners that deodorize restrooms and other areas where odors are a problem. They come in 5 different scents: Linen Fresh, Melon Mist Garden, Vanilla, Cinnamon and Rain Forest.
Instant Action Foaming Cleaner and Disinfectant – A dual-action aerosol solution that cleans and disinfects in one step. Use this product to clean and deodorize all hard, nonporous washable household surfaces.
Restroom Cleaner & Deodorizer – This professional deodorizer is a concentrated (ready to use in quarts) detergent that quickly removes soils from hard surfaces and neutralizes odor-causing substances to leave behind a fresh orange scent.
One Step Quaternary Cleaner and Disinfectant – An EPA-registered disinfectant, non-food contact sanitizer, cleaner, mildewstat, fungicide, virucide, and deodorizer, all in one!
Spray Disinfectant – An aerosol disinfectant spray that is effective in killing a variety of harmful bacteria and viruses, eliminating odors and preventing mold and mildew on hard surfaces.
Security Floor Sanitizer works via oxidation to kill odor-causing bacteria in drains and on floors.

If you have any questions, contact us, visit the odor control product category, or click any of the links above for information on an individual product.

Do you have a quick cleaning or sanitizing job? Do you have a cleaning or sanitizing job that requires a small amount of specialty chemical? DeVere understands these applications and can help you by supplying the right amount of the right, ready to use cleaners for quick and/or specialty jobs. Having the right tool/product for each job makes the job faster and more efficient.

We have one ready to use cleaner for each cleaning or sanitizing job. Here is a quick guide to our ready to use products. This guide will make it easier to find the exact DeVere product you need for the job.

Lime Solvent Ready To Use – A mild, organic acid cleaner that dissolves lime/mineral deposits and removes dirt without abrasive action.
Spray Off Ready To Use – Removes diesel fuel residue, oil and grease from durable surfaces like fuel pumps.
Citrus Ready To Use –  Mildly alkaline, all-purpose hard surfaces cleaner and degreaser. This product uses the power of d-limonene to remove a wide variety of soils with minimal effort.
C-Clear Glass Cleaner –  Do yourself a favor and try this product. This foaming, aerosol glass cleaner will remove the toughest soils without leaving any streaks.
SprayWOW Foaming Cleaner – Aerosol for all-purpose cleaning that quickly penetrates soils for easy removal. This product is a strong, industrial cleaner for use on aggressive soils.
Citrus Plus Foaming Cleaner – Aerosol for all-purpose cleaning that quickly penetrates soils for easy removal and leaves behind a fresh citrus scent.
QDII Food Service Sanitizer – A ready to use, disinfectant, sanitizer, deodorizer, mildew-stat, and virucide.
Window Cleaner – Removes dirt, oil, minerals and grease stains from mirrors, plate glass, and windshields. This product contains a small amount of ammonia for better, streak-free cleaning.
Restroom Cleaner & Deodorizer (only RTU in quarts) – Detergent/deodorizer that quickly removes soils from hard surfaces.
Lightning – The newest and strongest mold and mildew stain remover.
Instant Action Foaming Cleaner and Disinfectant –  Dual-action aerosol solution that cleans and disinfects in one step.
Grease Lift – Alkaline degreasing cleaner that is useful for cleaning tough, burnt-on soils
Furniture Polish – Aerosol that dusts, cleans and polishes in one application.
Boost Presoak & Spray Products – Clean a variety of stains from fabrics.
Bowl Cleaner – Highly acidic liquid designed to quickly remove soils commonly found in toilet bowls.
Oven & Grill Cleaner – Quickly penetrates and emulsifies grease for easy removal.
Low Acid Bowl Cleaner – Our thick, clinging formula is safer to use than higher acid bowl cleaners.
Thunder Blast Degreaser –  Quickly dissolve the toughest grease, dirt, and oil with this clinging product based on the most recent surfactant technology.
Carpet Stain Remover – Aerosol that removes tough spots and stains from carpets instantly.

To learn more about our ready to use cleaners or any of our other amazing products, contact us.