The aim of the research project is to develop disinfectant cleaners based on antimicrobial self-assembling systems (SAS), the use of which does not result in increased dirt adhesion to treated floor coverings and which lead to sustainable hygiene of these coverings.

The SAS are based on peptides that form stable aggregates above a defined concentration (critical aggregation concentration, CAC) and only have an antimicrobial effect in this aggregated state.

During maintenance cleaning, SAS aggregates present in the disinfectant cleaner lead to effective disinfection of the floor coverings even in the presence of contamination with high concentrations of pathogens.

The SAS aggregates remaining on the floor covering after maintenance cleaning ensure the immediate inactivation of pathogens that reach the floor covering in low concentrations between two decontamination measures.

An accumulation of antimicrobial agents can be prevented by regular mopping (e.g. weekly) with pure water (dilution of the SAS concentration to a value below the CAC).

As this dissolves the SAS aggregates, the wiping water no longer contains any antimicrobial substances.

The SAS are biodegradable and are enzymatically degraded or metabolized as part of the biological water treatment in the municipal sewage treatment plant.

Due to the resulting increased hygiene safety, it can be assumed that hygiene commissions will include the use of disinfectant cleaners based on antimicrobial SAS in their hygiene plans.

The use of SAS-based disinfectant cleaners significantly reduces the effort required for the disinfecting maintenance cleaning of resilient floor coverings compared to the effort required when using current systems.