Clorox wipes may kill bacteria and viruses, but they can also lead to allergic reactions and can be harsh on the skin. Not to mention, you probably don't want you baby ingesting all those chemicals you just wiped down his toy with. So stay safe, and try the DIY approach.
Don't ever use Clorox wipes on skin.
This one may seem obvious, but it's an important one: Don't use the wipes as diaper wipes or for personal cleansing or sanitizing. Clorox's sanitizing claims are based on using the wipes as directed on hard and soft surfaces, not human skin.
Sanitizing and disinfecting wipes are fine to touch while you're cleaning with them, but they should never be used to clean hands or other body parts. Disinfecting wipes, such as Nice 'N CLEAN® Disinfecting Wipes, contain chemicals that kill bacteria and viruses, which may cause skin irritation.
Carcinogens. The Myth: "Isn't bleach a carcinogenic chemical?" The Fact: No, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention has concluded that bleach does not cause cancer.
Disinfecting wipes (e.g. Lysol and Clorox brands), contain harsh chemicals and have been linked to acute and chronic health issues. They can cause eye, skin and respiratory irritation.
For example, chlorine disinfecting wipes are not meant to be used on food contact surfaces and the label clearly states this. The label also advises rinsing with potable (drinkable) water if these are used on a food contact surface. Many different types of chemical agents can be used for sanitizing and disinfecting.
Because the chemicals in the wipes are going to kill off living organisms, they need to be powerful – and this can be dangerous to people who are sensitive. Always wear gloves when using Clorox wipes, and only use them when really necessary.
The exterior of a toilet, including the handle and the seat, can be disinfected with the same bleach and water solution used for other bleach-safe surfaces in your home, making sure the surface stays wet with the solution for 6 minutes before rinsing.
By no fault of their own, these wipes, regardless of brand name, are often just called Clorox Wipes, and Clorox is typically associated with bleach. Therefore, Clorox Wipes equate to bleach wipes in the minds of many shoppers. But actually, there's no bleach in these wipes.
Clorox Disinfecting Wipes are a ready to use disinfectant wipe. These easy to use wipes are safe to use on chrome, glass, metal, plastic, stainless steel, tile, and wood. Clorox Disinfecting Wipes are bleach free and have a clear drying formula, leaving surfaces with a shine. Formulated to kill 99.9% of bacteria.
The active ingredient in Clorox Disinfecting Bleach is sodium hypochlorite, which is marketed in a 7.5 percent solution. That's stronger than the traditional 6 percent solution used in earlier formulations, and is designed to kill 99.9 percent of germs and bacteria.
Most people associate Clorox with bleach; however, both Clorox and Lysol disinfecting wipes are completely free of bleach. Instead, their active ingredient is Alkyl C12-18 Dimethylbenzyl Ammonium Chloride. This ingredient is an antimicrobial ammonium compound responsible for disinfecting and sanitizing surfaces.
Don't Use a Clorox Wipe on Multiple Surfaces
Use enough of the product to keep a surface visibly wet for four minutes, and then rinse with water afterward if your surface will come into direct contact with food.
Pour 1/3 cup of Clorox® Disinfecting Bleach with CLOROMAX® into 1 gallon of water. Wipe the tub or shower walls with bleach solution. Wait 6 minutes for disinfecting. Rinse thoroughly.
If you're worried about germs too…
Those are the only areas you have to worry about disinfecting when it comes to your microwave, says Maker. Wipe the keypad and handle thoroughly with a disinfecting wipe or spray it with some Lysol to keep it clean.
Choose hydrogen peroxide.
It's kinder to the environment (and many surfaces, fabrics and your hands) than chlorine bleach. That's why it's touted as the environmentally safest alternative to chlorine-based bleaches. Always clean before you disinfect!
Disinfectant chemicals called quaternary ammonium compounds “quats”, commonly found in wipes are especially problematic. These chemicals are skin irritants, can irritate your lungs, and have been linked to asthma and reproductive harm.
According to Clorox, the shelf life of its disinfectant wipes is one year from its manufacturing date. Most of its products have this one-year shelf life, including its disinfecting spray. However, there are no U.S. regulatory requirements for cleaning products and disinfectants to have an expiration date on the label.
Plastic baby and children's toys can be disinfected and sanitized with Clorox or Lysol wipes or a cloth wet with a mixture of 1/2 cup chlorine bleach and one gallon of water. Make sure you let the toys air dry for 30 seconds or more to let the cleaning solution do its work.
Clorox wipes
Remove the drawer below your oven and slide the hanger up through one of the slats on the underside of the oven door. Move the hanger back and forth so the Clorox wipe slides around between the glass. When you're finished, just pull it back out, and return the drawer to its position.
Disinfecting wipes are intended to be used by hand and because of this, they are relatively safe when used properly. However, they are not meant to be chewed on or swallowed. Also, specialized cleaning wipes, like bathroom wipes, may be harsher on the mouth or throat than kitchen wipes.
What is this? Yes, there is a form of alcohol in these wipes. Isopropyl alcohol is a known ingredient that helps to disinfect surfaces when cleaning. While it may sound bad to have alcohol as an active ingredient, it really is not too terrible for your health.
Clorox is a bleach product from a company by the same name having its headquarters in Oakland, California. Though the company makes several chemical products, it is its bleach that is most popular. Brita is one of the many subsidiary companies owned by Clorox.
About bleach
Household bleach (chlorine as sodium hypochlorite) is active against most microorganisms, including bacterial spores and can be used as a disinfectant or sanitizer, depending on its concentration.
Clorox, whether it is Clorox wipes or the Multi-Purpose cleaning fluid, is not safe to use for cleaning and disinfecting your granite. The multi-purpose cleaner contains bleach, which is extremely harmful for granite and many other natural stones.