Biological cleaning product alternative: what is ozone water and how does it work

What is ozone water as a cleaning liquid

Ozone water is water to which dissolved ozone has been added via an electrolytic production process. The working principle is oxidation: the dissolved ozone reacts with organic compounds on the surface and chemically breaks them down. After the reaction the ozone decomposes to oxygen and water without leaving active chemical residues. That distinguishes ozone water from conventional cleaning agents that leave active ingredients on the surface. More on the ozone water production system: ozone water machine.

The oxidation mechanism: how ozone breaks down contamination

Ozone molecules have a high oxidation potential. They extract electrons from the organic compounds they come into contact with and thereby chemically break them down. The reaction is non-selective: ozone reacts with all organic compounds in the contact zone regardless of the specific nature of the contamination. Grease, food residues, biological deposits, body fats, pollen residues and other organic compounds on the surface react to ozone oxidation. The breakdown products are simple water-soluble compounds removed together with the drying process.

Ozone concentration in the water and contact time of the ozone water with the surface are the two technical parameters that determine the intensity of the oxidation reaction. Higher ozone concentration at sufficient contact time gives more intensive and complete breakdown of the organic compounds present. Ozone is volatile and concentration falls after production through off-gassing. Freshly produced ozone water therefore gives the most effective cleaning results. More on the basic mechanism: ozonewater.

Application scope: organic versus non-organic contamination

Ozone water is effective as an alternative cleaning liquid for organic contamination. Organic compounds contain carbon and react to the oxidation mechanism of dissolved ozone. Grease, food residues, biological deposits, body fats and other carbon-containing contamination on solid surfaces belongs to this category. Non-organic contamination such as limescale, mineral deposits and rust contains no organic carbon compounds and does not react to ozone oxidation. For limescale and mineral deposits ozone water is not an effective alternative.

That distinction is relevant when choosing ozone water as an alternative cleaning liquid. In kitchens and bathrooms both types of contamination occur: grease residues and biological deposits are organic and react to ozone while limescale around taps and on glass surfaces is non-organic. A realistic application of ozone water as an alternative cleaning liquid takes that distinction into account and deploys ozone water for the applications for which it is suitable.

The two-cloth method as practical working procedure

The two-cloth method is the standard working procedure for surface cleaning with ozone water. A first cloth is lightly moistened with ozone water and moved across the surface to be cleaned. Contact time of the ozone water with the surface determines the intensity of the oxidation reaction on the organic compounds present. After treatment with the first cloth a second dry cloth dries the surface and removes the loosened residues. The method is applicable to kitchen worktops, worksurfaces, sanitary fittings, tiles, stainless steel surfaces and other solid materials. Read the complete working procedure: two-cloth method.

Material suitability

Dense smooth surfaces are most suitable for treatment with ozone water. Stainless steel, ceramic, glazed tiles, glass, hard plastic and lacquered wood belong to this category. On these materials the oxidation reaction proceeds effectively and contact time is limited. Porous materials such as untreated wood, unglazed stone or textiles require longer contact time and adjusted dosage as the ozone water penetrates deeper into the material. For natural stone and marble caution is advised: verify material suitability before intensive use.

Metal surfaces such as stainless steel and aluminium are suitable for use with ozone water. On stainless steel the oxidation reaction is effective without damaging the material at regular use. Copper and bronze surfaces may show discolouration with prolonged or intensive treatment due to the oxidising action of ozone water; verify suitability for specific materials when in doubt.

Ozone water versus traditional cleaning agents: practical comparison

The core difference between ozone water and traditional cleaning agents is the presence of active chemical ingredients after use. Traditional cleaning agents contain surfactants, enzymes or other active substances that remain on the surface and must be rinsed or wiped away to remove residues. Ozone water contains no fixed active chemical ingredients: the dissolved ozone reacts on the surface and then decomposes to oxygen and water.

A practical consequence is that no rinsing is needed after using ozone water. There are no active chemical substances on the surface that need to be removed. That is relevant for surfaces near food such as kitchen worktops and for surfaces touched directly after cleaning. For the specific application in the kitchen: biological degreasing kitchen.

