A Quick Q & A about Disinfectants

Prominently posted at various locations throughout a health center in Chicago are notices that because of COVID, the facility uses disinfectants every day to clean restrooms, patient rooms, and public areas.

As reassuring as this may sound, I am concerned that the cleaning professionals at the clinic have not been taught how to use the disinfectants correctly or whether they are using the correct disinfectants to eradicate the COVID virus.

Among the key concerns I have are the following:

· Is the disinfectant used a “one-step cleaner/disinfectant” or just a disinfectant? A cleaner/disinfectant is designed to clean and disinfect a surface in one application. If just a disinfectant, the surface must be cleaned first with an all-purpose or neutral cleaner before the disinfectant can be used. This is referred to as the “two-step” cleaning and disinfecting process. And by the way, if the disinfectant dries on the surface, the entire process must be repeated.

· Is the product being used a disinfectant or a sanitizer? A sanitizer is designed to destroy most, but not all, of a specific pathogen or bacteria. On the other hand, a disinfectant can kill all disease-causing bacteria or pathogens as listed on its label. And for some applications, such as in healthcare or when cleaning food preparation surfaces, it is crucial to know what products local health codes and other regulations stipulate.

· Are the cleaning workers allowing the product to dwell on the surface for the time necessary for the disinfectant to be effective? Dwell time will be noted on the product instructions label and typically requires the surface to remain wet for 5 to 10 minutes to allow the chemicals to kill the organism.

· Are they using the correct disinfectant? There are scores of disinfectants on the market today; however, the active ingredients in most disinfectants are typically the same: isopropyl alcohol, phenolic, quaternary ammonium, sodium hypochlorite, or hydrogen peroxide. It is the amounts of these ingredients that can vary, providing distinct levels of effectiveness as well as pathogen kill claims. But while the active ingredients can vary, the real key is to read the label to find specific pathogen kill claims and make sure the pathogen of concern in your property is listed. Also, as it pertains to COVID, the disinfectant must be on the N-List.

Read more about the N-List, also known as List-N, here.

Green Issues

But what can a facility do if it wants to use more environmentally responsible disinfectants? There are some options. While the US Environmental Protection Agency currently does not allow manufacturers to make “Green” claims for disinfectants and sanitizers, there are opportunities to reduce potentially harmful health and environmental impacts associated when selecting and using these products. Some examples include:

· Use more highly concentrated disinfectants and sanitizers than ready-to-use or less concentrated products. Concentrates reduce environmental impacts resulting from the extra bottles and shipping cartons and the transportation impacts associated with delivering the product. And concentrated products typically are more cost-effective based on actually diluted use-cost.

· Select disinfectants and sanitizers with a pH closer to neutral (pH 7) as compared to products with a pH at the extreme ends of the scale (closer to 0 or 14). Neutral pH products reduce the risk of eye and skin irritation and burns if cleaning workers are accidentally exposed to them or if residues are left on a surface.

· Choose disinfectants and sanitizers with a lower amount of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) than products with a higher number of VOCs. VOCs can cause respiratory irritation for cleaning professionals, staff, and building users and contribute to environmental problems when they evaporate and are exhausted outdoors.

· Select disinfectants and sanitizers that have little or no impact on the environment. Hydrogen peroxide is a perfect example. Now used in schools, medical, and other commercial facilities, hydrogen peroxide is safe, does not leave chemical residues on surfaces so it does not attract soils and contaminants to surfaces, keeping them cleaner longer.

Steve Ashkin is President of The Ashkin Group and the professional cleaning industry’s leading advocate for Green cleaning and sustainability.