How long must equipment be in contact with a chlorine solution to be adequately disinfected?

To ensure that equipment is adequately disinfected using a chlorine solution, it is essential for the equipment to remain in contact with the solution for a minimum duration that allows the disinfectant to effectively kill harmful microorganisms. The recommended contact time for a chlorine solution is typically around 10 seconds. This duration is based on established guidelines that aim to balance effective disinfection while also considering practical application times in food safety settings.

While chlorine is a powerful disinfectant, its effectiveness can be influenced by several factors, including concentration, water temperature, and the type of surfaces being disinfected. The choice of 10 seconds is grounded in the need for a rapid yet effective disinfection process that can be realistically implemented in a busy food service environment. In contrast, shorter times, such as 5 seconds, may not provide sufficient contact time for the chlorine to work effectively, and longer times may not be practical in most operational settings.