Cleaning without chemicals: the broader context

Interest in alternatives to traditional cleaning agents is driven by multiple considerations: the presence of active chemical substances on surfaces after use, the smell of cleaning agents in enclosed spaces, the cost of regular cleaning product consumption and the desire to simplify the cleaning routine. Ozone water can play a role in that context for applications where organic contamination is the primary challenge. More on cleaning without chemicals: cleaning without chemicals.

Grease contamination: a specific application

Grease is an organic compound that effectively reacts to ozone oxidation. Grease residues on kitchen worktops, hob surroundings, extractor hoods and other kitchen surfaces are a common application for ozone water. The oxidation reaction chemically breaks down the fat molecules after which the breakdown products are removed with the second cloth. Effectiveness with grease depends on grease thickness: a thin grease film reacts quickly to ozone treatment while thick grease residues may require multiple treatment cycles. More on removing grease: remove grease without cleaning product.

The five pages in this cluster

This cluster describes ozone water as an alternative cleaning liquid from five angles. Biological degreasing in the kitchen addresses the specific application in the kitchen environment. Cleaning without chemicals describes the broader context of a cleaning routine without traditional cleaning agents. Alternative to cleaning product compares ozone water with common cleaning agents. Remove grease without cleaning product focuses on grease contamination as the primary cleaning challenge. Biological cleaning with ozone water describes the complete working method: biological cleaning with ozone water. More on the alternative to cleaning products: alternative to cleaning product.

Professional applications of ozone water

Beyond household use ozone water is also applicable in professional cleaning contexts where organic contamination is the primary cleaning challenge. Hospitality, care environments where no product efficacy claims of a regulated nature are made, office kitchens and other professional spaces with comparable cleaning needs are potential application contexts. In those environments the same principle applies as in household use: ozone water is effective for organic contamination on dense smooth surfaces and requires freshly produced ozone water for the most effective treatment.

Systems for ozone water production

Ozone water production systems are available in a range of capacities from compact systems for household use to systems with higher production capacity for professional applications. Production capacity expressed in litres of ozone water per minute determines for which use frequency and surface area the system is suitable. A system with higher production capacity produces more ozone water per unit of time and is thereby suitable for more intensive use or larger surfaces to be treated. More on available systems: ozone water machine.

Ozone water and sustainability considerations

A cleaning routine in which ozone water replaces part of traditional cleaning agents results in lower consumption of chemical cleaning products for the applications for which ozone water is suitable. That has practical implications for the cleaning routine: fewer bottles, less packaging material and a simpler cleaning logistics. The extent of replacement depends on the specific applications in the cleaning routine and frequency of use. Technical context is relevant when assessing this: it concerns a water-based cleaning workflow where for certain applications fewer traditional cleaning agents may be needed.

Structuring the cleaning routine with ozone water

Effective integration of ozone water in the daily cleaning routine requires a deliberate choice of applications for which ozone water is suitable. A structured approach starts with inventorying the most common cleaning tasks per room and per surface type and then determining for which of those tasks ozone water is a suitable alternative cleaning liquid. In the kitchen those are typically worktops, surfaces, appliance surfaces and tiled walls. In the bathroom those are tiles, sanitary fittings and glass surfaces insofar as the contamination is organic in nature. Concrete planning of applications prevents excessive use for applications where ozone water is less suitable and gives a realistic picture of the expected replacement of traditional cleaning agents.

Costs and affordability

The investment in an ozone water production system replaces part of the consumption of traditional cleaning products over the lifetime of the installation. Payback period depends on current cleaning product consumption, frequency of use and the applications for which ozone water is deployed. Questions about the approach? get in touch. More information: knowledge guide.

Testimonials

💬 "We now use ozone water for the daily cleaning of the kitchen and bathroom. The worktop and tiles look clean without needing a rinsing step afterwards. The routine has become simpler." — Ozone water installation user

Further reading

Full overview: ozone water knowledge guide. Biological degreasing kitchen: biological degreasing kitchen. Cleaning without chemicals: cleaning without chemicals. Remove grease: remove grease without cleaning product.