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Disinfectants - Benefect FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

• A lot of cleaning products claim to be disinfectants, but as a consumer how do I know that Benefect Disinfectant really kills germs?
• What is the difference between cleaners and disinfectants?
• Can I clean and disinfect in one step?
• Does the product come in different scents?
• Why are there no warning labels?
• Lots of cleaning products say “Natural” or “Botanical” but snake venom and arsenic are natural, so how do I know that Benefect Disinfectant isn’t actually hurting me and my family?
• The label says Benefect Disinfectant is for hard surfaces, what happens if I use it on my carpet or other porous surfaces?
• What does the Environmental Choice maple leaf and bird logo mean?

A lot of cleaning products claim to be disinfectants, but as a consumer how do I know that Benefect Disinfectant really kills germs?

"Disinfectant" is actually a legal term that can only be stated on product labels that have been proven to destroy or irreversibly inactivate infectious bacteria and/or fungi of specific microorganisms in accordance with the E.P.A.'s (Environmental Protection Agency) detailed guidelines. The microorganisms tested are predetermined by the E.P.A.. In addition to bacterial kill data, E.P.A. scientists review the product for other characteristics such as; how toxic the product is to our environment, directions for safe and effective application, storage, disposal and handling plus a complete review of the health and safety profile of the product. When the E.P.A. is satisfied with all the scientific data, the product is registered by the E.P.A., an E.P.A. registration number is issued and the product can now be called a disinfectant. The E.P.A. number for Benefect ® Disinfectant is 74771-1.

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What is the difference between cleaners and disinfectants?

Cleaners aren’t registered with the E.P.A. and do not require an E.P.A. number to be sold into the marketplace. Cleaning products cannot make any public health claims on their labels that they kill bacteria. Watch out for “antimicrobial” cleaners or other marketing terms that allude to killing germs. A good rule of thumb to distinguish between cleaners and disinfectant is to make sure the product has an E.P.A. number on the label. If there isn’t an E.P.A. number on the label then be safe and just use the product to clean up dirt and other organic matter, not to kill bacteria.

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Can I clean and disinfect in one step?

Yes, but only if the surface to be disinfected is not excessively dirty. It is to be understood that visible, impermeable particulates would be removed prior to disinfection. Some disinfectants are tested by the E.P.A. with a 5% organic load on the surface to simulate real life use. But if the surface is covered with enough "dirt" to be a barrier, then that is excessively dirty and needs to be cleaned prior to disinfection. If the disinfectant was applied in these conditions, without pre-cleaning, there is a possibility that 1) the disinfectant will be inactivated by the dirt, or 2) the dirt will pose a physical barrier so the disinfectant simply can't get to the bacteria. It is best to use some of the Benefect Multi Purpose Cleaner to first clean up the visible dirt so the disinfectant can get to work.

Be wary of some one-step or combination cleaner/disinfectant products, some have different directions and contact times required for cleaning than for disinfecting. Make sure you follow the E.P.A. registered label.

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Does the product come in different scents?

Only the lemon and spice scent is available at this time. The scent is a direct result of the natural oils that kill the bacteria. Many fragrances that consumers are used to are actually synthetic and do not contribute to the killing ability of the product. If we started to add synthetic fragrances to Benefect Disinfectant this would alter the safety profile and we wouldn’t have been able to produce a product with no warning labels.

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Why are there no warning labels?

All of the natural oils that are in Benefect Disinfectant are either F.D.A (Food and Drug Administration) approved as Food Additives or on the United States G.R.A.S. (Generally Recognized as Safe) list. When the E.P.A. reviewed the health and safety profile they determined that these food grade ingredients posed no negative health effects and that the Benefect Disinfectant label did not require any warnings.

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Lots of cleaning products say “Natural” or “Botanical” but snake venom and arsenic are natural, so how do I know that Benefect Disinfectant isn’t actually hurting me and my family?

The main directive of the E.P.A. is to maintain and protect public health. If Benefect Disinfectant was a potential public health threat then the E.P.A. registered label would need to reflect any potential health hazards. The E.P.A. lets the public know that the products are hazardous by putting warning labels or precautionary statements on the labels.

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The label says Benefect Disinfectant is for hard surfaces, what happens if I use it on my carpet or other porous surfaces?

If you use Benefect Disinfectant on porous surfaces then you cannot be sure that it will be killing 99.99% of bacteria. It will be killing the organisms that it comes into contact with, but we don’t know just how many. If Benefect Disinfectant is sprayed on porous surfaces then it can only be said to deodorize, not disinfect.

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What does the Environmental Choice maple leaf and bird logo mean?

This maple leaf and bird logo is the official logo of the Environmental Choice Program (ECP). The ECP is similar to the Green Seal program that recognizes superior products that surpass certain environmental standards and reflect environmental responsibility and stewardship. Green Seal does not have a category for Hospital Disinfectants such as Benefect at this time but does have a reciprocal recognition agreement with ECP certified products. Benefect is the only disinfectant to be recognized by this program. For a complete list of Ecologo certified products please visit www.environmentalchoice.ca.

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