FIND SAFER DISINFECTANTS
The EPA through it’s Design for Environment antimicrobial pesticide certification, as well as Green Seal, a well-known 3rd party safer cleaning product certifier, has identified safer disinfectants that do not cause cancer or asthma, nor are they harmful to the environment, our waterways and aquatic life, nor do they promote development of superbugs (antibiotic resistance).
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SAFE DISINFECTANT |
PROS |
CONS |
|
HOCl (hypochlorous acid) OUR CHOICE |
100 times stronger than bleach Free of toxic fragrances, additives–only salt, water and electricity Can be used as a hand sanitizer, surface sanitizer, and disinfectant Can be used on hard and porous surfaces, no PPE required, no rinse |
Can be unstable if stored in heat Reactive-cannot put in other containers Harder to find currently New manufacturing to make more stable product is not widespread |
|
Hydrogen peroxide |
Versatile can be diluted many H2O2 products don’t require PPE or rinse |
Some products that use H2O2 contain other toxic ingredients like fragrance Beware of disinfectants using H2O2 with toxic quats |
|
Alcohol: Ethanol, Isopropanol |
1 minute contact time can be used in hand sanitizers and surface sanitizers and disinfectants No PPE
|
Not many products available Flammable Made from GMO corn or petrochemicals |
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Citric acid |
Many don’t require PPE or rinse |
Hard to find products without many other toxic ingredients Made from GMO corn |
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L-lactic acid |
Not many options |
|
|
Thymol |
From the thyme plant, no PPE, no rinse |
Strong scent |
Hydrogen peroxide is the most versatile disinfectant and some registered disinfectants using hydrogen peroxide can kill pathogens in under a minute. Our favorite is hypochlorous acid because it is made using only salt, water, and electricity. It is free of fragrances and other chemicals, it is not a skin sensitizer, and is 100 times more effective than bleach.
Always choose a fragrance-free safer disinfectant that is approved by Green Seal and/or certified by DfE in order to make the safest choice. Fragrances often contain 15 or more potentially asthma and cancer-causing ingredients.
See http://www.womensvoices.org/beyondthelabel/ for more info.
SPECIFIC READY TO USE DISINFECTANTS WITH NON-TOXIC INGREDIENTS
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Briotech Sanitizer and Disinfectant EPA reg.#93108-1 |
Hypochlorous acid (HOCl) |
Direct order $28/gal.
|
10 minutes, no rinse | Fragrance-free |
| Clean Smart Disinfectant Spray EPA Reg.#89896-2 | Hypochlorous acid (HOCl) |
Direct order $28/32 oz. |
10 minutes, no rinse | Fragrance-free |
| Clean Republic Disinfectant & Sanitizer EPA Reg. #85134-1 | Hypochlorous acid (HOCl) |
Direct order $11/32oz. $30/gal |
1 minute, no rinse needed | Fragrance-free |
|
Purell Multisurface Disinfectant Fragrance Free EPA reg#84368-1 |
Ethanol | WebRestaurantStore.com | 1 minute, no rinse | Fragrance-free |
| ECOS One Step Disinfectant Cleaner EPA reg. #85837-4 | Hydrogen peroxide |
Mollie Stones Olivers Market Ralphs Grocery |
10 minutes then wipe clean | Fragrance-free |
|
Seventh Generation Disinfecting Cleaner with hydrogen peroxide EPA Reg.#85837 |
Hydrogen peroxide | Check with local grocer | 10 minutes, then wipe clean | Fragrance-free |
| Cleanwell Botanical Disinfecting Wipes and Spray | Thymol | Walmart, Whole Foods | 10 minutes, no rinse | Has fragrane |
*EPA listed contact times are not necessarily accurate for coronavirus, as they were not all tested on coronavirus, but the contact times show what their product category contact time was for pathogens that are harder-to-kill than coronavirus.
INDUSTRIAL USE DISINFECTANT
In a school setting where maintenance crews have concentrated sanitizers and disinfectants and dilution systems, there are disinfectants and sanitizers that are set up for larger scale use, as well as non-toxic alternatives such as HOCl generators and high heat/low water steam cleaners.
Green Seal, SF Approved, TURI Labs, and DfE have lists of safer industrial use disinfectants. From those lists we recommend the following:
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Viking Pure Generator |
Onsite generator |
Hyopochlorous Acid (HOCl) |
Generates a cleaner and a disinfectant from same machine using only salt, water, electricity. One unit to fill multiple containers, Fragrance-free, zero toxins. |
Initial investment costs and maintenance. |
|
Dupray Steam Cleaner |
Portable steam machine |
High heat, low vapor steam from tap water |
For cleaning and disinfecting hard and soft surfaces, Fragrance-free, zero toxins |
Initial investment is high-might need multiple units |
|
Diversey’s Oxivir line |
Wipes, sprays, concentrates |
Hydrogen Peroxide |
Has fragrance |
|
|
Purell Professional Surface Disinfectant |
Spray |
Ethanol |
GMO | |
|
ECOS Pro Multisurface Cleaner and Disinfectant |
Spray |
Citric acid |
One-step cleaning and disinfecting, no rinse |
Has fragrance |
|
Wexford Labs Cleancide |
Concentrate, wipes, sprays |
Citric acid |
One-step cleaning and disinfecting, No rinse |
Has fragrance |