With COVID, We Must Understand Disinfectant Differences, was prepared for client AFFLINK
“Just because a disinfectant has been proven to be effective against COVID, does not mean it is doing the job.”
August 1, 2020 – Tuscaloosa, AL – Disinfectants are not all the same.
“And now with COVID-19, we must be very careful,” says Michael Wilson, vice president of marketing for AFFLINK, a leading distributor-member sales and marketing organization.
“Just because a disinfectant has been proven to be effective against COVID, does not mean it is doing the job.”
According to Wilson, “some disinfectants are alcohol-based, others are chlorine- or phenol-based, and still others have quaternary amines (quats), and they all work slightly differently.”
Wilson adds that there are many more differences between disinfectants we should know about , such as the following:
- Some disinfectants do not need to be diluted, others must be mixed with water, and dilution ratios can vary.
- Some are certified “green” in certain areas of the world, but in the U.S., there are no “green” disinfectants.
- Most disinfectants sold in the U.S. are regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency; however, some disinfectants used in medical facilities are also regulated by the Food and Drug Administration.
- Disinfectants often fall into different categories such as “general,” “limited,” “broad-spectrum,” and “hospital-grade.”
- Certain disinfectants are designed to clean and disinfect surfaces; however, in most cases, disinfectants do not clean surfaces; they are designed to kill pathogens.
- The effectiveness of a disinfectant varies depending on the surface where it is applied.
- Surface contact (dwell) times differ.
- As used, some disinfectants can permeate work gloves faster than others (referred to as “breakthrough times”); this can damage the glove, harm skin, and allow exposure to harmful pathogens.
- Different types of disinfectants, if inhaled, are more toxic than others.
“So, the first step in selecting and using a disinfectant properly is to understand as much about it as possible,” adds Wilson.
Most of this information is on the product label or enclosed with the disinfectant. But once again, another difference emerges: some product labels are easier to read than others.
“Right now, with COVID, these differences can quickly become barriers to protecting human health,” Wilson says.
“We strongly encourage building managers and cleaning contractors to work with jansan distributors during this crisis. They can be your best source when it comes to protecting human health.”
More AFFLINK news is found here.
About AFFLINK
Connecting more than 200 manufacturers of Facility Maintenance, Packaging, Safety, Office and Industrial Supply solutions with over 350 independent distribution experts, AFFLINK is, just as its name suggests – that critical link offering clients innovative products, market expertise, and improved profitability, all of which is fueled by our leading-edge information technology. For more info, visit: http://www.afflink.com/
Contact Information:
Michael Wilson, vice president of marketing and packaging
AFFLINK, LLC
1400 AFFLINK Place
Tuscaloosa, AL 35406
P: 800.222.5521
Media Contact: Robert Kravitz
Email: robert@alturasolutions.com
Phone: 312-880-8176
