Do Disinfectant Wipes Actually Work?

MisterX on 18/05/2020 - 20:06
Last edited 03/06/2020 - 13:06

There seems to be a whole new phase now, after all those masks and sanitisers. That new phase is Disinfectant Wipes.

Nearly everywhere I go, I see shops selling wipes at the front. There's Dettol, Pine-O-Clean, Wet Ones and a whole bunch of random brands. There was one pharmacy I walked past with a mountain of Baby Wipes at the front.

Baby Wipes? Really? Does that actually do anything? Does it Sanitise?

I started doing a bit of research and found that Dettol, Pine-O-Clean and stuff use a whole bunch of chemicals, mainly 'Benzalkonium Chloride', and claims to kill 99.9% of Germs. Funny, is that 0.01% Covid-19?

Then there's Alcoholic 70% Isopropyl Wipes, which seems to be for medical use. Seems like that's the real hard stuff. Hand Sanitizers such as Scotts had 70% Ethanol Alcohol Content, and there's some wipes I've seen that went up to 75% Ethanol Alcohol. Surely that kills the virus over the household brands like Dettol / Pine-O-Cleen.

The question here is, what do you use?

It'd be good to see what habits are really formed over this and if people are actually using the household items to 'sanitize'.

Edit: Just saw in the comments someone recommending this site for alcohol wipes. Just placed an order.. Seems like 6 is the max.

Update: Got those wipes few days ago. Really strong, felt like I needed gloves to use it. Got dizzy from smelling it too. Seems like some indie import brand CottonDew.

Poll Options expired

  • 26
    Alcohol Wipes
  • 2
    Household Wipes
  • 1
    Baby Wipes
Health & Beauty Disinfectant Wipes

Comments

  • Hybroid on 18/05/2020 - 20:10
    +2

    Alcohol is always more effective than anything else but can be harsh on skin and not something you would use on babies. Benzalkonium Chloride is the alternative agent for non-alcohol based products. All disinfectants state 99.9% effectiveness which is actually misleading - plenty sources online to read about that.

    Do Disinfectant Wipes Actually Work?

    Against most bacteria/germs? Yes. Against Coronavirus strains? TBC.

    CDC suggests formulations containing 80% ethanol or 75% isopropanol inactivate SARS-CoV-2.

    • MisterX on 18/05/2020 - 20:42

      Nice find! That's interesting. Says 80% Ethanol and 75% Isopropanol, but there's no retail products out there like that. Then it says:
      "CDC recommends using ABHR with greater than 60% ethanol or 70% isopropanol in healthcare settings. Unless hands are visibly soiled, an alcohol-based hand rub is preferred over soap and water in most clinical situations due to evidence of better compliance compared to soap and water. Hand rubs are generally less irritating to hands and are effective in the absence of a sink. [ 1 ]"

      Guess there still isn't enough evidence for Covid-19

  • scrimshaw on 18/05/2020 - 20:17
    +1

    https://www.journalofhospitalinfection.com/article/S0195-6701(20)30046-3/fulltext

    The analysis of 22 studies reveals that human coronaviruses such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) coronavirus, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) coronavirus or endemic human coronaviruses (HCoV) can persist on inanimate surfaces like metal, glass or plastic for up to 9 days, but can be efficiently inactivated by surface disinfection procedures with 62–71% ethanol, 0.5% hydrogen peroxide or 0.1% sodium hypochlorite within 1 minute. Other biocidal agents such as 0.05–0.2% benzalkonium chloride or 0.02% chlorhexidine digluconate are less effective.

    Also according to the Cleaning guidelines published by NEA Singapore,
    https://www.nea.gov.sg/our-services/public-cleanliness/envir…

    cleaning agents using Benzalkonium chloride* (0.05%) needs a contact time of 10 minutes to work against covid-19. hydrogen peroxide seems to be the best, requiring only 1 minute of contact time. That's probably why most hand sanitisers will include 0.5% H2O2 in their formulas.

    • Alias1234 on 18/05/2020 - 20:26
      +1

      In my experience alcohol wipes are the best!

    • MisterX on 18/05/2020 - 20:44

      Looks like Dettol wipes might just do it. 0.47% Benza..

    • ca1ypso on 18/05/2020 - 21:14

      Note that due to there being little evidence towards specific effectiveness against COVID-19 those claims are likely very conservative. Consequently, they also note that Ethyl Alcohol 70% and Isopropanol 50% should have a contact time of 10 minutes.

      • scrimshaw on 18/05/2020 - 22:36

        Basically it just means that you shouldn't touch your face (or start eating food) right after using sanitising wipes or gels when you are out, either are not 100% effective. Of course it is better than not sanitising at all.

        Just best to wash your hands thoroughly before eating or drinking and being wary not to cross contaminate.

  • crentist on 18/05/2020 - 20:32
    +3

    Do Disinfectant Wipes Actually Work?

    They clean more than doing nothing, which is good. Use them anyway if you don't have something better

  • conan2000 on 18/05/2020 - 21:50
    +1

    Baby wipes won't do anything, effectiveness of the others, as per previous comments.

