Disinfectant Wipes Are Not Created Equal Leave a comment

Not all disinfectant wipes are created equal

Unfortunately, disinfectant wipes are the new must-have item. Since the Covid-19 pandemic started there has been an absolute panic for anything disinfectant. Store shelves have been gutted, online prices have gone through the roof, and people have even been making their own recipes to try and wipe themselves clean.

Of course, the biggest prize these days (next to toilet paper) are the containers of disinfecting wipes. They are more sought after than the N94 masks that are needed when in public. And they have been elevated to a status even greater and more valuable than gold bars or diamonds.

The crazy thing is that everyone is grabbing every single container they can find. It doesn’t matter if it comes from a drug store or convenience store…if it says “Disinfecting Wipes” they just have to have them. Then they can wipe themselves down and feel “safer” because they did. So the question really is “Are all wipes created equal.” And if you just want to talk to someone, call our Free Tech Support at 704-966-1650 Option 3.

Does every disinfecting wipe work the same?

The simple answer is “Absolutely Not!” There are almost as many different ingredient lists as there are brands of disinfectant wipes. And unfortunately just because some of them might somewhat disinfect does not mean they will help as needed against COVID-19.

The EPA has put together a list of Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-COV-2. And surprisingly there are actually some very popular wipes that are absent from this list. Sadly many professional settings and homes are still using them. The disinfecting wipes that are not on the list cannot issue a claim of efficacy against COVID-19. If you are not certain about a brand you are using it is easy to check their list for inclusion.

According to the EPA you cannot use just any type of wipe in this fight. But thankfully Accelerated Hydrogen Peroxide Wipes are fast-acting against this and more common pathogens. They do meet the EPA’s emerging pathogen criteria and are authorized for use against COVID-19.

Aren’t all disinfectant wipes fast acting?

Again we must answer “Absolutely Not!” Just because a wipe is labeled “disinfectant” does not mean it works quickly. There are some disinfectant wipes that can take up to 10 minutes of contact time to disinfect properly. When you look at the required contact time on the labels you will see a huge variance between products. Accelerated Hydrogen Peroxide Wipes require as little as 30 seconds to 1 minute contact time. Do you really want to wait any longer than that for results?

That equipment isn’t used again for at least 10 minutes anyway.

That’s good but the contact time means the surface has to stay wet for 10 minutes if the product is going to work properly. Most “disinfectants” contain alcohol and we know how fast that evaporates. How are you going to be sure it stays wet long enough? Can you keep going back and reapplying more products? Are you sure your family, co-workers, or employees are going to be as diligent as you? Will you be able to rest easy knowing you achieved the proper disinfection result?

Waiting up to 10 minutes while using multiple wipes and having to re-check or re-apply every few minutes is not very cost-effective for many reasons. And not knowing if you got the proper contact time does not give much confidence for a safe work/home environment. Accelerated Hydrogen Peroxide Wipes don’t make you jump through all those hoops. They kill pathogens rapidly and in one single application each and every time. This gives you, family, employees, patients, customers, clients, etc. comfort in knowing your surroundings are clean and safe.

Do the label precautions really matter?

Absolutely they do. You should always pay attention to precautionary statements and disinfectant wipes can contain many chemicals you might not recognize. The EPA tests these products for a reason and the precautionary statements are to keep you and everyone around you safe.

You want your disinfecting wipes to be tough on germs but you don’t want them to do any harm. You want them to be non-toxic in every way possible. They should not irritate your eyes, skin, or throat, and you shouldn’t have to dress up in a bunch of protective gear to use them. Wipes made with Accelerated Hydrogen Peroxide have received the EPA’s safest and lowest toxicity rating. They are non-irritating, odorless, non-flammable, and require no use of gloves or eye protection.

Some final thoughts.

Many products claim to be the quickest, safest, most economical disinfectant wipes available. But as you can see there are a few simple truths that overshadow all the fancy hoopla. With a little bit of common sense, and research if you wish, it is not difficult to choose a product that will work rapidly yet properly, save you money, and ultimately make you feel safer.

You can check your current product on the EPA Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-COV-2 HERE

You can purchase Accelerated Hydrogen Peroxide Disinfectant Cleaners here.

As always if you have any questions about this process or anything else please feel free to contact us and take advantage of our “FREE TECH SUPPORT.”

We also offer FREE VIRTUAL TECH SUPPORT to “See and Talk” with a “Real Time Live Technician” for any problems you may be in need of help with.

You can also use our “FREE MAINTENANCE PROGRAM”. Take the guesswork and worrying about what unit is due for maintenance and which maintenance cycle it is time for. We will keep track of all your autoclaves and let you know when it’s time for anything.