Disinfectants: More Harm than Good?

Lysol Professional Disinfectant Spray

You may remember our post about hand sanitizers and how the repeated use of just sanitizer can be less effective than traditional hand washing. This time, we’ve come to talk about disinfectants.

When we say disinfectant, you may think of a spray like a bleach spray, but we also mean those seemingly useful wipe products. Disinfectants can be spread out across a variety of products, and it isn’t just limited to sprays. A disinfectant is essentially a substance that kills life and is regulated by the EPA under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodent Act. A disinfectant must be safe to use and undergoes a variety of testing to show that it can kill “life” (in this case, bacteria) and be effective.

A disinfectant can often be considered a pesticide as well, and many of the “harsher” chemical sprays require the use of personal protective equipment. Disinfecting a surface properly means cleaning the surface, applying the disinfectant, and then waiting a certain period of time in order for the disinfectant to properly work. Many of us just wipe up the disinfectant immediately after applying it; often times this is not correct and does not work as intended. Disinfectants are also commonly mixed improperly. Because of this, disinfectants can be very unlikely to work effectively, as effectively, or at all. Sanitizing with disinfectant is a very particular job that requires time and attention, and if not done properly, can have disastrous results.

Do disinfectants work?

This is not to say that disinfectants do not work. When used properly, disinfectants can help kill bacteria, curb infection rates, and save lives. Disinfectants are an important part of every day cleaning and sanitizing, especially in work environments with high infection rates and the possibility of the spread of disease. A microfiber cloth and just water was found in a study to remove 99% of bacteria, as opposed to cotton cloths, that can remove 33%. Even with that being said, disinfectants do work when they are applied properly.

How can I make sure I am applying disinfectant properly?

The big thing is: follow the directions on the bottle to the best of your ability. If it says to wet the surface and leave it wet for 10 minutes, do that! Otherwise, you won’t be utilizing the disinfectant to the best of its ability. Make sure you are mixing and diluting according to all manufacturer’s directions.

Want to learn more? Read the article “Disinfectants: Are we doing more harm than good?” written by Bruce Vance.

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