Schools, colleges, and universities across the country have overcome herculean challenges in the past year, adjusting to guidance from many different health organizations. One mitigation strategy that education facilities continue to embrace most is the regular cleaning and disinfecting of surfaces. In fact, 91% of schools have reported more intensive cleaning protocols, with 85% of those schools mentioning that disinfecting wipes are now widely available in classrooms.1 Surface disinfecting wipes and spray are important tools to help to prevent the cross-contamination of germs like those that cause colds, flu, COVID-19, strep, and stomach bugs in schools, but unfortunately, some products used to disinfect school facilities can be more dangerous than others.
Product Toxicity 101
Some surface wipes and sprays used to clean and disinfect may leave behind chemical residues on surfaces like desks, door handles, or keyboards that are touched frequently by students. Another concern can be chemicals released into the air, which may negatively impact indoor air quality and cause unnecessary exposure to children. Whether it is the air they are breathing or the surfaces they are touching, these chemicals can significantly impact the health of children. (For more on this concern, visit our blog post "What Chemicals Are In Your School's Cleaning Products?")
So, how can facility leaders be sure the surface wipes and spray they choose to bring into their buildings are worry-free and effective? It all starts with understanding product toxicity and labels.
The EPA established four toxicity categories that apply to all disinfectants:
- Category I – highly toxic and severely irritating, front label will say "DANGER."
- Category II – moderately toxic and moderately irritating, front label will say "WARNING."
- Category III – slightly toxic and slightly irritating, front label will say "CAUTION."
- Category IV – practically non-toxic and not an irritant; no toxicity label required.
Choose Low Toxicity Products
Choosing a disinfectant with a Category IV rating, like PURELL® Surface Spray or Surface Wipes, is a great first step in keeping harsh chemicals out of schools. Disinfectants containing ingredients like citric acid, hydrogen peroxide, and ethanol are considered lower toxicity by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) 6 and EPA. 7 Double check the "Active Ingredients" list on the product label to find these chemicals.
Other features to look for on the product label when determining if your surface wipes and spray are effective and worry-free:
- Purpose of the product: Cleaning wipes and sprays remove soils and impurities from the surface but don't necessarily kill germs. Disinfecting products kill germs on surfaces.
- Contact ("kill") times: An important point to note on the back label is how long the surface must remain visibly wet to disinfect. (This contact time is also available on the technical bulletin through the manufacturer.) For instance, PURELL® Surface Wipes and Spray kill COVID-19, cold, flu, and strep in 30 seconds. Many of the other disinfectants included on EPA's List N require 10 minutes to kill a virus. (List N is EPA-approved disinfectant products appropriate for use against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.)
- Instructions for use on the back label: If your surface wipes or spray require the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) or handwashing after use, it may not be best suited for education environments. Think about who is using the product (custodian, faculty, administrators) and where – do they have quick, easy access to PPE or time to wash their hands each time a wipe is used? Not following these instructions can lead to serious issues, including skin, eye, or respiratory irritation.
- Compatible surfaces: EPA-registered disinfectants are tested on a variety of surfaces. The label and technical bulletin may list the compatible surfaces the product was tested on, so you can know if your product is safe to use on everything from desks and door handles to laptops and upholstered furniture. Not all products are designed for use on food contact surfaces like cutting boards.
- Green statements and certifications like "Cradle to Cradle Certified®," "Design for the Environment," or "Environmentally-Preferable." The AAP suggests selecting disinfectants that meet the standards for EPA's Design for the Environment certification.6 Sustainable or "Green" doesn't necessarily mean low toxicity, but many low toxicity products also have the advantage of being environmentally friendly. Products with seals from organizations like Green Seal, EPA Safer Choice, and ECOLOGO should also be considered.
Check out the PURELL® Brand K-12 Well-Being Center to download helpful posters and training aids like:
PURELL® Surface Sprays and Wipes use ethanol as the active ingredient and have earned the EPA's lowest allowable toxicity rating (Category IV) and Design for the Environment certification. They kill many organisms in 30 seconds, including the COVID-19 virus, without harsh chemicals or fumes. No rinse is required on food contact surfaces.
As schools prepare for the 2021-2022 school year, we've been exploring topics impacting hands and the surfaces in schools they touch. Subscribe to the GOJO Blog to be notified of upcoming posts, including what you should know about soap in schools. Meanwhile, check out our past Education-related posts, including: