Disinfecting Surfaces in the Era of Covid and EPA Registered Commercial Disinfectants and Viricides

The disinfection of surfaces at home, in public spaces, and in hospitals and clinics needs to be a priority in the era of transmittable pathogens such as Covid-19, and proper disinfection lowers the exposure of people to both viruses and bacteria. Sanitization is a different process and is directed at bacterial pathogens only.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a comprehensive database called the N-List that 652 different commercially available disinfectants on the market, and describes their activity in disinfecting surfaces across different viruses and bacterial species, while describing in what settings such as residential, institutional, or healthcare and hospitals the product should be used in. For healthcare and hospitals, the most bioactive products are used with the shortest contact times, while residential disinfectants tend to have longer and more variable contact times.

To search whether your disinfection product is appropriate for different pathogens one can search the N-List by EPA Registration number of the product, by active ingredient, product name, or even the company that markets the product, as they are all different in activity, as shown by the contact time in minutes, which range from 0.25 minutes to 10 or more minutes to achieve disinfection. 

Registered disinfecting agents used in these products vary across different chemical classes and the major ones used are shown below. These disinfectants are either used alone, or in combinations of two or more agents. The quaternary ammonium agents class is the largest listed wit 292 different products commecially available, while hydrogen-peroxide based agents and sodium chlorite/hypochlorite products are equally represented, with 99 and 95 different products available, respectively.   Ethanol, other alcohols and phenols, detergents and natural products make up the remainder on the N-List, and all have different potencies as disinfection agents as shown by their contact times until effective. 

• Quaternary Ammonium Agents and Mixtures 292
• Hydrogen Peroxide and Mixtures 99
• Sodium Chlorite/ Hypochlorite and Mixes 95
• Ethanol Based and Mixtures 16
• Detergents, Natural Products, others 150

Contact Time: A Measure of Disinfectant Strength

The contact time of the disinfectant with the viral pathogen is an important factor, and the N-List highlights 65 different disinfection products that have contact times of 1 minute or less, showing the most potency in disinfecting surfaces.  These products also were measured for disinfecting activity in the laboratory directly on SARS-Covid-19 or other strains related to Covid-19.

Clorox products dominate on this list, while Ecolab and Gojo products are some of the most active disinfecting agents against Covid-19, and are EPA registered. You can also search the database in Excel, and the supplied link N-List Excel will allow you to download the list and search the spreadsheet readily. 

Most Potent Disinfection Products Against SARs-Covid-19 

Handling Disinfectants and Viricides

Since Covid-19 is spread through the air on microdroplets, according to the Centers for Diseases Control (CDC), the risk of contracting it from surfaces is thought to be low. Another factor in disinfectant favor is that SARs-Covid-19 viruses have a delicate outer-lipid fatty membrane, and its easily disrupted by disinfectants, chemicals, and many different membrane-active agents.

The disinfectant list is again dominated by quaternary ammonium based chemicals, with ethanol and membrane active anionic surfactants such as dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid also showing low contact times and higher potency, damaging and destroying the outer virus membrane of Covid. Other viruses may possess hardened outer-protein shells, and are more resistant to the action of disinfectants and if an agent works against them, it will be effective against SARS-Covid-19, at least in principle.

Hydrogen peroxide-based products also are quite active against Covid-19 and related viruses, shown in this list with low contact times, but peroxides decompose in water over time, and checking expiration dates on peroxide products is warranted and they should be disposed of when expired.

Cleaning and Disinfecting Surfaces: Do’s and Don’ts

First clean surfaces to be disinfected with soap and water, to remove dirt and microbial films, followed by the use EPA registered disinfectants on high-touch surfaces following directions on the product. Disinfection is warranted in high-touch areas, high traffic areas with touchable surfaces such as doorknobs and handles, in areas where someone is sick or in areas where those are known to have Covid-19.

Safety Considerations When Using Disinfectants

Using disinfectants can trigger an asthma attack in individuals, so take extra precautions avoiding areas when cleaning surfaces and the susceptible are present, and make sure there is plenty of ventilation and fresh air.

If using fogging, fumigating, or electrostatic instruments and methods, follow all the directions and if a product isn’t labelled for the use of such methods, the disinfectant may not work, and it may prove risky.

Children should not handle disinfectants, and they should be kept out of their reach as they are toxic if over-exposed in air spaces and if ingested seek prompt medical attention.

Follow the product label usage directions, using only Registered EPA products, do not apply to the skin, food, or pets, and do not dilute the products with other chemicals or water.

If you suspect over-exposure or poisoning by a disinfectant call your local poison control center, all towns and states have them, or contact the National Capital Poison Center online or by phone at 1-800-222-1222. Calling 911 is also advised for an immediate and local response. 

For Further Information on the Science of Surface Disinfection see:

The role of surface disinfection in infection prevention.GMS Hyg Infect Control. 2013 Apr 29;8(1):Doc10. doi: 10.3205/dgkh000210. PMID: 23967396; PMCID: PMC3746601.

Virucidal Activity of World Health Organization-Recommended Formulations Against Enveloped Viruses, Including Zika, Ebola, and Emerging Coronaviruses.J Infect Dis. 2017 Mar 15;215(6):902-906. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jix046. PMID: 28453839; PMCID: PMC5407053.