You may be spending more time attending to surfaces than ever before, clocking up hours of COVID-19 wipe-downs, but are you using the right cleaning products for your powder-coated lockers and storage cabinets so that you avoid long-term damage?
During the current pandemic the focus of many businesses, schools and other organisations is to provide a safe environment for staff, students and visitors.
Unfortunately, some cleaning products used to stop the spread of COVID-19, especially citrus-based cleaners and other solvents, can be highly corrosive to powder coated surfaces.
In some cases, the corrosive effects might not be visible for months, so you may be unaware of long-term damage.
The World Health Organisation has recommended that the regular cleaning of surfaces will help combat the spread of COVID-19.
To meet new stringent health and safety requirements we have put together some handy hints to help you clean the right way.
Identify your surfaces
All Davell’s metal products have a powder-coated surface; this includes our range of lockers and storage furniture.
A powder coat thickness of >60 microns is applied to all Davell metal products so they withstand knocks and scrapes without chipping or scuffing.
Powder-coated products do require appropriate steps to keep surfaces clean while not damaging the paint.
Find the right cleaner for powder-coated surfaces
X DO NOT USE
Commercial turpentine, white spirits, thinners, citrus based cleaners or other aggressive solvents.
✔ DO USE
Hand dishwashing detergent or mild non-abrasive pH neutral liquid, for routine cleaning.
Isopropyl alcohol or Methylated spirits, rinsed with warm soapy water, for stubborn marks.
Clean and rinse
Cleaning powder coated surfaces is easy and inexpensive:
1. Regularly wash the powder-coated surface using a soft clean cloth and a mild non-abrasive pH neutral liquid (preferably hand dishwashing detergent) and warm water. Clean away dust, salt or other deposits.
2. Always rinse using fresh water with a mildly damp cloth to remove any remaining detergent.
3. Remove any moisture using a soft, dry cloth.
For remaining hard to remove marks – such as grease or paint – the following products can be safely used: Methylated Spirits or Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA). After cleaning, rinse off using clean, fresh water.
Do not rub powder coated surfaces excessively, especially pearlescent finishes.
Switch over
Switching over to a regular easy-clean routine for metal surfaces is simple, cheap and environmentally responsible. If your school, office or factory employs cleaning staff it is best to recommend a mild non-abrasive pH neutral liquid for cleaning powder-coated surfaces. Within your household it is as convenient as the nearest bottle of hand dishwashing detergent.
For up-to-date information regarding product maintenance, please check our website: https://davell.com.au/product-maintenance/.
You can also review a copy of the Dulux Care and Maintenance of Powder Coated Surfaces advice brochure here.
