NATIONAL REPORT—In a recent article, Green Lodging News highlighted two companies that offer different types of steam cleaning systems. One company not included in that article was Advanced Vapor Technologies. The company takes a different approach with steam—it relies on steam vapor and its proprietary Thermal Accelerated Nano Crystal Sanitation (TANCS) technology to disinfect and clean. The company offers machines appropriate for both residential (Ladybug Systems) and commercial environments (MondoVap and VaporJet Systems). Machines made by Advanced Vapor Technologies carry a yellow sticker indicating they qualify as a disinfection device by the EPA.
TANCS is a factory installed internal component that modifies the crystal structure of the naturally occurring minerals in ordinary tap water to aid in the rapid destruction of microorganisms over a very broad range of pathogens while inhibiting the growth of a new biofilm (or microorganism colonies) as the change in crystal structure combined with the superheated steam leaves no place for biofilms to attach.
According to Advanced Vapor Technologies, for years, bleach (sodium hypochlorite) has been mistakenly associated with an absolutely clean and disinfected surface. Today, scientists are becoming more aware of the limitations of chemical disinfectants and sanitizers. Recent studies investigating biofilms (microbe colonies present on many pieces of food processing equipment, for example) reveal that 60 minutes of exposure to bleach leaves as many live cells as dead cells in the biofilm matrix. This leads to rapid recolonization of the surface. Studies show that sufficient heat as is present in the TANCS steam vapor system will travel through the biofilm and kill the cells that are unreachable by the surface application of a germicide.
Very Fast Kill Rate When Compared to Bleach
According to Wayne Delfino, managing partner of Advanced Vapor Technologies, testing at the Department of Environmental Health at the University of Michigan found that TANCS achieves a greater kill rate in three seconds than a 20-minute exposure to bleach.
Advanced Vapor Technologies’ flagship product for commercial spaces, the MondoVap steam vapor system, comes with a wide assortment of accessories, such as nozzles and tips. MondoVap is ideal for removing grease from fryers, ovens, oven filters, floors, tile and grout. It can also remove gum from carpeting and concrete in five to 10 seconds. It is ideal for public and guestroom bathroom spaces as well. Ice machines can also be disinfected and cleaned. Advanced Vapor Technologies machines can also be used to kill bed bugs.
TANCS-equipped steam vapor systems can be used to sanitize and deodorize toilets, tile, grout, baseboards and vinyl floors. They are ideal for mirrors, to thoroughly clean vents, bathtubs, slow moving drains, fiberglass shower stalls, aluminum and chrome. The Ladybug system can freshen, deodorize, and brighten upholstered surfaces, remove spots, kill germs and dust mites in mattresses, remove pet hair and kill fleas and their eggs.
According to researchers at Clemson University, the TANCS technology is the only technology that has demonstrated, in a peer-review study, its efficacy against a human norovirus surrogate, feline calicivirus, on carpet.
“A common problem with disinfecting is that traditional products require dwell times of 10 minutes or more,” says Delfino. “Science confirms that steam vapor systems equipped with TANCS target a wide array of different pathogens (including norovirus, C. diff, MRSA, CRE and VRE) in seven seconds or less.”
Users of Advanced Vapor Technologies machines need not wait long for surfaces to dry. Only 5 percent of what comes out of a nozzle or tip is moisture. With some steam machines that percentage can be 45. Advanced Vapor Technologies machines eliminate chemicals and use very little water. Thousands of gallons of live dry steam can be produced using only about 1.5 quarts of water per hour. Labor costs can also be reduced up to 30 percent.
Glenn Hasek can be reached at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.
