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Safer Disinfectants: EPA Certified Disinfectants to be Used Against COVID-19

Is your disinfectant using safer ingredients AND approved by the U.S. EPA to fight COVID-19?

Here’s how to find out.

1. LOCATE the EPA registration number on the label.

2. GO TO EPA List N, click LAUNCH & search by the EPA reg number.

3. REVIEW your results, specifically the “Active Ingredient(s)”.

NOTE: In this example, the product’s active ingredient is quaternary ammonium (quats). QUATS are linked to respiratory and reproductive harm and more. Products with quats should be avoided.

For safer & effective alternatives, look for products with the following active ingredients: alcohol/ethanol/isopropanol, hydrogen peroxide, lactic acid, citric acid, or thymol.

LEARN MORE

The majority of the popular disinfectants contain either quaternary ammonium chlorides (quats) or chlorine bleach. Both types of disinfectants are potent against a number of different bacteria and viruses. Unfortunately, they also have some significant drawbacks and health concerns ranging from chemical burns to reproductive harm.

However, there are alternative disinfectant chemicals that are as effective in killing viruses and other germs without these health hazards, such as:

  • alcohol/ethanol/isopropanol
  • hydrogen peroxide
  • lactic acid
  • citric acid
  • thymol

Several products containing these disinfectant ingredients have been approved for use against Coronavirus by the U.S. EPA. 

The lists below are from The San Francisco Department of the Environment (SFE) and show disinfectants that contain safer active ingredients and are approved by US EPA for COVID-19. The list also notes SFE screened products (read more about SFE’s screening protocols here) and products that are included in the US EPA’s Design for the Environment (DfE) program. For EPA DfE products, all ingredients (not just “active” ingredients) are considered least hazardous.

List of Safer Disinfectants - Residential & Small Business Use

DfE SFE Product Name Contact Time (in minutes) EPA Registration Number*
YES YES ECOS One-step Disinfectant Cleaner 5 34810-35
YES YES Lemi Shine Disinfecting Wipes 3 34810-37
YES YES Lysol Multi-Purpose Cleaner with Hydrogen Peroxide Lysol Cleaner (Citrus) 10 777-126
YES Arm & Hammer Essentials Disinfecting Wipes 5 95337-1
YES Beaumont’s Citrus Magic Multi-Purpose Disinfectant Cleaner 10 85873-4
YES Bona PowerPlus Antibacterial Surface Cleaner 10 85873-4
YES Bona PowerPlus Hard Surface Floor Cleaner (Antibacterial Formula) 10 84683-4
YES Boulder Clean 10 34810-35
YES Cleanwell Botanical Disinfecting Wipes 10 84683-4
YES CRC Multi-Surface Disinfecting Cleaner 10 85837-4
YES Honest Disinfecting Spray 10 85837-4
YES Katzkin Md Multi-Surface Disinfectant 10 35810-25
YES Manduka Botanical Disinfecting Cleaner 10 35810-25
YES Method Antibac All-Purpose Cleaner 10 75277-2
YES Quick Shine Disinfectant Floor Cleaner 10 85837-4
YES SC Johnson Windex Multi-Surface Disinfectant Sanitizer Cleaner 10 4822-593
YES Seventh Generation Disinfecting Bathroom Cleaner Lemongrass Citrus Scent 10 84683-3
YES Seventh Generation Disinfecting Multi-Surface Cleaner 10 84683-3
Bona PowerPlus Antibacterial Hard-Surface Floor Cleaner 10 91861-2
Clorox 4 in One Disinfecting Spray 5 67619-29
Clorox Fabric Sanitizer 0 5813-110
Clorox Fabric Sanitizer1 (aerosol) 5 67619-29
CloroxPro Disinfecting Bio Stain & Odor Remover 0 67619-33
Clorox Pro 4 in One Disinfectant & Sanitizer, Lavender 5 67619-29
Grove Co. All-Purpose Disinfectant Cleaner 10 85837-4
Lysol Foaming Bathroom Cleaner Mango & Hibiscus Scent 5 675-55
Lysol Neutra Air 2-in-1 Tropical Breeze 0 777-136
Smitty’s Sea-wash All-Purpose Disinfectant Cleaner 10 85837-4
Zep Ready-to-Use Peroxide Disinfectant 1 6836-385

