Bleach and Public Health

Confidence in the efficacy and impact of disinfecting bleach is why the world's leading public health agencies - the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - recommend the use of bleach for controlling the spread of pathogens that can cause infections and other health threats. Bleach is one of the most widely available, affordable disinfectants on earth and the role it plays in public health continues to be critical.

  • In protecting school children: As part of a healthy routine in school kitchens, the School Food Safety Network recommends the use of bleach for food-contact surface preparation areas to help reduce the potential for cross-contamination of food and the spread of Salmonella, E. coli and other bacteria that can make kids sick.

  • In protecting patients: Each year, an estimated 1.7 million Americans contract infections while hospitalized. As many as 90,000 die. To help combat the problem, Clorox has partnered with the Association of Professionals in Infection Control on Protect Our Patients, a program to raise awareness of the steps hospital staff, patients and families can take to help protect patients in the hospital and at home. Hand washing is critical; so is disinfecting surfaces to help prevent the spread of hospital-acquired infections and other illnesses.

From the World Health Organization to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, recommendations for use of EPA-registered bleach play a central role in helping controlling the spread of germs that cause infectious illness.

Following is a list of organisms that Clorox® Regular-Bleach kills

Bacteria
Staphylococcus aureus (Staph.)
Salmonella choleraesuis
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Streptococcus pyogenes (Strep.)
Escherichia coli O157:H7 (E. coli)
Shigella dysenteriae
Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

Fungi
Trichophyton mentagrophytes (can cause Athlete's Foot)
Candida albicans (a yeast)

Viruses
Rhinovirus Type 37 (a type of virus that can cause colds)
Influenza A (Flu virus)
Hepatitis A virus
Rotavirus
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
HIV-1 (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)*
Herpes simplex Type 2
Rubella virus
Adenovirus Type 2
Cytomegalovirus

*For health care settings only.

For nonporous food contact surface sanitizing (refrigerators, freezers, plastic cutting boards, stainless cutlery, dishes, glassware, countertops, pots and pans, stainless utensils):

Use 1 tablespoon of Clorox® Regular-Bleach per gallon of water. Wash, wipe or rinse items with detergent and water then apply sanitizing solution. Let stand 2 minutes. Air dry. Kills the following:

  • Staphylococcus aureus (Staph.)

  • Escherichia coli 0157:H7 (E. coli)

For hard, nonporous surface disinfection:

Use ¾ cup product in one gallon of water/10 minute contact time, to kill the following:

  • Feline parvovirus

  • Canine parvovirus

Use 1 ¾ cup product in one gallon of water/5 minute contact time, to kill the following:

  • Mycobacterium bovis (Tuberculosis)

 

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