i-spraywash FAQ's

There are many questions regarding how to best use the i-spray wash in your workplace or premises so let's have a look at some of our most popular FAQs.

What are the main differences between the i-spraywash and a conventional foaming gun?

There are many differences between i-spraywash and most foam systems available around the world. Firstly, i-spraywash uses tablet technology, whereas conventional foamers use liquid chemicals that require manual dilution.

When working with i-spraywash tabs you not only use green chemicals, but you also make an excellent choice for the planet. You save on water, plastics, transportation, CO2, crude oil and more.

The i-spraywash gun is also a lot faster due to it’s wider spray pattern and is easier to operate. And with integrated dosing and colour coding available, it’s a safer and better choice than many others on the market.

i-spraywash changes the way you think about foam cleaning and is designed to be used in a variety of different applications.

Why and how is the foam effect different with i-spraywash?

i-spraywash covers surfaces with “active foam” faster than other application systems. The combination of the concentrated green surfactant-based tablets and the specially designed foam nozzle creates a thin layer of high-cling foam, covering 1 m2 per second.

The thin layer of foam comprises a large proportion of very fine microbubbles that provide a high degree of coverage to the entire surface. This layer provides a more consistent and effective coverage than conventional “large bubble” foams typical from most foamers on the market.

When working with thin, light, small-bubble foams (i-spraywash Active Foam) on vertical surfaces (where gravity pulls the foam down), there is less foam runoff compared to larger, heavier foam. That’s why we say, “less is more”. With i-spraywash you can cover the surfaces faster, with fewer chemicals and less waste (from heavy foam runoff) on the floor. This, in turn, enables faster rinsing with much lower volumes of rinse water.

I’m used to using conventional foamers. It looks like there is less foam on the surface with i-spraywash; is that so?

i-spraywash is designed to improve the foam cleaning system as it’s been known for many years. Conventional foamers are heavy, based on liquid chemicals, and they have a ‘centralised spray pattern’, giving lots of heavy foam on a small area. Most of this foam runs down fast from the vertical surface, ending up on the floor.

With i-spraywash , you have less foam, which is part of the innovation. And this is why i-spraywash is a new way of cleaning. If your dose of the tabs is correct, you will clean with a nice thin layer of active foam in a faster, greener and safer way. As shown in the picture below, when spraying with the i-spraywash green surfactant based-foam, you will have a broader spread of a thin-filmed foam, which provides longer contact time. The heavier and larger the bubbles in the foam are, the faster it will run down to the floor. This is the case with regular, conventional foams. i-spraywash is a new way of thinking about foam cleaning.

REMEMBER: Foam needs to be in contact with the surface to do the cleaning.

I’m using i-spraywash in an environment with white tiles on the wall. How do I tell if there is any foam on the surface?

You can tell if there is foam if you look closely at the surface. If you use the CleaningTab 9 or CleaningTab 12, you can even feel it with your fingers when touching the sprayed surface. For instance, if you spray with the CleaningTab 9 (daily cleaning in most environments), you should feel the surfactants between your fingers (feels like soap).

If the surface is dried out before we get back to rinse, then what do we do?

With i-spraywash , you only have a contact time of 2-5 minutes. How long the foam is active and wet on the surface depends on the dosing on the surface and the environment used (temperature, humidity). If the dosing is a bit low, the active foam tends to dry out faster.

If you are finding the surfaces have dried before you get back to rinse with the i-spraywash gun, it would be better to clean in smaller ‘zones’. For instance, clean one shower block at a time as one zone.

If you find that the foam has dried out on the surface, you simply rinse with water. If required, you might need to scrub with i-fibre , an ordinary cleaning pad/doodlebug tool or perhaps with an i-scrub 21B battery scrubber.

How do you apply the foam most effectively?

First, it’s all about moving the hand quickly when spraying with i-spraywash . When used correctly, you should be able to foam (spray) 1 m2 in just one second, even down to 0.66 seconds when very experienced.

Secondly, it’s best to spray from bottom to top and work from side to side. Start down in one corner, work your way to the other side and then move up and do the same again. Once you’ve learned this, you’ll discover how fast a shower block is cleaned, for instance.

When rinsing with water, it’s the opposite. Start from the top, spray from one side to the other, then move down and repeat.

It says you can save up to 50% of your time and use fewer chemicals with i-spraywash. How do you work this out?

Generally, the feedback is that users find i-spraywash far more simple, easy and effective for their cleaning. Their savings in time, effort, chemicals, water, etc. depends on local conditions, level of traffic/cleaning requirement and the experience of the operator.

