Did you know that disinfectants are PESTICIDES (from a regulatory standpoint) and there are right and wrong ways to use them? Please read on for a brief summary and more resources on this topic.
Safe and Effective Use of Cleaners and Disinfectants
Before discussing how to clean and disinfect surfaces it’s important to understand the terms. Cleaners are products that remove dirt or contaminants (including germs) from surfaces. Soaps and detergents also attack the lipid membranes of viruses (part of the reason that washing your hands is effective) but in this brief “how to” summary the primary purpose of the cleaner is to remove dirt as well as contaminants. Disinfectants destroy or inactivate germs on surfaces and prevent them from growing. Disinfectants do not clean the surface or even necessarily remove the inactivated germs.
Disinfectants are registered pesticides – registered by the US EPA. Disinfectant products are meant to be used on surfaces, not on people, not sprayed into the air, which can be a health hazard. In Ohio, a pesticide license would only be required for a restricted use disinfectant, not for common household disinfectants. For disinfectants for use against SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19, see EPA’s List N: Disinfectants for use against SARS-CoV-2
To use disinfectants safely, as with any pesticide, READ THE DISINFECTANT LABEL. Use only EPA-registered disinfectants. Disinfectant choice is an important consideration for people with health conditions – some disinfectants may exacerbate asthma or other health conditions. Provide adequate ventilation, wear gloves to protect the skin, – both gloves and eye protection if using bleach, plus any other PPE required by label. Never mix disinfectants together or with other substances. For example, mixing bleach with ammonia produces a toxic gas.
Before disinfecting, CLEAN the surface thoroughly with soap or detergent, rinse, and dry – these three preliminary steps are important to remove dirt and contaminants that may interfere with the disinfectant. Don’t skip any of the steps! All are important – for example the drying step removes contaminants and residues. Next, apply the disinfectant product following the label instructions. If the product is mixed with water, use the dilution recommended on the label. Remember MORE IS NOT BETTER. Thoroughly cover the surface and apply a sufficient amount so that the surface remains visibly wet for required contact time (anywhere from 15 seconds to 10 minutes depending on the product). If you are using disposable wipes, be sure to discard them in the trash, not the septic system. If the surface is used for food, after disinfection, be sure to rinse the surface after disinfecting with a potable water source. When finished, remove gloves and other PPE and thoroughly wash and dry the hands.
Sources: webinar offered 4/9/2020- Safe and Proper use of Disinfectants & Household Cleaners hosted by the Partnership for Air Matters, with the Tribal Healthy Homes Network, the WA State Department of Health, Environmental Protection Agency, Center for Disease Control and Indian Health Service