The demand for disinfectant products and services has been a hot commodity during the COVID-19 pandemic but the public health department said it's important to check ingredients and follow directions to effectively protect yourself from coronavirus.
You've probably been using disinfectants like crazy during the pandemic. But have you ever thought about what's in these products? Or what all the instructions say? 23ABC's Kallyn Hobmann spoke with a disinfectant service company and the public health department about why you should be reading the labels.
"You can spread it around and really, the bacteria, the viruses, all that stuff, remain on the surface if you aren't using proper cleaning techniques," explained Jon Mueller.
Mueller is the owner of ServiceMaster at Bakersfield, a company that offers a variety of services including COVID-19 exposure reduction. He said professional disinfectant services can be more effective than sanitizing an area yourself because they use industrial products you can't buy at the store.
Disinfectants like ProKure, a product on the Environmental Protection Agency's List N. The items on this are products that meet the EPA's criteria to effectively kill the virus that causes COVID-19.
"To use a product that is effective you want to make sure it's on the EPA List N, which then basically has been verified that it is effective," said Mueller.
Mueller said that by using these kinds of products businesses are reassured that their workspace is safe for employees and customers.
The Kern County Public Health Department told 23ABC that while cleaning and disinfection is a crucial part of reopening public spaces it is equally important to follow proper safety measures when you're using any kind of disinfectant product.
Health officials suggest consumers always read and follow instructions on the label, making sure to protect your skin and eyes from exposure to the chemical product. They also stressed you should never consume disinfectants in any way and be sure to avoid mixing chemical products.
If you want to check your products' effectiveness you can find the complete List N and its criteria on the EPA's website. The EPA registration number for your product can be found on its label.