The example below is typical from multiple field tests and actual experience with many customers and i-partners. A conventional foamer was compared with i-spraywash in a shower block with a total of 14 m2 of surface (wall + floor and a below-average drain). In this calculation, preparation, handling, storage and handling afterwards was not included, as we focused essentially on the cleaning process.

As the results show, i-spraywash is remarkably faster to spray on both horizontal and vertical surfaces. Assuming the chemical dosing is the same in both systems (most likely lower in i-spraywash), the spraying time is 67% lower. This means i-spraywash uses 67% less water and chemicals.

When rinsing the walls, since the procedure is the same with both i-spraywash and standard systems, there is no difference in the result. However, there is a big difference when rinsing the floor. It takes substantially longer to rinse the heavy macrobubble foam from the conventional foamer, leading to more than 50% savings in time and water when using i-spraywash and active foam.

How long does a i-spraywash tablet last?

i-spraywash CleaningTabs provide approximately 4-6 minutes of effective spray time. The variation depends on the dosing, water temperature and how the system is handled. For the two disinfectants, DesTab and ChlorTab Extra, it depends on dosing and what PPM-level (dosing) you need. DesTab lasts between 2-5 minutes, while ChlorTab Extra lasts longer, up to 10-12 minutes (again depending on dosing level you need).

How is a tab dissolved, and how can it be controlled?

The tabs in i-spraywash are dissolved through the combination of water pressure and water temperature. The higher the water pressure, the more spray effect/turbulence you’re able to get down into the tab via the venturi and dosing system. Therefore, we have the dosing function on top of the system, enabling you to decrease/increase the spray into the tab.

Water temperature also matters when dissolving the tab. Imagine a cup of cold water, a cup of hot tea and two sugar cubes. Which liquid will dissolve the cubes faster? Unsurprisingly, it’s the hot tea, as hot water has more energy. When water is heated, the molecules gain energy and move around more quickly. These molecules can therefore break down (dissolved) particles faster than cold water. And it’s the same principle with the i-spraywash tabs.

As displayed below, the colder the water is, the higher dosing you need on top of the unit. Therefore, if used in cold water, you might need to run with maximum dosing (turning the knob clockwise). Alternatively, if your water is lukewarm, you might want to lower the dosing towards 14 or even 12 (turning the knob counter-clockwise). If used in very hot water, the dosing should be turned towards the minimum.

The above is for your basic understanding. Once you try the system you will recognise your local conditions, set the dosing as you prefer and get an excellent cleaning result each time!

If a tab is dissolved too fast, say in one or two minutes, how do I regulate this to ensure it is also economical?

Please refer to the above, along with this further explanation: Either your water pressure or water temperature is high (or both) and therefore you need to adjust the dosing function. Try turning the wheel towards the minimum. It may also be necessary to lower the water pressure in the handle, as shown below.

My CleaningTab only slowly dissolves, creates no foam effect and lasts way longer than 4-5 minutes of spraying. Why is that?

Low water pressure may be the reason for your issues. i-spraywash requires a minimum of 2 bar (29 PSI) to dissolve the tabs and work properly. If you have a decent water pressure above 2 bar (29 PSI) and still have a problem, it may be because your water in the hose is too cold.

The worst condition for a tab to dissolve is extremely cold water (below 10 °C). Starting and stopping a few times might help to get the tab going. This is very rare, however in these cases we recommend connecting to a hose and a tab where you can adjust the water temperature to lukewarm. In these cases you could also try filling the tab holder with very warm water and placing the tab inside. Leave it for 5-10 minutes and then connect to the i-spraywash unit. This tip should make it easier to activate the tab.

Do I have to use the full tab, or can it be stored?

The CleaningTab 1, 9 and 12 are designed as ‘stop and go’, meaning they can be used and stored. Suppose you have any tab remaining after your cleaning procedure. In that case, you can store this in the tab holder, drain the remaining water (important - otherwise tab will go mushy), use the lid and store it until next time you need it. If the tab has been stored and drained but is a bit mushy, you can lower the dosing and use it for cleaning.

With the disinfectants, DesTab and ChlorTab Extra, it’s a bit trickier. They’re designed to be used in one go, as they ‘react’ once activated with water. However, with some practice it is possible to drain them as well. When a used tab is kept in a tab container, it should be used within a week. Read the label to get the required PPM level out of the tab.

Are the i-spraywash cleaning tablets safe to use on stainless steel, chrome and toilet partitions?

Yes, you can safely use the tabs on these surfaces. After a contact time of 2-5 minutes we recommend rinsing with clean water, as we recommend with any surface. The CleaningTab 1 (red) is a low pH-value product, an acid. When diluted with water, the concentration on the surfaces is very low. However, it is always wise to ensure proper rinsing, especially on marble or other limestones.

