{"id":810386,"date":"2026-08-11T19:50:21","date_gmt":"2026-08-11T19:50:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/810386\/"},"modified":"2026-08-11T19:50:21","modified_gmt":"2026-08-11T19:50:21","slug":"misusing-disinfectants-as-cleaners-may-increase-toxic-exposures","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/810386\/","title":{"rendered":"Misusing disinfectants as cleaners may increase toxic exposures"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n You\u2019re cutting raw chicken when the juices spread across the board, possibly carrying salmonella,<\/a> a bacterium that can make you and your family seriously sick. You grab a well-known disinfectant, quickly spray and wipe the surface, and move on.\n <\/p>\n

\n Are the germs you attacked dead?\n <\/p>\n

\n With a mischievous grin, your baby sweeps his dinner from his high chair to the floor \u2014 again. You use a disinfectant wipe to clean up the mess before you allow your little one to crawl through the kitchen.\n <\/p>\n

\n Was the use of a disinfectant necessary?\n <\/p>\n

\n In both scenarios, the answer is no. Food spills usually require soap and water, not harsh chemicals that may pose health risks.\n <\/p>\n

\n Using a disinfectant on a surface still covered with grease, grime or chicken slime will keep the chemical from reaching \u2014 and killing \u2014 the germs underneath unless the surface is first thoroughly cleaned.\n <\/p>\n

\n \u201cThe disinfectant isn\u2019t getting direct contact with the germ because it\u2019s shielded by the dirt and grime. The chemical needs to directly touch the microorganism to kill it,\u201d said Alicia McCarthy, a senior safer chemistry scientist at TURI, the Toxics Use Reduction Institute of the University of Massachusetts Lowell.\n <\/p>\n

\n \u201cDisinfecting before cleaning is like mopping a floor covered in crumbs without first sweeping. The mop cannot properly reach the floor to do its job until the crumbs and dirt are removed,\u201d McCarthy said.\n <\/p>\n

\n Even if you did clean first, spraying and quickly wiping away the disinfectant is useless, said TURI\u2019s science and policy director, Heather Tenney.\n <\/p>\n

\n \u201cPeople often spray the chemicals on a surface and wipe it right off. If you do that, then you\u2019re not leaving it on the surface long enough to disinfect. You might as well not be using it,\u201d Tenney said. \u201c\u201cRead the label: Disinfectants have to be left wet on a surface for one to 10 minutes to be effective.\u201d\n <\/p>\n

Soap and water typically do the job<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

\n Disinfectants became a symbol of protection during the pandemic.<\/a> Yet experts say the first step against many household germs should still be the simplest one: Wash them away.\n <\/p>\n

\n \u201cCertain strains of flu can be harder to kill than Covid-19, which can be broken down with soap and water and rinsed away,\u201d McCarthy said. \u201cBut even with the flu you still want to clean your doorknobs, light switches and other high-traffic areas with soap and water before using a disinfectant.\u201d\n <\/p>\n

\n Yet people often reach for a germ killer first, not realizing it may be unnecessary or ineffective, said microbiologist Erica Hartmann, an associate professor of civil and environmental engineering at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, who studies how microbes and chemicals interact.\n <\/p>\n

\n \u201cMany people don\u2019t understand the difference between cleaning and disinfecting or know when just cleaning is enough,\u201d Hartmann said. \u201cIf you are working with raw chicken or have a contagious pathogen in the house, you may need to disinfect. But in most cases, cleaning with soap and water is all that\u2019s needed.\u201d\n <\/p>\n

\n That\u2019s because a good scrub with soap and a thorough rinse with water breaks the chemical bond that holds viruses and bacteria to surfaces. When the soap is rinsed off, those microbes wash away.\n <\/p>\n

\n \u201cPeople feel like killing germs is necessary, but it\u2019s not,\u201d said Rebecca Fuoco, director of science communications for the Green Science Policy Institute, a nonprofit that investigates harmful chemicals.\n <\/p>\n

