Medical Disinfectant Wipes

Medical-grade wipes use isopropyl alcohol, bleach, hydrogen peroxide, iodine, quaternary ammonium compounds, and other solutions to effectively disinfect hospital surfaces. The most common use of hospital-grade wipes is disinfecting surfaces such as tables and chairs. Some wipes, such as Sani-Cloth germicidal wipes, are manufactured to combat the growth of fungi, viruses, and bacteria. When wipes are not practical, sanitizing solutions may work. See CDC guidelines for specifics on how to set up disinfecting procedures in your hospital.

The FDA approves medical-grade wipes to remove dirt, debris, and bacteria from medical surfaces. Medical-grade wipes are non-abrasive and generally have a textured weave to trap the maximum number of contaminants. Some consumer-grade wipes have similar features as their medical-grade counterparts but are approved by the EPA for safe consumer use. Alcohol wipes may be sufficient for traveling and general household use.

Disinfecting wipes kills 99.9% of germs, bacteria, and viruses when used correctly. The EPA sets guidelines for when a disinfectant will kill a virus such as covid-19. Name-brand wipes such as Clorox and Lysol use ammonium chloride as their antibacterial ingredient, unlike some hospital-grade wipes that use bleach.