Why are there two different types of i-spraywash disinfectants? What is the difference?

DesTab and ChlorTab Extra are both extremely powerful disinfectants effective against microbes such as viruses, bacteria, mould and more. The difference between the two disinfectants is the active ingredients. DesTab is generating ‘active oxygen’, a powerful disinfectant with broad-spectrum kill effect. It is more or less odourless, neutral to use and has a green environmental profile. The run time on one DesTab is somewhat less compared to the ChlorTab Extra.

ChlorTab Extra is a powerful chlorine tab generating active chlorine with a pH around 6. ChlorTab Extra can’t be compared to any liquid chlorine (bleach) product (which have a high pH value). Hypochlorous acid is present in the Chlortab at close to 100% with a pH of around 6, making it far more effective compared to, for instance, sodium hypochlorite. It is well known that hypochlorous acid is an 80-120 times more powerful biocide than traditional liquid chlorine (sodium hypochlorite) bleach. With ChlorTab Extra it’s possible to use fewer active ingredients (lowering the PPM value) and still achieve an excellent disinfection result.

For instance, when using ChlorTab Extra, you’ll get a powerful disinfectant even at 200 PPM, which equals a concentration of 0.02% active chlorine.

The ChlorTab Extra leaves a swimming pool odour many users associate with ‘clean’, and is a strong oxidiser. If used in high concentrations, and if you’re not careful, there is a risk it can bleach certain types of textiles.

Are the disinfectants safe to use on surfaces?

Yes, both disinfectants are non-corrosive with built-in corrosion inhibitors, safe on any surface. As a general guideline for indoor cleaning and disinfection, we do recommend rinsing with water after applying DesTab and ChlorTab Extra.

Both tabs are considered biodegradable and are eventually broken down to common salt.

Can i-spraywash be used in Food Preparation areas and Kitchens?

Yes – i-spraywash is Foodsafe! The i-spraywash gun is certified by HACCP as suitable for use in food facilities. In addition, the i-spraywash Cleaning Tab1, Cleaning Tab9, Cleaning Tab12 and Chlortab Disinfectant tablets are also HACCP certified.

i-spraywash speeds up the cleaning of kitchens and large food preparation areas. In most cases the recommended tablet for greasy and oily areas would be the Cleaning Tab12 which is a powerful degreasing cleaner, however the Cleaning Tab9 may be sufficient if cleaning is performed regularly.

Can I use i-spraywash to eliminate black mould in the shower?

DesTab and ChlorTab Extra are both effective against black mould. For instance, the use of ChlorTab Extra will eventually eliminate black mould in the grout. Some jobs may require multiple treatments in combination with manual/mechanical scrubbing. In severe cases of mould growth, you may need to change the grout due to irreversible discolouration.

TIP: Agitate showers with the i-scrub 21b after applying your i-spraywash foam for a better clean.

Are the disinfectants proven effective against microorganisms?

Yes, both disinfectants comply with multiple EN test standards. They have a proven effect against a long list of microbes, including bacteria, viruses, yeast and fungus. In many countries, we have full certification/approval to sell in the food industry (including HACCP certification for Australia and New Zealand), fish industry, agriculture and other areas where specific approvals are needed.

For more information, please refer to local guidelines and find relevant documentation in the product datasheets.

What is the difference between using the disinfection nozzle or just applying the i-spraywash disinfectants without the filter on the regular foam nozzle?

You can apply the disinfectants either way. The main difference is how it’s sprayed on the surface. With the disinfection nozzle, it’s possible to adjust the spray pattern, giving you the possibility to spray longer distances (or higher up). This spray pattern is comparable with the rinsing nozzle provided with the system.

When spraying without the filters on the foam nozzle, the spray pattern is wider, enabling you to cover surfaces faster. It also gives less control over where you spray and hit. DesTab and ChlorTab Extra do not contain any foaming agent.

If my DesTab or ChlorTab Extra is used too fast, how can I control the dosing better?

Please see questions 9 and 10. Additionally, you must remember to use cold water when disinfecting; this is a general rule. If the tabs dissolve too quickly, you need to change the dosing on top of the unit. And most likely you need to lower the water pressure. If you look at the handle from behind, as in the below picture, you perhaps need to turn it towards the right (clockwise) to 14:00. On the tab label, you’ll find the guidelines on how long the tab should last.

I have a restroom with bad odour issues. Can I use i-spraywash to remove the urine smell?

