• What is the difference between cleaning and disinfecting?
  
  
• Do I need to disinfect if soap and water are available?
  
  
• What does “EPA-registered” mean when it comes to disinfectants?
  
  
• Bleach is sometimes referred to as a pesticide. Should we keep pesticides out of our house?
  
  
• Where can I find out what ingredients are in Clorox® disinfectants?
  
  
• Are disinfectants harmful to the environment?
  
  
• Do bleach-based disinfectants cause asthma or allergies?
  
  
• How can disinfecting help in the home and daycare settings?
  
  
• How can I help protect myself from the 2009 H1N1 flu virus?
  
  

 

Q. What is the difference between cleaning and disinfecting?

A. Cleaning removes dust and debris from a surface. Disinfecting kills a variety of germs including bacteria such as Staph, Salmonella and E. coli, the viruses such as influenza (the "flu" virus) and rhinovirus (one of the causes of the common cold) and the fungus that causes athlete's foot. Disinfecting hard, nonporous surfaces is one of the most reliable ways to help lower the risk of spreading these germs from surfaces by touch. For more information about Clorox disinfecting products, visit http://www.clorox.com/products/.

Q. Do I need to disinfect if soap and water are available?

A. Using soap and water along with frequent and proper hand washing are important parts of a cleaning routine. Disinfecting also plays a critically important role by helping to prevent the spread of illness-causing bacteria and viruses. It is especially important to disinfect when someone in your home or office is sick, immune compromised, or during an outbreak, such as the 2009 H1N1 flu virus (swine flu) http://www.clorox.com/healthier_lives/cold_flu/article.php?subsection=disinfect_protect&article_id=swine_flu.

Q. What does “EPA-registered” mean when it comes to disinfectants?

A. Products that claim the ability to control kill microorganisms in the United States must be registered with the EPA. This requires formulation and manufacturing to comply with regulations regarding raw materials, processing, label strength, shelf life, usage safety and product efficacy.

Q. Bleach is sometimes referred to as a pesticide. Should we keep pesticides out of our house?

A. There is concern and confusion that stems from the verbiage related to the EPA registration of bleach. Bleach products that are EPA-registered disinfectants are classified as pesticides — along with agricultural pesticides — even though it is primarily a public health disinfectant. It can be confusing because of public perception of "pesticide". We are working to educate the public regarding the differences between traditional agricultural pesticides and public health pesticides.

Q. Where can I find out what ingredients are in Clorox® disinfectants?

A. In an effort to inform consumers about the products they use in their homes, Clorox provides ingredient listings for a variety of products. To view the products, click here: http://www.cloroxcsr.com/ingredients-inside/.

Q. Are disinfectants harmful to the environment?

A. No. During normal household use and disposal, bleach breaks down primarily into salt and water. Bleach does not contaminate ground water because it does not survive sewage treatment — neither in municipal sewage treatment plants nor in septic systems.

Q. Do bleach-based disinfectants cause asthma or allergies?

A. No, our bleach products do not contain any known ingredient to cause sensitization (allergies) or asthma. As with other products, bleach exposure may trigger asthma response through irritation when individuals are already at risk for asthma. If you have a family member with chronic respiratory problems such as asthma, discuss with your health care provider when and how to disinfect with bleach.

Though not a disinfectant, Clorox® Anywhere® Anti-Allergen Fabric Spray actually uses sodium hypochlorite, the main ingredient in household bleach to denature cat and dog pet dander as well as dust mite matter, two of the most common household allergens. While many people associate allergies with the great outdoors, common household allergens from dust mites, pet dander can pose a big challenge for allergy sufferers year-round.

Q. How can disinfecting help in the home and daycare settings?

A. Kids can touch up to 300 surfaces in just 30 minutes. Between shared toys and shared spaces, the home and daycare settings provide an optimal setting for sharing germs.

Disinfectants play a central role in helping to control the spread of germs that can make your child sick. For example, Clorox® Disinfecting Wipes and Clorox® Regular Bleach help kill a variety of bacteria including those that cause Staph, Salmonella and E. coli. Clorox® Regular Bleach also kills the bacteria that causes Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus or MRSA, among others. It is especially important to disinfect shared items, such as toys, and even more important to disinfect when a child is sick.

Q. How can I help protect myself from the 2009 H1N1 flu virus?

A. There are a few steps you can take to help reduce the risk from the 2009 H1N1 flu virus as well as other seasonal flu viruses:

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it. If you don't have a tissue, cough into your elbow.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs can spread that way.
• Use disinfectants on frequently touched surfaces. Germs can also be spread when a person touches an infected surface and then touches their own eyes, mouth or nose.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency believes that disinfectants effective against Influenza A are also effective against 2009 H1N1 flu virus (swine flu). This means that these hard surface disinfectant products can help prevent the spread of the virus that can cause H1N1 flu. Clorox products you can turn to are:

• Clorox® Regular-Bleach
• Clorox® Clean-Up® Cleaner with Bleach
• Clorox® Disinfecting Wipes

A complete list of EPA-approved disinfectants effective against the 2009 H1N1 flu virus can be found here:
http://www.epa.gov/oppad001/influenza-disinfectants.html