I admit, tonight I jumped to conclusions when it came to my
husband’s choice of dish soap. The front panel proudly boasted “KILLS 99.9% of germs”. Being an expert of chemical disinfectants I
instantly assumed that while I have talked, I have explained, I have educated and yes, probably even nagged
against the concerns over the use of antibacterial products at home and triclosan
in particular, he had chosen to ignore my advice and expertise. I automatically jumped to the conclusion that
he had yet again.....not listened.
husband’s choice of dish soap. The front panel proudly boasted “KILLS 99.9% of germs”. Being an expert of chemical disinfectants I
instantly assumed that while I have talked, I have explained, I have educated and yes, probably even nagged
against the concerns over the use of antibacterial products at home and triclosan
in particular, he had chosen to ignore my advice and expertise. I automatically jumped to the conclusion that
he had yet again.....not listened.
But to be sure (and of course to prove I was right), I read
the back of the label. To my surprise,
the detergent did not contain triclosan but citric acid and as we have
discussed in one of the Chemistry
Report Cards....citric acid is not too bad.
Good job husband! I even learned
after admitting to him I had jumped to conclusions that he read the panel
looking for the active ingredient before buying it! Double awesome! Not only had he listened, he paid attention!
the back of the label. To my surprise,
the detergent did not contain triclosan but citric acid and as we have
discussed in one of the Chemistry
Report Cards....citric acid is not too bad.
Good job husband! I even learned
after admitting to him I had jumped to conclusions that he read the panel
looking for the active ingredient before buying it! Double awesome! Not only had he listened, he paid attention!
While I was checking the label for the active ingredient I
figured I may as well read the instructions...
Remember we’re talking about a dish detergent. You know the stuff you squirt into water to
make it all sudsy? You know the one that
you’re supposed to dilute before you use?
Have you ever read the label to see what the instructions are so that
you can achieve the 99.9% kill claim? I haven’t;
after all, I’m washing dishes by hand and not particularly concerned with
whether or not I achieve any level of sanitizing or disinfection. I want them clean. I also know that any bactericidal activity
will likely be overwhelmed by the food soils I’m putting into the water.
figured I may as well read the instructions...
Remember we’re talking about a dish detergent. You know the stuff you squirt into water to
make it all sudsy? You know the one that
you’re supposed to dilute before you use?
Have you ever read the label to see what the instructions are so that
you can achieve the 99.9% kill claim? I haven’t;
after all, I’m washing dishes by hand and not particularly concerned with
whether or not I achieve any level of sanitizing or disinfection. I want them clean. I also know that any bactericidal activity
will likely be overwhelmed by the food soils I’m putting into the water.
Imagine my surprise when I learned that in order to achieve
the disinfection claim as boasted by the front panel the dish detergent needed
to be used UNDILUTED and left on the
surface for 10 minutes before wiping
off. Now who on earth would use a dish
detergent in that manner! I mutter and
grumble when I put too much in the water and the suds become unmanageable and
the dishes slippery!
the disinfection claim as boasted by the front panel the dish detergent needed
to be used UNDILUTED and left on the
surface for 10 minutes before wiping
off. Now who on earth would use a dish
detergent in that manner! I mutter and
grumble when I put too much in the water and the suds become unmanageable and
the dishes slippery!
The moral of the story is, just as we have preached in
several of our "Talk Clean To Me" blogs, the need to understand how
to use disinfectants e.g. the right dilution, the right method of application
and the right contact time, we can’t forget that reading labels does not stop
when we walk out of our “office” doors.
We all use chemicals at home, be it bathroom cleaner-disinfectants,
window cleaners, soap scum removers or liquid dish detergents. Go check your labels! Do you have anything at home that you thought
was a disinfectant and assumed it killed on contact time because that’s the
impression given during advertisement on the TV?
several of our "Talk Clean To Me" blogs, the need to understand how
to use disinfectants e.g. the right dilution, the right method of application
and the right contact time, we can’t forget that reading labels does not stop
when we walk out of our “office” doors.
We all use chemicals at home, be it bathroom cleaner-disinfectants,
window cleaners, soap scum removers or liquid dish detergents. Go check your labels! Do you have anything at home that you thought
was a disinfectant and assumed it killed on contact time because that’s the
impression given during advertisement on the TV?
Bugging Off!
I have more labels to read.....
Nicole