\n \u201cA lot of that is just psychological,\u201d Fuoco said. \u201cYou don\u2019t need to kill most germs, just remove them. Disinfectants should only be used when absolutely necessary due to their impact on human health and the environment.\u201d\n <\/p>\n

\n Mike Gruber, interim CEO for the Household & Commercial Products Association, told CNN consumers should carefully review product labels before use.\n <\/p>\n

\n \u201cCleaning and disinfecting serve different purposes,\u201d Gruber said. \u201cDisinfectants can pose risks if they are misused, overapplied, or used in ways that are inconsistent with the label. For this reason, HCPA supports educating consumers about responsible use.\u201d\n <\/p>\n

\"Disinfectants<\/p>\n

\n Quaternary ammonium compounds<\/a>, or QACs, are among the most common chemicals in disinfectants frequently used in homes, schools, daycares, offices, senior care facilities and medical settings. Pilot studies have detected QACs in human blood serum<\/a>, breast milk,<\/a> urine and feces<\/a>.\n <\/p>\n

\n \u201cQuaternary ammonium compounds are on track to be the next major toxic chemical story,\u201d Fuoco told CNN previously. \u201cWe\u2019re worried the public knows nothing about these dangers.\u201d\n <\/p>\n

\n Lab and animal studies over the last decade have raised concerns about QACs\u2019 effects on inflammation<\/a>, immune and respiratory system<\/a>s, the developing brain<\/a>, and reproductive hormones and fertility.\n <\/p>\n

\n Fetuses of mice suddenly exposed to QACs developed deformities and neural tube defects similar to spina bifida in humans. Fertility in female mice plummeted. Male mice had lower sperm counts and less mobile sperm after QACs accumulated in testicles.\n <\/p>\n

\n Human<\/a> and animal studies have also found quaternary ammonium compounds weaken mitochondria<\/a> \u2014 the cell\u2019s powerhouse \u2014 and harm oligodendrocytes<\/a>, brain cells that produce a protective coating called myelin that helps neurons communicate.\n <\/p>\n

\n Overuse of QACs and other disinfectants is also harming the environment and contributing to the growing problem of antimicrobial resistance<\/a>. Elevated levels of QACs and chlorine bleach can be toxic<\/a> to algae,<\/a> fish and small water organisms as well as fruit and vegetable<\/a> plants.\n <\/p>\n

\n \u201cIt should be low-hanging fruit to say, \u2018There\u2019s enough concern here that we should stop using these chemicals.\u2019 There just isn\u2019t enough benefit from using QACs to justify the risks,\u201d Fuoco said.\n <\/p>\n

\n The American Cleaning Institute, a nonprofit trade organization that represents industry, told CNN that, unlike ordinary household products, disinfectants must be registered with the US Environmental Protection Agency and undergo review for safety and effectiveness.\n <\/p>\n

\n \u201cEPA evaluates data on the active ingredient, the finished product, likely exposure and product performance,\u201d Dan Selechnik, ACI\u2019s director of environmental health, said in an email. \u201cA disinfectant can only be marketed if data demonstrate that the use according to the label is safe and effective.\u201d\n <\/p>\n

\"Alcohol<\/p>\n

\n There are three steps to removing germs from your home. Cleaning comes first: Water works for crumbs and simple food spills, but if the residue is sticky, greasy or especially grimy, experts say soap and water are best.\n <\/p>\n

\n That is likely the only step you\u2019ll need, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention<\/a>: \u201cCleaning alone removes most types of harmful germs (like viruses, bacteria, parasites, or fungi) from surfaces.\u201d\n <\/p>\n

\n A second step might be using a sanitizer on high-touch items such as toilet flushers, doorknobs, cellphones and TV remotes, McCarthy said.\n <\/p>\n

\n \u201cThe job of sanitizers isn\u2019t necessarily to kill everything on the surface, just reduce bacteria to a safer level, which is often all that\u2019s needed,\u201d she said. \u201cHowever, many of these products contain QACs.\u201d\n <\/p>\n