YES, you can! The bad smell is due to bacteria, and maybe biofilm. Often the odour is due to “old problems” that could come from the grout between the tiles on the floor, around toilets and urinals. You can do a proper cleaning with CleaningTab 9 (blue) and manual/mechanical scrubbing.

Another option for smelly restrooms is to thoroughly spray down the area with ChlorTab Extra (or DesTab), possibly requiring repeated applications. And again, manual/mechanical scrubbing speeds up the process.

Suppose you use ChlorTab Extra, and you find the chlorine odour stronger than normal. In that case, it’s because the active chlorine reacts with the organic material. The dirtier the substrate, potentially the more potent the odour. After a while, this odour will decrease, which signals that the disinfectant is doing its job correctly!

I’ve noticed I can use one or two tablets. Does it make a difference?

Yes. When using two tabs in the tab holder, you’ll have more tab available when dosing on the surface. For most customers and applications, two tabs are not needed or recommended. It’s better to use one tab at a time, and if required, supplement with a new tab if you use most of the tab during operation.

In some cases, and under some conditions, the tabs might be more difficult to dissolve in the chamber if there are two. This issue is particularly true in cold water and low water pressure.

The same issue applies to disinfectants. However, in some cases, you might need to run with two disinfectants for specific disinfection claims. Please see the label and product datasheets for details.

Do you have a guideline on when to use CleaningTab 1 (red) and CleaningTab 9 (blue), for instance, in a shower block?

Yes, we have a simple user guide available. In general, we always recommend you work with both products in combination. When and how often you use one tab over the other will vary, depending on your requirement, traffic and routine. In general, it’s best to use CleaningTab 9 more often than CleaningTab 1, even though you might struggle with limescale on your surfaces.

You always need to clean the surfaces (remove proteins, soap residues, fats, etc.) before you descale and this is what Cleaning Tab 9 (or 12) does. A general guideline is to use CleaningTab 1 after using Cleaning Tab 9 three or four times. So if you cleaned every day with i-spraywash, use Cleaning Tab 1 every 3rd or 4th day.

Why do you have two alkaline tablets? Where should each be used?

The difference between CleaningTab 9 and CleaningTab 12 is the pH-value and the surfactants in the tabs. CleaningTab 9 is a daily cleaner, suitable for cleaning most applications and surfaces. It’s even usable for commercial kitchens and restaurants unless the level of grease/food production is high.

CleaningTab 12 has a higher pH value and is a stronger degreaser. It’s specially developed as an industrial cleaner for kitchens, food preparation areas, industrial workshops and areas with the need for heavy-duty cleaning.

I’ve noticed the tabs are not eco-labelled. How can I then trust they’re safe and good to use?

Correct. We don’t have the eco-label certificates for CleaningTab 1, CleaningTab 9 or CleaningTab 12 – yet!

When looking at the chemicals and all ingredients, we know we comply with the requirements for the eco-label on the cleaning tablets. However, the packaging material we have does not comply (although we’ve minimised the amount of plastics etc., compared to any other liquid product).

We’re working on replacing the aluminium foil in the blister package to a format accepted for eco-label while not compromising the safe storage of the tabs.

Where should I use the black filter vs the white filter?

The white filter is designed for vertical surfaces as the active foam is spread with a broader angle – with somewhat finer foam. When used correctly, moving the hand fast when spraying, the white filter gives excellent coverage on the walls.

The black filter is designed mainly for floor cleaning, especially in applications such as kitchens. The spray angle is more concentrated with an angle of approximately 1 m as a ‘fine line’. The black filter provides fast floor cleaning in only a few seconds.

However, defining the usage for both filters is not that black and white. You can use both filters on all surfaces. It’s also up to the operator. With the black filter, the dosing is a little bit higher.

In both the black and white filter, there are two filters. If for some reason, they fall out, you can easily put them back in the filter. Always place the finest filter on the inside (closest to the dosing unit).

Is it normal to need to use a floor squeegee for excess water?

Using a floor squeegee is really up to the operator and how dry you want to leave the surfaces.

For instance, in a shower block or bathroomit’s a good idea to finish off by squeegeeing the floor, but it’s not a necessity.

Another smart way of picking up the excess water is using an i-mop, which also has a powerful scrubbing effect on the floor.

What are the environmental benefits of i-spraywash?

There are many environmental benefits to using i-spraywash .

Overall, using i-spraywash means producing over 80% lower impact on the environment. When working with tablets instead of liquid chemicals, you will save up to 90% on plastics, crude oil, CO2, logistics. In 2018 alone, based on sales in only a few European countries, i-spraywash helped by saving the environment from more than 10 tons of plastic.