9 Best Eco-Friendly Products that Kill Coronavirus
Updated: Mar. 19, 2021
These are the EPA and doctor-recommended, safe, eco-friendly products that can effectively clean your house and wipe out traces of Covid-19.
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Eco-friendly cleaning products for coronavirus
You want to know what you’re getting when it comes to cleaning products—just think of all the hand sanitizers on store shelves with dangerous forms of alcohol that pose as big a threat as the coronavirus they were supposed to protect against. You can get disinfectants that are not only safer for you, but safer for the environment as well.
Read the ingredient list
“Check the label on the cleaner, claiming to be eco-friendly products, and look for a seal from the Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA,” says Sunitha D. Posina, MD, is a board-certified internist and hospitalist in New York City. “Any cleaners claiming to kill germs are required to go through the EPA. There are various effective naturally-derived products that kill bacteria and other germs without the use of harmful chemicals.”
What to look for
Ingredient lists can be long, so it’s helpful to know some common, safe active ingredients to look for. Effective, less toxic and provocative products include things like hydrogen peroxide, ethyl alcohol, citric acid, L-Lactic acid, Caprylic acid, and thymol,” says George Fallieras, MD, a double board-certified internist working at the Los Angeles Surge Hospital, which was just formed for patients with Covid-19.
“There are many eco-friendly, effective products, and their ingredients tend to have long scientific names that are hard for everyday people to decipher. Therefore, I would recommend everyone—myself included—to reference a few resources that have studied and listed effective products, including ‘green, natural’ products,” says Dr. Fallieras, who is also the medical director for BioCorRx, a healthcare solutions company that helps people with alcohol and opioid addiction.
EPA’s list of Covid-19 disinfectants
Some good resources to determine whether your cleaning product can be effective in fighting SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, includes the EPA’s list of effective products called “List N” and the EPA’s compiled list of effective but safer products titled “EPA Safer Choice List.” “List N” is the EPA’s registered disinfectant products intended for use against Covid-19, and it is constantly updated as more products are approved. It’s currently your best source to find out if a disinfectant actually meets the agency’s criteria for effective use against the novel coronavirus.
To also help, we’ve rounded up some doctor-recommended, safe, effective, eco-friendly cleaners that kill Covid-19.
Seventh Generation Disinfecting Wipes
$4
Scrub down surfaces with these wipes confidently knowing you’re keeping you and your family safe. “Seventh Generation is a ‘green’ company that does have effective products that I feel comfortable using,” says Dr. Fallieras. (You can find it on the EPA List-N as Cleanwell LLC Benefect Botanical Daily Cleaner Disinfectant Towelette.) The active ingredient: Thymol, the major component of thyme oil (the herb), which has antibacterial effects. You may want to check out this A to Z coronavirus cleaning guide to learn what you need to disinfect.
BioSafe Systems Sanidate All Purpose Disinfectant
$47
Not only is this product effective against germs like salmonella and Pseudomonas, but it can also kill Covid-19. (EPA List-N: BioSafe Systems LLC, Sanidate 5.0.) It’s unscented, biodegradable, and it doesn’t leave any residue on whatever surfaces you use it on. (Find out whether coronavirus is airborne.)
Ecolab Sysco Peroxide Disinfectant and Glass Cleaner
$25
Sustainability is of utmost importance to this company. They address it on their website stating: “As we increase cleaning and disinfecting processes globally to address the risk of Covid-19, using effective and sustainable products remains incredibly important.” The hydrogen peroxide in this spray can be used on surfaces and glass—it won’t leave streaks. “Hydrogen peroxide is effective in killing bacteria and germ cells by destroying their cell walls—a process called oxidation,” says Dr. Posina. (EPA List-N: Ecolab Inc Peroxide Disinfectant and Glass Cleaner RTU.)
CleanWell Botanical Disinfecting Wipes
Thanks to the plant-based power of the active ingredient, thymol, in these wipes, they’re strong enough to fight off Covid-19. It doesn’t give off any fumes and has no chemicals either, so you can feel safe using it. (EPA List-N: Cleanwell LLC Benefect Botanical Daily Cleaner Disinfectant Towelette.) Planning on doing laundry? Here’s what you need to know about coronavirus and clothes.
The Works Disinfectant Toilet Bowl Cleaner
$16
It’s important to keep all rooms of your house clean and sanitized—including the bathroom. This disinfectant will kill 99.9 percent of germs and other nasties—including Covid-19. (EPA List-N: Bio-Lab Inc The Works® Basic Disinfectant Toilet Bowl Cleaner.) It’s safe and easy to use. Plus, the company uses responsible business practices, respecting resources and the community.
CleanCide Cleansing Wipes
$35
This EPA-certified, citric acid-based germicidal will safely and effectively remove germs on door handles, countertops, and other frequently touched surfaces. (EPA List-N: Wexford Labs Inc CleanCide Wipes.) “Citric acid works by prompting a low acidic transition of the viral protein that nullifies it as it is unable to mediate cell entry,” says Dr. Posina. It’s gentle enough to use on computer screens, keyboards, and other touchscreens.
Envirocleanse A
$20
Use this organic spray on surfaces in your house, and know your family—including young children and babies—will be safe. (EPA List-N: Envirocleanse LLC Envirocleanse A.) Not only is it both nontoxic, and biodegradable, but it also kills the novel coronavirus, to help keep everyone in your household healthy.
Cleansmart Daily Surface Cleaner
$14
Spray this cleanser in your living room, kitchen, bathroom, and any other room that needs disinfecting. It has no harsh fumes or odors, and uses natural hypochlorous acid as its active ingredient. (EPA List-N: Simple Science Limited Cleansmart.) “As a disinfectant, hypochlorous acid is able to break through the cell walls of pathogens, which are bacteria or viruses that cause disease,” says Dr. Posina. “Once inside the cell walls, the chemical interaction between hypochlorous acid and cell proteins causes the cell proteins to lose their complex structure. The performance of the protein starts to deteriorate, and the cell dies.” This means the product can kill 99.9 percent of germs, including Covid-19. (These are the EPA-approved Lysol products that kill Covid-19.)
Method Antibac All Purpose Cleaner
$24
This product is tough on messes and germs but easy on surfaces. (EPA List-N: Method Products Inc Freak.) It can kill 99.9 percent of germs, including flu and Covid-19. Citric acid is one of the natural cleansing ingredients that helps get the job done safely and effectively. Next, learn what the EPA says about using copper face masks for coronavirus protection.
- Sunitha D. Posina, MD, is a board-certified internist and locum hospitalist in New York City
- George Fallieras, MD, medical director for BioCorRx and a double-board- certified internist working at the Los Angeles Surge Hospital formed just for patients with Covid-19
Originally Published: August 25, 2020
