EPA adds original Pine-Sol to list of COVID-fighting cleaners
Back in July, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had announced that two Lysol products were proven effective against the virus that causes COVID-19 – they have now expanded that list to include original Pine-Sol. The original formula was proven effective against the coronavirus after 10 minutes, the EPA says. They also said the active ingredients in the two Lysol products are quaternary ammonium and ethanol (ethyl alcohol).
Bill Wuest, PhD, a chemistry professor at Emory University in Atlanta, told WebMD that any products that have these ingredients should work as well. “For all intents and purposes, it’s basically the same thing” as what is frequently found in many other brands and products, he said.
The EPA has a list of more than 400 products, known as List N, that are effective against viruses that are “harder-to-kill” than the one that causes COVID-19. But none of the individual products had been tested specifically against SARS-CoV-2. Lysol Disinfectant Spray and Lysol Disinfectant Max Cover Mist were the first. They can kill the SARS in 2 minutes, the EPA says.
Also important to note that the EPA suggests consumers should leave these products on surfaces for at least two minutes before wiping them down.
Why cleaning surfaces is critical to stopping the spread
Since public health experts have confirmed that the virus spreads through respiratory droplets (through sneezing, talking, coughing), these droplets then land on surfaces. This means anyone who touches that surface could become infected, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It recommends that people “routinely clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces.”
More in-depth information
Want more information? Visit the EPA’s page on disinfecting and cleaning guidance. Or Visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s page which includes cleaning tips.
Sources: Environmental Protection Agency, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, WebMD