Rethinking Wipes
**UPDATE** This article was published on October 6, 2020. Information presented in this article may no longer be relevant or accurate. Please contact local health agencies and/or the CDC for the most up-to-date information.
Today, cleaning is more critical than ever, and wipes are one of the best tools for the job. But demand for ready-made wipes is far greater than supply, so finding alternatives is essential. Learn more about wipes, alternatives, and levels of cleaning in this helpful guide.
Types of wipes
Ready-made
Ready-to-use wipes are simple and convenient, but supply may be limited.
DIY wipes
DIY Wipes are created by saturating compatible dry wipers in the right chemical. Compatible wipers are essential – they retain their integrity when saturated in the chemical and don’t reduce their efficacy. Non-compatible wipers may break down and diminish the efficacy of the chemical.*
Wiper & sprays
Dry wipers are used to wipe surfaces sprayed with a chemical. An important factor here is dwell time – the amount of time a chemical must contact the surface and remain wet to be effective. The dry wiper should not be used until the dwell time has been reached.*
Kinds of clean
Cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting are not the same- it’s essential to know the difference. This general overview provides a quick comparison (always check product packaging for specific applications).
Cleaning
Removes germs, dirt, and impurities from surfaces. It does not necessarily kill germs but lowers their numbers and the risk of spreading infection.
Sanitizing
Lowers the number of germs on surfaces – by removing or killing them – to a safe level, as judged by public health standards or requirements. Reduces the risk of spreading infection.
Disinfecting
Kills germs on surfaces. It does not necessarily clean dirty surfaces or remove germs, but killing them on a surface after cleaning can lower the risk of spreading infection.
List N – Disinfectants Effective Against COVID-19 Not all disinfectants are registered by the EPA as effective against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19). Those that have been approved by the EPA are included on List N. Updates are made to List N as additional items are approved – look here to see the latest: https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/list-n-disinfectants-use-against-sars-cov-2-covid-19
