Evaluating Electrostatic Sprayers for Disinfectant Application

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, “Electrostatic spraying has drawn increased interest through the public health emergency because of the need to disinfect large indoor spaces such as schools, offices, businesses or areas with many surfaces. Unlike conventional spraying methods, electrostatic sprayers apply a positive charge to liquid disinfectants as they pass through the nozzle.”

In an article published by McKnights, J. Hudson Garrett Jr., PH.D writes, “Large, congregate environments such as dining facilities, rehabilitation gyms, activity rooms and visitation areas are not easily disinfected with traditional disinfectants such as ready-to-use disinfecting liquids. As a result, facilities should consider using electrostatic sprayers for the application of EPA-registered disinfectants to rapidly disinfect large surface areas.”

Per the EPA, routine cleaning and disinfection of potentially contaminated surfaces is recommended, among other infection control activities, to limit the spread of the disease. Business owners, school district leaders, and even mass transit leaders have needed to find ways to clean and disinfect large surface areas quickly and effectively that are frequently touched by many people.

Further, the EPA recently evaluated six electrostatic sprayers, two foggers, and one hand-pumped garden sprayer. These devices impart an electrostatic charge to the disinfectant spray droplets (most do so as the droplets exit the nozzle of the sprayer), with the goal of improving deposition of the droplets onto surfaces and thus promoting more efficient use of the disinfectant.