  • Banana on 18/05/2020 - 22:09
    +1

    Don't most chemicals that claim to kill "germs" have some sort of long contact time required? People just spray, wipe and hope for the best aye?
    For example, bleach requires a contact time of 10 minutes: https://sheltermedicine.vetmed.ufl.edu/files/2011/10/Guideli…

    • scrimshaw on 18/05/2020 - 22:48
      +1

      Contact time is also known as 'wet time' *(is the time that the disinfectant needs to stay wet on a surface in order to ensure efficacy.) according to this paper in 2018. you're supposed to spray an excess quantity of bleach to ensure maximum contact time, rather than wiping it off which gives the chemical no time to do it's work.

      From what I can see most people are quite stingy when it comes to use of hand sanitiser and using too little of it means the alcohol dries very quickly, and you'll also miss a lot of spots on your skin (e.g under fingernails, your wrists etc).

      • Banana on 19/05/2020 - 09:10

        Correct, you are supposed to use hand sanitiser like how you would use soap to scrub your hands: Scrub all areas of your hands for 20 seconds at least, don't dry your hands on something else, let the alcohol evaporates.

        Just a PSA for the general public, knowing that a lot of Aussies browse this site and hoping this would educate one person or two.

        • MisterX on 19/05/2020 - 09:45

          Ha, I'm that person that uses a bit and tries to get it dry asap.

          My skins starting to crack from using all these sanitisers :(

          • Banana on 19/05/2020 - 09:55
            +1

            @MisterX: Try not to use it unless you absolutely need to, i.e have no access to water and soap. Remember to moisturise regularly.

  • [Deactivated] on 18/05/2020 - 22:49
    +1

    Even if the claims are 100% effective, it will come with the caveat that it can only kill that which it comes in contact with.

    On a porous or uneven surface, that may mean having some areas sterile and others not which effectively means it is definitely not.

    Also, the wipes are only as effective as the solution it is soaked in. Many of these containers dry out and people continue using these wipes as if they are magical.

    Overall, nothing beats good personal habits - don't touch where unnecessary, don't cross contaminate, stay away from crowds.

  • TimeAndMoney on 19/05/2020 - 01:01

    We use alcohol wipes. It works for many workplaces

    • MisterX on 19/05/2020 - 09:43

      What sort of industry are you in if you don't mind me asking?

  • HeWhoKnows on 19/05/2020 - 08:27
    -3

    They all work.

    If you want the cheapest way out get a 1L botle of metho and use tissues

  • MisterX on 19/05/2020 - 11:19

    Also wanted to ask, has anyone had trouble finding any?

    Been around to Priceline and Chemist Warehouse, priceline doesn't have any except those 'Wet Ones' and Chemist Warehouse has those Swabs..

    • jaejae69 on 19/05/2020 - 20:58
      +1

      I've found quite a few online shops who will only sell direct to businesses and in bulk for wholesale.

      This place is the only one I've seen with stock and selling direct to consumers.

      • MisterX on 19/05/2020 - 21:40

        Cheers, looks like they've got it in stock.

      • MisterX on 03/06/2020 - 15:55

        Just received the order, pretty strong stuff!

  • wannagrababargain on 19/05/2020 - 14:17

    Yes they are just trying to sell you "convenience" and "peace of mind" in the form of an overpriced disposable non-biodegradable cloth dampened with mostly water plus a tiny amount of active chemical. Like anything at the front of the store it's just junk they're trying to get you to impulse buy.

    Bezalkonium Chloride is just Pine-o-Clean, of which there's generic home brands very cheap. As mentioned above, good for bacteria but not the best for viruses.

    Glen-20 is just Ethanol 60%. Methalyted spirits (Metho) is nearly 100% Ethanol with a bit of poison to stop you drinking it.

    Other type of alcohol disinfectant is Isopropyl Alcohol, used in high concentration in those sterile wipes for first aid disinfectant and in lower concentrations in 'anti-static wipes' for screens.

    Diluted household bleach (White King/home brand-Sodium Hypochlorite) will also disinfect surfaces.

    Killing germs effectively is concentration and contact time whether it is a chemical agent, UV light, Heat etc. There's also good old mechanical cleaning by washing down surfaces with hot water and detergent. A half-hearted once over run of a disposable wipe on a surface won't do much. You need to work out a 'system' to prevent germs from spreading.

    Washing clothes often, washing hard floors more often, washing hands properly with soap is the baseline scenario. On top of that you might like to regularly spray down door knobs, light switches etc with a chemical agent such as 65%+ alcohol (or a fancy disposable wipe if it pleases you.) The wipes themselves are not a panacea, they are an addition to your total 'anti-covid19 system.'

  • MaJo on 23/05/2020 - 09:16
    +1

    If you want to disinfect it is always better to use a 70% alcohol to 99.9% killing germs.
    If you want to kill a virus and bacteria you want to always make sure it is 101% killed.

  • Duckie2hh on 05/06/2020 - 07:20
    +1

    I design & produce sanitiZing products (medical and consumer grade) for a living. Happy to answer any questions.

    • MisterX on 11/06/2020 - 13:25

      What does 75% or 70% actually mean? is it the % of content mixed with water? What if I use two wipes of 70%?

      • Duckie2hh on 11/06/2020 - 19:26

        It's the ethanol content in the formula. Unfortunately most companies forget to declare if those % are in weight or volume.

        Sorry 2 wipes of 70%?

    • MisterX on 24/06/2020 - 11:42

      yep, supply slowly seeping in now. had problems finding it over a month ago!

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