I love disinfecting wipes, a little too much I think. The containers live on my countertop and make me feel so much better about life after I’ve just massacred a chicken breast or sliced up a beef chuck for my stew. I feel all warm and fuzzy knowing that my little Q dude won’t have to worry about the icky germ bugs that my messy kitchen skills may have left behind.
But, did you know that each wipe is only effective if you let it do it’s job the right way? My hubs has this silly habit of properly saturating the counter with wetness only to quickly follow it up with a paper towel to dry it off so he can use that spot right away. I had no idea, none I tell you, that he was doing this. So when I caught him in the act I was shocked. Like jaw-on-the-floor-can’t-belive-you-just-did-that shocked! I must have fumbled for words for what felt like hours before simply shoving the back of the container in his face where it very clearly states the ‘kill times’ for each bug.
That’s right, the kill time. It does actually take time for wet wipes to work their moist magic. Cold and flu bugs, salmonella, MRSA… they can kill them all, but you have to let them. Here’s what Clorox® has to say about using their products to disinfect surfaces: Wipe surface to be disinfected; use enough wipes for treated surface to remain visibly wet for 4 minutes. Let surface dry. For highly soiled surfaces, clean excess dirt first. And here’s what they say to simply sanitize: Use to sanitize/deodorize hard, nonporous surfaces. Wipe surface; use enough wipes for treated surface to remain visibly wet for 30 seconds. Let surface dry. For highly soiled surface, clean excess dirt first. That’s a pretty big difference eh? But hey, now you know!