Should You Use Pine Scent Cleaning Products

I always cringe when a customer demands that I used pine scent to clean restrooms or hallways.  Pine scent cleaning products are usually considered very weak disinfectants with some undesirable side effects.  There are better, safer and more effective products available you’re your local distributor.  

For a pine scented cleaner to be truly effective it would have to be mixed at a very strong (and expensive) ratio thereby negating any true benefits.  The products that are often used to mop restroom floors or other areas simply leave a strong (sometimes unpleasant) pine odor that many unwittingly attribute to “clean.”  It is not necessary clean.

First of all, pine scented products are usually a combination of pine oil with a detergency that helps in dealing with soil load.  Like other disinfectants, pine oil and water are not effective cleaners and can damage floor finishes by softening and even removing them.  

If a person insists on using a pine scent product to clean a floor they should follow the same protocols as other disinfectants:

1. Remove all visible soils first by sweeping, vacuuming or dust mopping.

2. Clean surface of soils by using a detergent that can dissolve and remove dirt and grime.

3. Mix (with water only) and apply the pine scented product to the surface allowing it sufficient dwell (contact) time to be effective.  Read and follow label directions carefully.

4. In most cases, rinse and dry the surface to remove the excess residue.  This is very important in dealing with floors with finish (wax) on them.

Realize that floors (unless in a sterile hospital setting)  cannot truly be disinfected and that simply cleaning the floor with an appropriate neutral detergent will accomplish the desired ends without the odor and risks to damaging floor finish.

Your comments and questions are always welcome. I hope to hear from you soon. Until then, keep it clean...

Mickey Crowe has been involved in the industry for over 35 years. He is a trainer, speaker and consultant. You can reach Mickey at 678.314.2171 or CTCG50@comcast.net.