Be Careful When Using Disinfectant Wipes
We all seem to be doing a little more "deep cleaning" and disinfecting of late due to the Flu and Corona Virus.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said there have been at least 26 million people diagnosed with the flu so far this season, including 250,000 hospitalizations.
Many homes and classrooms are sporting containers that have disinfecting wipes to quickly clean frequently touched surfaces...experts, however are warning about the overuse of these chemicals, especially around children.
Consumer Reports recently issued a warning about using disinfecting wipes because many contain chemicals that are registered pesticides, which can be hazardous to young children.
According to Consumer Reports, to be labeled as a disinfectant, the product must have “active ingredients [that] kill specific bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus (which can cause dangerous blood, lung, bone and heart valve infections) on surfaces.” Manufacturers must be able to prove this claim before it can sell a product as a disinfectant.
Health experts are worried about the common use of disinfectant wipes in schools and homes. The intention may be good, but the potential risks aren’t always known.
“They’re marketed to schools. They’re marketed to teachers,” Dr. Dawn Gouge, public health entomologist with the University of Arizona, told Consumer Reports. You can see evidence of that marketing in tweets like this one from Clorox, who helped clean a school in Oklahoma with its popular disinfecting wipes.
Experts recommend using more basic cleaning substances, like soap and water, for regular or frequent cleanings. There are also thousands of cleaning products that the EPA lists as “Safer Choice” options on its website.
You can also check out these helpful tips we’ve rounded up to help safely make your house a flu-free zone.
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