ÔME HOUSEKEEPING
August 23, 2026 at 10:33:28 PM
Ozonated water: what it is and why use it for chemical-free cleaning
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What if water itself could disinfect, without a single drop of chemical product? That's the principle of ozonated water: water enriched with ozone (O₃), used for over a century in drinking water treatment, and for decades in hospitals and the food industry for its disinfecting properties. At ÔME HOUSEKEEPING, it fits into a protocol already based on steam and natural products, for cleaning that's truly chemical-free - including disinfection, the trickiest step to handle without bleach or alcohol.
What exactly is ozonated water, and why do we use it in our cleaning protocol?
Ozone (O₃) is a molecule made up of three oxygen atoms, unstable and highly reactive: it's precisely this instability that makes it a formidable disinfectant. On contact with a bacterium, virus or mould, ozone attacks and destroys the cell wall of the micro-organism through oxidation - a purely physical mechanism, with no added chemical reaction. Its oxidising power is even greater than that of chlorine, allowing it to act faster and on a broader spectrum of pathogens. Dissolved in water by means of a generator, ozone produces "ozonated water": ordinary water that becomes, for the duration of its action, a fully-fledged disinfectant. This is not a recent discovery: the first drinking water treatment plant using ozonation dates from 1906/1907 in Nice, and the process now equips many water networks, hospitals and food industries around the world to disinfect without resorting to chlorine.
Ozonated water: disinfection as powerful as chemical products, without any of their drawbacks.
Disinfection as effective as chemical products, without their drawbacks
What sets ozonated water apart from conventional disinfectants is what happens after it acts. Bleach leaves irritating chlorine fumes and residue that needs rinsing; some industrial disinfectants leave volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that keep dispersing into the air long after the product has been used. Ozone, by nature, is unstable: once it has disinfected the surface, it spontaneously breaks back down into oxygen (O₂) and water (H₂O) within minutes. Its range of action is broad: common bacteria found in bathrooms and kitchens such as E. coli, Salmonella or Staphylococcus aureus, but also certain viruses (including flu viruses and norovirus, responsible for gastroenteritis) and fungi like Candida albicans, which thrive in damp environments (shower joints, drains). Nothing to rinse, nothing to air out, no lingering chemical residue on countertops, handles or bathroom fixtures. For a household with young children who touch and mouth everything, for someone with allergies or asthma sensitive to cleaning product fumes, or for a pet that licks the floor, this difference isn't a minor detail: it's the guarantee of real disinfection, without exposure to a substance you're specifically trying to avoid by choosing eco-friendly cleaning.
A smart solution, aligned with our values
Our protocols are already based on professional Kärcher steam and 100% natural cleaning products for all our services. The integration of ozonated water is a deliberate choice: rather than adding an extra chemical product to disinfect bathrooms, taps or a kitchen counter, ÔME HOUSEKEEPING chose a solution that stays aligned with the DNA of a 100% natural approach, while gaining in effectiveness and speed of execution. Ozonated water is produced directly during the service, using a dedicated generator, then applied to areas with high microbial exposure with the contact time needed to work. It's a smart solution, designed to reconcile disinfection requirements, respect for residents' health and consistency with the company's values - across the entire service area of the French Basque Country and southern Landes.
Tip
Ozone dissolved in water spontaneously breaks back down into oxygen and water within minutes: no need for lengthy airing or a second rinse after an ozonated water visit.
Conclusion
Ozonated water illustrates the way we design these protocols intelligently, in line with our values: combined with the professional steam and natural cleaning products already used at every visit, it disinfects to the same standard as a chemical product, without ever resorting to one. A choice consistent with the company's chemical-free DNA, designed to offer families with children, people with allergies, households with pets - and all our clients across the French Basque Country and southern Landes who care about a healthy home - effective, worry-free disinfection.