How to fit a hypochlorous acid (HOCl) product into a kitchen routine: clean first, follow the directions, respect contact time, and keep surface products off food.
If you're adding a hypochlorous acid (HOCl) product to your kitchen routine, a few simple steps help you use it the way its directions intend.
Know what you're using
HOCl can come to your kitchen two ways: a ready-to-use bottled product, or a solution you make with a generator. According to the EPA, registered pesticide products carry an EPA Registration Number, while hypochlorous acid generators are generally treated as devices. An EPA Establishment Number identifies the facility where a product was produced; it is not a product registration, approval, or endorsement.
Either way, the directions—on the bottle label or in the generator's manual—tell you which surfaces, how long, and whether to rinse.
Step 1: Clean first
The CDC recommends cleaning surfaces before sanitizing or disinfecting, because dirt can make it harder for chemicals to reach and kill germs. For kitchen counters and food preparation areas, the CDC suggests cleaning with hot, soapy water first.
Step 2: Decide whether you need more than cleaning
The CDC says cleaning regularly is enough in most situations. It recommends sanitizing any kitchen surface that has touched raw meat, poultry, or their juices, including the inner sink, and says disinfecting makes sense when someone in the home is sick or at higher risk of getting sick.
Step 3: Apply according to directions
- Use it only on surfaces the directions list.
- Keep it wet for the stated contact time. The CDC notes the contact time is in the directions and the surface should stay wet for all of it.
- Rinse if the directions say to, especially on surfaces where food is prepared.
- Ventilate and protect yourself as the directions recommend; the CDC suggests good ventilation and any recommended gloves or eye protection.
Step 4: Keep surface products off food
Do not apply a surface disinfectant to food; only use a product on food if it is specifically labeled for that purpose.
Kitchen spots to check
The CDC names light switches, doorknobs, and countertops as high-touch surfaces to clean regularly. Other spots in your kitchen may also deserve attention; check your product's directions before using it on any surface, including natural stone, wood, specialty finishes, and appliance touchscreens. A spot test does not replace label or manufacturer approval.
A note on degreasing
If you use a generator, check whether its manual covers a separate degreasing mode. The Eco One manual includes instructions for a degreasing solution made with potassium carbonate instead of salt, and the Eco One product page says not to combine salt and potassium carbonate in one batch.
Storage
Store any solution as its label or manual directs, out of reach of children and pets, as the CDC advises. For the Eco One, the Safety Data Sheet says to store it in a cool area away from UV or direct sunlight, with the container tightly closed.
Don't mix finished products
Don't mix a finished HOCl solution with other cleaners or chemicals; the CDC says not to mix products or chemicals with each other. That's different from preparing a batch in a generator using only the ingredients its manufacturer specifies—for example, the optional vinegar step in the Eco One manual.
The bottom line
Clean first, decide whether you need more than cleaning, follow the directions, give the product its full contact time, rinse when told to, and keep surface products off food. If you'd like to make HOCl at home, learn more about the Eco One.
This article is general information, not professional advice. Always follow your product's label or manual.
Sources
- CDC: When and How to Clean and Disinfect Your Home
- EPA: Pesticide Devices: A Guide for Consumers
- Eco One product page
- Eco One User Manual (PDF)
- Eco One Safety Data Sheet (PDF)
Published by HOCL LLC. EWCO is a product brand of HOCL LLC. Questions: service@hocl.com. ← All blog posts