List of Safer Disinfectants - Custodial & Large Institutions

DfE SFE Product Name Contact Time (in minutes) EPA Registration Number*
YES YES Contact Citric Acid Disinfectant 3 34810-37
YES YES Diversey Accel 5 RTU 5 74559-8
YES YES ECOS Multi-Purpose Disinfectant Wipes, fresh citrus 3 34810-37
YES YES ECOS Pro Multi-Purpose Disinfectant & Sanitizer, fresh citrus 5 34810-35
YES YES Purell Food Service Surface Sanitizer 0 84368-1
YES YES Purell Healthcare Surface Disinfectant 0 84368-1
YES YES Purell Professional Surface Disinfectant 0 84368-1
YES YES Wexford Cleanside RTU 3 34810-37
YES Benefect Botanical Decon 30 Disinfectant 5 84683-3
YES Benefect Botanical Disinfectant 10 84683-1
YES Benefect Botanical Disinfectant Wipes 10 84683-4
YES Clorox Commercial Solutions 4 in One Disinfectant & Sanitizer 5 67619-29
YES Clorox Commercial Solutions Hydrogen Peroxide Disinfecting Wipes 0 67619-25
YES Clorox Healthcare Citrace Hospital Disinfectant & Deodorizer 5 67619-29
YES Clorox Healthcare Hydrogen Peroxide Disinfectant Wipes 0 67619-25
YES Clorox Healthcare Hydrogen Peroxide Disinfectant Cleaner 0 67619-24
YES Clorox Hydrogen Peroxide Disinfectant Cleaner 0 67619-24
YES Diversey Oxivir 1 1 70627-74
YES Diversey Oxivir 1 Wipes 1 70627-77
YES Diversey Oxivir Tb 1 70627-56
YES Diversey Oxivir Tb Wipes 1 70627-60
YES Ecolab Peroxide Disinfectant & Glass Cleaner RTU 0 1677-251
YES Ecolab Peroxide Multi Surface Cleaner and Disinfectant (Concentrate) 0 1677-238
YES Ecolab Sink & Surface Cleaner Sanitizer 0 1677-260
YES Hillyard Citrus Disinfectant 3 34810-37
YES Midlab Bright Solutions Hb202 1 45745-11
YES Midlab Maxim Facility + 1 45745-11
YES Procter & Gamble Comet Disinfecting-Sanitizing Bathroom Cleaner 10 3573-54
YES Prorstore Botaniclean 10 34810-25
YES Scott 24 Hour Sanitizing Wipes 6 9402-17
YES Seventh Generation Professional Disinfectant Spray 10 84683-3
YES Seventh Generation Professional Disinfecting Bathroom Cleaner 10 84683-3
YES Seventh Generation Professional Disinfecting Kitchen Cleaner 10 84683-3
YES Us Chemical Shurguard HP 5 70627-62
YES Us Chemical Shurguard HP RTU 1 70627-56
YES Victory Bay Peroxide Disinfectant Cleaner 1 45745-11
YES Virox Technologies / Contec Preempt Wipes 1 74559-3
YES Waxie Edc 70 Hp Disinfectant Cleaner 1 45745-11
YES Waxie Hp Disinfectant Cleaner 1 45745-11
YES Waxie Solsta 730 Hp Disinfectant Cleaner 1 45745-11
YES Wexford Home Everyday Cleaner 10 34810-25
YES Wexford Ready to Use Thymo-Cide 10 34810-25
Bioesque Botanical Disinfectant Solution 1 87742-1
Clorox Commercial Solutions Disinfecting Bio Stain & Odor Remover 0 67619-33
CloroxPro Disinfecting Bio Stain & Odor Remover, Spray 0 67619-33
Curis CUroxide 30 93324-1
Diamond Shine Disinfectant 360 10 85837-4
Diversey Oxivir Five 16 Concentrate 5 70627-58
Echem Hyper Disinfectant RTU 1 6836-385
Ecolab Virasept 4 1677-226
Keystone/Sysco/Ecolab Surface Cleaner Sanitizer RTU 0 1677-259
KicTeam Disantech 3 34810-37
KicTeam Disantech Wipes 5 34810-36
Neogen Companion Disinfectant Wipes 5 34810-36
PDI Sani-Hypercide Germicidal Spray 1 9480-14
Peroxigard Concentrate One Step Disinfectant Cleaner & Deodorizer For Use in Life Sciences 5 74559-4
Pronatural LEXX Disinfectant & Cleaning Solution 10 91452-1
Purworld Ready-to-Use Fresch 10 34810-25
SC Johnson Professional Windex Multi-Surface Disinfectant Sanitizer Cleaner 5 4822-592
Scican Optim Tb 1 74559-1
Scican Optim Tb Wipes 1 74559-3
Sono Hydrogen Peroxide Disinfectant 1 6836-385
Vapor Fresh Disinfecting Gym Wipes 5 34810-36
Virox Animal Health Rescue Concentrate One Step Disinfectant Cleaner & Deodorizer 5 74559-4
Virox Technologies / Contec Preempt Concentrate 5 74559-4
Virox Technologies / Contec Preempt RTU 1 74559-1
Virox Technologies Intervention Farm Animal Care Disinfectant Cleaner & Deodorizer 5 74559-4
Virox Technologies Rejuvenate Concentrate One-Step Disinfectant Cleaner for Use in Spas, Salons And Clinics 5 74559-4
Virox Technologies Rejuvenate Concentrate Ready to Use Disinfectant Cleaner for Use in Spas, Salons And Clinics 1 74559-1
Virox Technologies Rejuvenate Concentrate Ready to Use Wipes One-Step Disinfectant Cleaner for Use in Spas, Salons And Clinics 1 74559-3

