Keeping our customers and team members safe is the name of the game right now! With so many products to consider, each with its own accompanying claims, it can be complicated to know which is the best way to go. Using a disinfectant is the best way to eliminate sickness-causing germs, viruses, and bacteria in your workplace, but many conventional products can actually be harmful to our health and need to be handled with caution, especially around kids and those with allergies and asthma. In fact, daily exposure to cleaning products has been proven to be as damaging to our health as smoking a pack of cigarettes a day. Right! So how do you disinfect effectively – and safely? What level of disinfectant works for killing germs to ensure you’re protecting your clients and employees, without exposing them to harmful chemicals? Here’s what you need to know.
Top 3 Things To Look For In A Disinfectant For Effective Disinfecting
1. It Has A 99.9% Effective Claim On The Label
Cleaning products as a category are not regulated, but disinfectants are strictly regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency and part of that process ensures that they kill 99.9% of the germs, viruses and bacteria that they say they do. The EPA regulates all antimicrobial products and does not allow companies to make efficacy claims unless they have independently reviewed the company’s data to support the claims and approved them.
2. It’s On The EPA’s List N
List N is the EPA’s list of disinfectants that have been approved for use to kill SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus and cause of Covid-19. These products are approved for use on surfaces, so you can use them in your business to disinfect high-touch areas. You can also search for the products you use here to see if they meet the EPA’s criteria for use against SARS-CoV-2.
3. It Kills The Germs You Want To Kill
Depending on the type of business you’re it, you might be more concerned about some germs than others. A restaurant may be more concerned about Salmonella or Listeria, or a gym may be more concerned about Staph or MRSA. That means you want to check the label of your disinfectant to ensure the microbes you are most worried about are listed. The EPA tests disinfectants to ensure they kill the specific germs that are listed on a product’s label. For example, Force of Nature is registered by the EPA as a Hospital disinfectant to kill a range of pathogens at the 99.9% level, even Staph, MRSA, Listeria, Salmonella, Influenza A, and Norovirus. It is on EPA’s list N, the disinfectants approved for use against SARS-CoV-2, the cause of COVID-19. And because we’re getting this question a lot – the EPA expects all products on List N to kill all strains and variants of SARS-CoV-2.
Using Disinfectants Safely
It’s shocking, but manufacturers don’t need to prove their cleaning products are safe before they can be used, and many of us don’t use the correct precautions when handling ingredients that can be caustic or fatal if used incorrectly. You should always follow instructions carefully, as some disinfectants need to be used with protective gear, like gloves and masks, or rinsed after use, as they leave behind residue that can be harmful to your staff or clients. Force of Nature’s active ingredient is hypochlorous acid (HOCl), the same substance our own immune systems produce to fight infection! Force of Nature is certified 100% top allergen-free and best for sensitive skin by Mayo Clinic’s allergy rating system. It’s been used in medical applications for decades, and right now is beloved by dermatologists to help treat and heal irritated skin and “maskne.” Force of Nature does not need to be rinsed and you can use it without gloves or masks.
Lastly, we know that disinfecting your business has become a complex and stressful process, so make sure you know how to do it effectively and that you understand the difference between cleaning, disinfecting, and sanitizing, as these terms are not interchangeable.
We’re In This With You
We understand the responsibility you feel to keep your business disinfected, which is why we are proud to have created a disinfectant without toxic chemicals, residues or fumes. Learn more about our EPA-registered disinfectant, Force of Nature, and how you can use it in all kinds of applications for your business, too. Want to buy in bulk, or need to make enough of our formula for several bottles a day? We’ve got you covered on that too with Force of Nature Pro, our large capacity appliance that makes 32 or 64 oz of all-in-one cleaner, deodorizer and disinfectant.