\n Use of disinfectants would be the third step, needed to rid the kitchen of disease-causing bacteria from chicken or meat or destroy contagious microbes when someone is sick.\n <\/p>\n

\n But there are less toxic options \u2014 citric acid, lactic acid, hydrogen peroxide and alcohol \u2014 that kill bacteria and viruses just as effectively as QACs, experts say.\n <\/p>\n

\n \u201cThere are multiple organizations that vet more natural, eco-friendly products and provide their seal of approval,\u201d McCarthy said. \u201cLook on labels for seals from EPA Safer Choice,<\/a> Ecologo<\/a> and Green Seal.\u201d<\/a>\n <\/p>\n

\n Citric acid, made from fruits; caprylic acid, made from coconut or palm oils; and L-lactic acid, created from fermentation, are all effective, natural microbe killers. They can be corrosive<\/a> in higher concentrations, however.\n <\/p>\n

\n Isopropyl, or rubbing alcohol, has been shown to kill E. coli and staph bacteria in less than a minute, while both ethyl and rubbing alcohol kill flu, HIV, hepatitis B and herpes viruses, according to the CDC.<\/a> Alcohol also kills SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19.\n <\/p>\n

\n Stick to a concentration of 70% alcohol and leave it on a surface for at least one minute \u2014 using a 99% solution will evaporate too quickly, the CDC said. Alcohol does have limits: It is less effective against cold viruses, cannot kill bacterial spores and discolors or cracks certain wood coatings, plastics and rubber.\n <\/p>\n

\n Hydrogen peroxide cleaners, however, do break down the tough shells of bacterial spores, lift biofilm off surfaces and work against colds and norovirus that cause digestive distress.\n <\/p>\n

\n \u201cChlorine free is hydrogen peroxide-based bleach \u2014 do not get that confused with regular chlorine bleach,\u201d McCarthy said. \u201cChlorine bleach is a terrible cleaner \u2014 it\u2019s not meant for that purpose. It can easily mix with other cleaning compounds like vinegar, ammonia and alcohol and produce toxic fumes.\u201d\n <\/p>\n

\n When using the standard 3% hydrogen peroxide, a surface would need to remain wet for about five minutes to kill germs, according to the Cleveland Clinic<\/a>. Some products on the market contain up to 12% hydrogen peroxide \u2014 those must be diluted to avoid irritation or chemical burns.\n <\/p>\n

\n In fact, reading the instructions on any product is a must, McCarthy said, to use it safely and maximize its effectiveness.\n <\/p>\n

\n There\u2019s another, less obvious way to clean and disinfect without chemicals: dry steam vapor systems. Using high heat \u2014 over 200 F to 300 F, or 93 C to 149 C \u2014 and less than 5% water, dry steam kills germs, dust mites and mold without harsh chemicals. Care must be taken: High heat can blister skin, damage plastic and paint, or ruin wax and sealants on hardwood and stone.\n <\/p>\n

\n You can clean safely without caustic chemicals by following these steps:\n <\/p>\n

Start by scrubbing with soap, then rinse well with water<\/p>\n

Disinfect after cutting meat or chicken<\/p>\n

Disinfect during contagious illnesses<\/p>\n

Choose less-toxic options: alcohol, citrus acid, hydrogen peroxide, steam<\/p>\n

Leave disinfectants wet long enough to work<\/p>\n

Always check directions, dilute as needed and wear gloves<\/p>\n

\n Get inspired by a weekly roundup on living well, made simple. Sign up for CNN\u2019s Life, But Better newsletter<\/a> for information and tools designed to improve your well-being.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"You\u2019re cutting raw chicken when the juices spread across the board, possibly carrying salmonella, a bacterium that can…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":810387,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[34],"tags":[97,343969,343817,343968,343970,343818],"class_list":["post-810386","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-health","tag-health","tag-underscored-cleaning","tag-underscored-health-fitness","tag-underscored-home","tag-underscored-how-to","tag-underscored-wellness"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/810386","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=810386"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/810386\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/810387"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=810386"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=810386"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=810386"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}