Battling Winter’s Hidden Enemies: The Importance of a Probiotic Defense in Your Workspace

Johannesburg – As winter and flu season approach, they bring along sniffles, coughs, and an increase in sick days.

In the wake of the pandemic, we’ve all become more conscious about hygiene, having witnessed just how quickly illnesses can spread in shared spaces.

This newfound awareness has heightened expectations, as individuals now seek cleaner and safer environments in the venues they frequent as well as in their workplaces and dining establishments.

With more employees returning to the office full-time, businesses are faced with a dual challenge: crowded shared areas and heightened cleanliness demands, according to Jeffrey Madkins, Marketing Manager at Unilever Professional.

Just one unfiltered cough or sneeze during a team meeting can cause productivity to plummet and send half the team home sick.

As flu strains become more formidable, your cleaning routine must evolve.

Flu strains are swiftly advancing, as are the associated risks.

Public health data indicates a rise in both the severity of illness and hospitalization rates.

This trend leads to increased absenteeism, lower productivity, and operational disruptions for businesses.

“Your typical cleaning schedule just doesn’t cut it anymore,” states Madkins.

“The stakes are higher.

“Businesses require smarter, long-lasting hygiene strategies that effectively minimize risks and enhance safety in shared environments.”

Probiotic cleaning technology is stepping up to meet this need.

In contrast to conventional disinfectants that cease to work once they dry, probiotic cleaners remain active for up to 72 hours after application, steadily breaking down biofilm and thwarting pathogen accumulation.

Madkins emphasizes: “This isn’t merely a superficial upgrade; it’s a strategic improvement in hygiene that fosters business continuity.

“You’re not just cleaning; you’re investing in workplace resilience.”

The advantages of probiotic cleaning can be categorized into three essential impact pillars:

• Health Impact: Prolonged microbial protection results in fewer sick days and less downtime.
• Operational Efficiency: Long-lasting cleaning reduces the frequency of reapplication, thus saving time and labor.
• Sustainability Win: Probiotic cleaning products are formulated with biodegradable ingredients that decompose naturally over time. This results in harmless byproducts like carbon dioxide, water, and organic matter, which pose no long-term environmental risks.

This flu season, opting for a smarter hygiene solution is crucial.

How do probiotic cleaners function?

“Products like Handy Andy Probiotic Multi-Surface Cleaner contain live ‘good bacteria’ that decompose dirt, grime, germs, and odors at a microscopic level,” Madkins clarifies.

“By leveraging nature’s capabilities, a living barrier of beneficial microbes is established.”

These tiny microbes digest organic materials and outcompete harmful bacteria, creating a self-sustaining cleaning cycle that continues after you’ve wiped the surface.

Think of them as microscopic “security guards,” warding off recontamination and preventing germs from establishing a foothold.

Ideal for use in high-traffic professional environments.

This prolonged protection is especially essential during the uptick in flu cases, helping to curb the risk of recontamination on high-touch surfaces like hot desks, bathroom counters, door knobs, lift buttons, light switches, and coffee stations, which are hotspots for germ transmission.

By minimizing the need for frequent reapplication and combating the buildup of harmful bacteria, probiotic cleaners provide a more effective, enduring method to fend off seasonal ailments.

As South Africa braces for an intense flu season, with infection rates already above average, according to the NICD, businesses are compelled to uphold safer, more hygienic environments.

“Beyond cleanliness, these solutions deliver genuine business value,” remarks Madkins.

“Their natural, biodegradable formula is gentle on surfaces and diminishes dependence on harsh chemicals, aligning with both sustainability goals and everyday workplace safety.”

Madkins concludes: “We are not merely cleaning surfaces; we are establishing a healthier standard for hygiene by enhancing traditional cleaning methods to create genuinely healthy environments.

“Probiotic cleaning is an investment in the well-being of individuals, operational resilience, and sustainability all at once.

“It’s not just smarter cleaning; it’s smarter business.”