Alternative, Safer Disinfectants?

[juniper]

Hello,

I'm a new member and am starting a home daycare. I am hoping someone has suggestions of disinfectant alternatives to bleach that are safer than bleach. I've been told that I need to use something that is an EPA-registered disinfectant and that has a short dwell time, comparable to the 2-minute dwell time for bleach. I also need to find something that is safe for food-contact surfaces, though I could use one product that was not safe for food-contact on the changing table, etc., and another on food-contact surfaces.

I got approved to use Benefect as a sanitizer since as a sanitizer it has a 30 second dwell time. However, its not approved as a disinfectant since it has to sit for 10 minutes and they want something that works in a shorter time period.

I have asked about using Spectrasan 24 or Pure Green 24 as disinfectants since they have short dwell times. However, they are not safe for food-contact surfaces, so I am still in need of one that is safe for food-contact, for those times when I need to disinfect, for example, the sink.

I would really appreciate any advice or recommendations. My son has a number of issues with his airway and I don't want him exposed to the full-strength bleach (which he would be when I prepared it each day); likewise the families who are interested in my daycare do not want their children exposed to bleach, even when it has been greatly diluted.

Thanks so much for your help, I'm excited to have found this forum.

Juniper

[LaLa1923]

Hello,

I'm a new member and am starting a home daycare. I am hoping someone has suggestions of disinfectant alternatives to bleach that are safer than bleach. I've been told that I need to use something that is an EPA-registered disinfectant and that has a short dwell time, comparable to the 2-minute dwell time for bleach. I also need to find something that is safe for food-contact surfaces, though I could use one product that was not safe for food-contact on the changing table, etc., and another on food-contact surfaces.

I got approved to use Benefect as a sanitizer since as a sanitizer it has a 30 second dwell time. However, its not approved as a disinfectant since it has to sit for 10 minutes and they want something that works in a shorter time period.

I have asked about using Spectrasan 24 or Pure Green 24 as disinfectants since they have short dwell times. However, they are not safe for food-contact surfaces, so I am still in need of one that is safe for food-contact, for those times when I need to disinfect, for example, the sink.

I would really appreciate any advice or recommendations. My son has a number of issues with his airway and I don't want him exposed to the full-strength bleach (which he would be when I prepared it each day); likewise the families who are interested in my daycare do not want their children exposed to bleach, even when it has been greatly diluted.

Thanks so much for your help, I'm excited to have found this forum.

Juniper

What about vinegar and water? I uses it in everything! It's safe and it cleans well

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I use undiluted vinegar. I pour it straight from the jug into a spray bottle.

[itlw8]

If something is not food safe then you can't use it on the table or toys they are a mouthable surface.

[lovemykidstoo]

Try Shaklee, they have a product that you can even spray on fruit to clean it. Totally safe. I don't know if it's more of a 'cleaner' than a disinfectant though if that makes sense.

[WImom]

I use 7th Generation Disinfectant.

[SunshineMama]

I use seventh generation disinfectant, or vinegar and water. Both kill germs safely.

[SunflowerMama]

I use seventh generation disinfectant, or vinegar and water. Both kill germs safely.

Both of these! My state requires a product have an EPA # as a disinfectant and Seventh Generation does. So I have that for my state requirement and then use vinegar/water for all other surfaces, toys, etc.

[juniper]

I know this is late, but I wanted to thank you all for your relies. I ended up finding two EPA registered disinfectants - benefect (similar to 7th generation I think) and puregreen24. Both have been approved by my licensor and the families I'm meeting are thrilled I'm not using bleach.

[LK5kids]

Vinegar is awesome!