*Note: There may be more than one product name associated with an EPA registration number. Every disinfectant product label will include its EPA registration number – if the number on your product matches one on this list, the product is certified by EPA to be effective against COVID-19.

Download and Print a Copy!

menstrual equity means to meDOWNLOAD and PRINT a copy of this information and table of safer disinfectants certified by the EPA to use against COVID-19.

How-To Use the EPA N List to Search for Disinfectants

Health & Safety Concerns: Quats and Bleach in Disinfectants

Health Hazards of Quats:

Quats are inexpensive and are potent against numerous infectious agents. But there is reason for concern about the use and overuse of quats:

  • Quats are potent skin irritants and can cause rashes and dermatitis.
  • Quats can irritate your lungs leading to breathing problems.
  • Cleaning workers exposed regularly to quats have developed occupational asthma.
  • Quats are linked to reproductive harm, potentially affecting fertility, and possibly leading to birth defects.
  • Widespread use of quats is contributing to the global problem of antimicrobial resistance, leading to the development of “superbugs” that cannot be controlled with antibiotics.

Identifying & Avoiding Quats

Read labels: Commonly found quats in disinfecting products usually include “…onium chloride” in their names. Examples of commonly found quats are:

  • Benzalkonium chloride
  • Alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride (C14 60%, C16 30%, C12 5%, C18 5%)
  • Alkyl dimethyl ethylbenzyl ammonium chloride(C12-14)
  • Didecyldimethylammonium chloride

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Health Hazards of Chlorine Bleach:

  • Chlorine bleach is a significant lung and eye irritant.
  • Extended chlorine bleach exposure can cause chemical burns on skin.
  • It is the leading cause of chemical eye injuries in children in the U.S.. in the category of cleaning products.
  • It is also the leading cause of calls to Poison Control for the category of cleaning products, resulting in the greatest number of moderate to severe health outcomes.

For references and additional resources on disinfecting & cleaning during COVID-19, click here.

Additional Resources

Additional resources and references on safer cleaning and disinfecting during the times of COVID-19:

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