Wipes are used to clean our counters, doorknobs, tables, hands, children’s toys, among others. It is affordable, convenient to use, easy to dispose of, and you can bring it anytime, anywhere. Amid the pandemic, many manufacturers of disinfecting products advertise and distribute cleaning and sanitizing items to prevent virus spread. We were assured that using this product will kill all kinds of bacteria and germs throughout its surfaces. However, are they efficient in doing their job? How long do disinfecting wipes last? Read on to find out the truth.
Shelf-Life or Expiration Date?
The first thing we have to do is differentiate first between shelf life and expiration date. Shelf life is how much time a product is at its best quality or saleable condition. An expiration date is when a product is no longer useful for a specific date. Frequently, expiry dates are required for legal purposes. Regarding disinfecting wipes, how long do disinfecting wipes last?
Most brands have a shelf life of one year after their manufacturing date. The significance of knowing the shelf life of this product is essential since it affects the sanitizing/disinfecting performance of the product. Most brands do not put an expiration date on their label, but only a manufacturing date. When unsure of when the product is best useful, contacting the manufacturer is a good idea if you can.
What Do the Ads Say?
Manufacturers of disinfecting wipes say that their products kill 99.9% of germs, bacteria, and viruses. That is the thing we always found on the label of almost all disinfecting products in the market. However, is this the truth? How long do disinfecting wipes last?
Disinfecting wipes are the best cleaning and sanitizing agents. But in the case of disinfecting, it depends upon how the product is used. There are instructions in the product itself on how it disinfects surfaces. Disinfecting wipes are wet, and some germs and viruses are not killed when exposed to moisture. Worse is that instead of disinfecting, there could be a potential possibility of bacteria build-up. With these, experts advised using this product on a single surface.
When Do Disinfecting Wipes Best Used?
The term “sanitize” and “disinfect” means a different thing. Disinfecting wipes sanitize surfaces and others. But when it comes to disinfecting, it needs to follow every instruction written for various brands. The wipes are widely used not only in America but in many countries in the world. Apart from the food-related utensils, the disinfecting wipes are best used in cleaning parts of your home like the tabletops, knobs that are often touched, appliances we always used, or even the toys used by our little children.
The answer to “How long do disinfecting wipes last?” should be included to ensure the product’s best quality.
Do’s and Don’t’s of Using Disinfecting Wipes
Disinfecting wipes are a great product introduced in the market. It is highly functional as it is handy, easy to dispose of, easy to use, and budget-friendly. However, its components contain substances that can potentially harm one’s health if not used properly. Let us look at the dos and don’ts of using these disinfecting wipes:
Do’s
- Always check and read the instructions on the label of the brand you are going to use. Every brand has different ways of disinfecting surfaces. The ads on the product label can be misleading, leaving the user assured of its effectiveness because it is more highlighted than providing information on how to use it.
- Pay attention as to how long does a surface needs to be wet to be disinfected. Remember to clean is different from disinfecting.
- Use the product for a single surface only. Using this product for multiple areas can cause the spread of germs, bacteria, viruses, or even fungus.
- Check the product if it is EPA approved. It is needed since we are dealing with a product that can cause harm to our health.
Don’t’s
- Please avoid contact with eyes as it could irritate them seriously.
- Never use it to clean your dishes, glasses, and others that you use with food.
- Do not forget to follow the instructions written in the back part of the product.
- Never apply it on the skin.
- Do not store the product in a place wherein the temperature is too high or too low, affecting the product’s chemical components.
Cons of Using Disinfecting Wipes
Disinfecting wipes are composed of ethanol, atomic number 17, and quaternary ammonium compounds. The quaternary ammonium compounds “quats” cause or stimulate respiratory disorder, eye illness, mucous membrane bruises, etc. Apart from its handy features, one should be careful in using it not on your skin, especially in the face, because it has chemical ingredients that could cause serious injuries. Almost all types of disinfecting wipes have the warning “Keep out of reach of children,” which means we should be cautious in using them. Know more about wipes here!
Conclusion
We cannot deny that disinfecting wipes are of great help in our homes. Plus, they are hygienic buddies anywhere we go. However, if we depend solely on this product for disinfecting, there are many things that we should take into consideration. First, we should know the difference between the definition of cleaning and disinfecting.
Cleaning or sanitizing is to diminish bacterial content in the area being cleaned. Disinfecting is more in-depth than sanitizing because it destroys germs and viruses; thus, preventing them from coming back. Before the wipes disinfect the area, every brand has different instructions on how the product performs. This part is crucial because not following instructions can lead to the potential spreading of microorganisms.
How long do disinfecting wipes last? The shelf life of this kind of wipes is one year after its manufacturing date. It is essential to know this general information because some brands do not contain expiration dates on its container.