From our more than 75 years of innovating hygiene products, we know there are fundamental elements that deliver effective and worry-free hand and surface hygiene products that people want to use. At GOJO, we refer to this idea as "Formulation Counts," and it's at the core of every product we develop. I've covered how formulation counts for alcohol-based hand sanitizer in a previous blog (read "Formulation Counts: Not All Hand Sanitizer is the Same" – this blog post will go into that story for surface sanitizers and disinfectants.
6 Fundamentals of Formulation for Surface Sanitizers and Disinfectants
Every day, we encounter dozens – if not hundreds – of surfaces, and many common germs are transmitted by touch. Breaking the link between hands and surfaces is critical to reducing germs in your facility and home. >When selecting the right surface product for your facility or home, the following six core elements should be part of your research. I also encourage you to use this list to review your existing products to ensure they're the best fit for your facility's needs.<
1. Efficacy – this is often the first thought someone has when they look for a surface sanitizer or disinfectant – does it kill the germs I care about, and how fast does it work? Every industry has many different types of pathogens they're concerned about – hospitals have ESKAPE pathogens that cause most healthcare-acquired illnesses; foodservice has foodborne pathogens like norovirus, E. coli, and Salmonella; schools have respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and hand, foot, and mouth disease (caused by coxsackie virus); and many viruses impact all facilities and homes – like SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), influenza, and viruses that cause common colds like rhinoviruses and adenovirus. (While respiratory viruses commonly spread through aerosols and droplets, these viruses can also live on objects or surfaces, potentially spreading the virus through touching contaminated surfaces or "fomites.”) Research to make sure the product you choose kills the pathogens that most impact your facility AND that the time it takes to kill the germs (how long the surface must remain visibly wet – or dwell time) is short enough that you and your staff will follow the instructions every time. (Products can have a wide range of dwell times from 30 seconds to 10 minutes.)
2. Safety and Toxicity is of particular concern in environments like schools, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities where students and patients may be more sensitive to the effects of chemicals. Using harsh chemicals like bleach to kill the pathogens you're concerned about is not always necessary. There are lower-toxicity products available. Product labels will signal the product's toxicity through the presence – or better yet, the absence – of hazard statements like "CAUTION" or "WARNING." Labels will also highlight if personal protective equipment (PPE) like gloves or eye shields are required or if handwashing or rinsing of surfaces is required after use. Some surface disinfection products also require proper ventilation when in use. Residual fumes and/or tacky surfaces after cleaning can also be a negative experience for restaurant, hotel, or health and fitness patrons.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates surface disinfectants to ensure they are effective and safe for use by consumers, so look for an EPA registration number on the product label. The EPA established four toxicity categories that apply to all disinfectants – these are identifiable on the label by signal words like "DANGER" or the lack of one:
- Category I – highly toxic and severely irritating; front label will say "DANGER," PPE required
- Category II – moderately toxic and moderately irritating; front label will say "WARNING," some PPE is required and handwashing after use
- Category III – slightly toxic and slightly irritating; front label will say "CAUTION," handwashing after use
- Category IV – lowest toxicity and not an irritant; no signal words or precautionary statements required
3. Food-contact safe concerns foodservice, retail foodservice, and any institutions where food is prepared on-site, like schools and hospitals. Some sanitization and disinfectant wipes or sprays are suitable to use on food contact surfaces with no rinse, while others may require a rinse before contact with food. This is a consideration for surfaces food may touch, such as cutting boards, patient meal trays, over-bed tables, utensils, dishware, food preparation counters, desks, and cafeteria tables. The "Instructions for Use" on many disinfectants and sanitizers will reveal language advising against its use on surfaces with which food may come into contact.
4. Efficiency of a surface sanitizer or disinfectant will allow your staff to do more with less by saving your team valuable time – which is essential with the ongoing labor shortages many industries are experiencing. An efficient product will also help your staff comply with your surface sanitizing and disinfecting policies. Premixing products, long dwell times (time surface must remain visibly wet), using multiple product applications or wipes to keep the surface wet for the required time, rinsing food-contact surfaces, handwashing after use, and using multiple products to sanitize and disinfect – these are all tasks that require extra time to perform and may drive up labor/maintenance costs for your facility.
5. Surface compatibility is vital in many facilities, particularly healthcare and health and fitness facilities, where various expensive medical equipment, electronics, and touchscreens are present, typically from many manufacturers. Costs associated with damaged equipment are major concerns, and damaged surfaces (even if clean) can negatively affect patient or guest perceptions of the aesthetics and cleanliness of the facility and environment. EPA-registered disinfectants are tested on a variety of surfaces. The label and technical bulletin may list the compatible surfaces the product was tested on, so you can know if your product is safe to use on the surfaces you need to sanitize and disinfect.
6. Sustainable Value is a concern for many organizations. Look for green statements and certifications like "Cradle to Cradle Certified®," EPA's "Design for the Environment," or "Environmentally Preferable." Sustainable or "Green" doesn't necessarily mean low toxicity, but many low-toxicity products also have the advantage of being environmentally friendly. Products with seals from organizations like Green Seal, EPA Safer Choice, and ECOLOGO® should also be considered.
Start your research
Use these elements to help guide your research, then look at the product label, visit the manufacturer's website, and talk with your distributor. The EPA has several lists of antimicrobial products they've registered as having claims against common pathogens, so visit their webpage Selected EPA-Registered Disinfectants, to view those lists.
Worry-free, effective, and efficient solutions are available:
There is no need to compromise – efficient, low-toxicity disinfecting and sanitizing products are available that kill germs effectively.
- PURELL® Surface Sanitizers, Disinfectants, and Wipes are EPA-registered; safe for most hard surfaces (spray is also safe on most soft surfaces); and quickly kill 99.9% of many common viruses and bacteria, including norovirus (spray kills in 30 seconds), cold & flu, ESKAPE pathogens, E. coli, and human coronavirus (spray kills COVID-19 virus in 10 seconds). They earned the EPA's lowest allowable toxicity rating (Category IV), so they don't contain harsh chemicals or fumes and don't require gloves, handwashing, or rinsing after use – even on food-contact surfaces. PURELL® surface sprays are certified for the EPA's Design for the Environment (DfE) as part of the EPA's Safer Choice program.
Interested businesses should contact their GOJO distributor, click here to schedule a meeting with our representatives, or find a distributor now.