The Ultimate Disinfectant Wipe Guide

When it comes to disinfectant wipes, one size does not fit all. Cleaning and disinfecting spaces requires a great deal of nuance. Though we all hope for our spaces to be as clean and sanitized as possible, disinfectant wipes such as popular Lysol wipes can contain an overload of chemicals that will threaten your health in the long run.

In general, though you want to be safe, it is advisable to limit the concentration of chemicals coming into contact with the skin of people or animals. Serious chemical wounds and poisoning can occur if you use the wrong products in the wrong places. Always follow the directions on the product label products to guarantee effective use. You may need to wear personal protective equipment, such as gloves, goggles, or glasses, depending on the directions.

Chemical Disinfectant Wipes: Popular brands like Clorox and Lysol offer these wipes to keep your homes and businesses clean. However, in day to day life, these wipes should be avoided. They are filled with bleach or quaternary ammonium compounds, known to cause harm to humans. In fact, these wipes are considered a pesticide by the EPA. Sometimes, a chemical’s powerful nature is necessary. But in day to day life, avoid these harmful chemicals.

USEAVOID
High traffic touch areasTreating fabric or soft materials
Surfaces that can be rinsed with water afterwardsSurfaces that come into contact with food
When there is a confirmed case of illnessWhen children are present

Without proper PPE usage


Botanical Cleaner Disinfecting Wipes: Approved by the EPA, these wipes are a safer option to clean and disinfect surfaces such as plastic, vinyl, stainless steel, chrome, glass, and more. If you value convenience and want to keep people safe, these wipes are a great place to start. They kill norovirus, MRSA, listeria, and tuberculosis while meeting OSHA requirements for bloodborne pathogens. Best of all, they are bleach, acid, and quaternary ammonium-free.

USEAVOID
High traffic touch areasTreating fabric or soft materials
For one-step cleaning:no rinse necessarySurfaces that come into contact with food
When there is a confirmed case of illness
Around children and pets
Without PPE:safe on skin


When considering what disinfectant wipes to use, there are a lot of factors to take into account:

  • Surface: what type of surface or material are you cleaning?

  • Contamination level: Is this surface something that pathogens have infiltrated, like a used raw meat cutting board? Or is it something neutral, like a doorknob? Generally, the more people who touch a surface, the higher the risk.

  • Usage: Is this a commonly touched surface, like a light switch? Or is it a surface people eat on? Will it be touching people’s skin?

Overall, botanical wipes are a better solution for every day disinfecting rather than high chemical wipes. By using chemical-ridden wipes, you can be putting people at immediate and prolonged risk. They may be hurt from chemical exposure now, but the long-term use of chemical-heavy wipes has been linked to more harm than help.

If you’re stuck questioning what type of wipe you need for your business or home, Safety Pros can help. Our personalized service and dedication to our customers in creating and promoting successful safety programs and delivering quality PPE has distinguished us from our competitors. As COVID-19 begins to spike yet again, you can trust us to help you make informed decisions for people’s health.

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