Schools are back in full swing, temperatures are dropping, and people are getting flu shots.  This means cold and flu season has started.

Schools and public spaces are guilty of spreading several viruses and bacteria in addition to COVID-19.  This article will address some of the different diseases we can contract and how to stop the spread of all of them.

COVID, Flu, Colds, Bacteria, Oh My!

In the United States alone, COVID-19 is responsible for 675,000 deaths in the U.S. alone.¹  Influenza kills about 36,000 people each year.²  Foodborne pathogens (like Listeria), systemic infections (e.g. MRSA), and even the common cold (usually a rhinovirus) make millions of people miserable each year and cause some fatalities.

The list of possible COVID-19 symptoms seems to expand regularly.  It is always wise to get tested if you feel you might be infected with this novel virus.  Common symptoms that COVID-19 and flu share include fever, cough, difficulty breathing, and fatigue.⁶  Cold symptoms typically include sore throat, runny nose, coughing, sneezing, headaches, and body aches.⁷

How Do We Stop Getting Sick?

After touching public surfaces, be sure not to touch your face or open wounds until after you’ve sanitized your hands.  Wash your hands regularly with products like Fresh Foam Disinfectant Hand Soap and use a hand sanitizer like one of the two listed below when hand washing is not practical.³   This will help keep you safe from COVID-19, influenza, cold viruses, and systemic infections like Staph.

• Bac-Off is an FDA-regulated product and a hand sanitizer with 0.13% benzalkonium chloride as the active ingredient.
• Bac-San is an FDA-regulated product and a hand sanitizer with 70% ethyl alcohol as the active ingredient.
• Both products work with touch-free wall-mounted dispensers or dispenser stands.

Disinfect touchpoints in your business and home regularly.  While data shows that COVID-19 is mostly transmitted in the air, it can still exist on surfaces.⁴  Influenza viruses will live for 8 to 48 hours on typical household surfaces.⁵  Bacteria that cause infections like MRSA, fungi that cause athlete’s foot, and many other contaminants are primarily transmitted via physical contact with infected surfaces.  Disinfect all surfaces with EPA-registered products like Security Cleaner and Disinfectant or One Step Quaternary Cleaner and Disinfectant to keep from transmitting via this vector.

The USDA estimates 48 million cases of foodborne illness occur in the US each year.  These illnesses lead to about 130,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths per year.⁸  Foodborne infections are obviously transmitted via food and surfaces that the food touches.  Regularly sanitize food contact and nearby surfaces with a product like Heads Up 10 or Security Floor® Sanitizer.  Be sure to cook food at the proper temperature and always sanitize utensils and equipment when switching between uncooked and cooked food.  QDII Sanitizing Wipes are great for quick sanitizing jobs like this.  One of the primary uses of QDII Sanitizer is as a third sink sanitizer or leave-on sanitizer for food contact surfaces.  Spray it on the surface and consider it sanitized in 10-minutes.  There’s no need to rinse or wipe the sanitizer away.

Summary: COVID-19 has dominated the news and is a serious threat to our lives.  Other viruses, bacteria, funguses, and more are still in our environment and can make our lives miserable if not controlled.  Use hand and surface sanitizers to stop the spread of all these bad actors.

1 COVID Data Tracker; https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#datatracker-home; September 22, 2021.

2 Disease Burden of Influenza; https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/burden/index.html; June 11, 2021.

3 Safely Using Hand Sanitizer; https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/safely-using-hand-sanitizer; May 20, 2021.

4 Indoor Air and Coronavirus; https://www.epa.gov/coronavirus/indoor-air-and-coronavirus-covid-19; August 19, 2021.

5  The survival of influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 virus on 4 household surfaces; https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24679569/; April 2014.

6  Similarities and Differences between Flu and COVID-19; https://www.cdc.gov/flu/symptoms/flu-vs-covid19.htm; June 7, 2021.

7 Common Cold; https://www.cdc.gov/dotw/common-cold/index.html; December 30, 2020.

8 Quantifying the Impacts of Foodborne Illnesses; https://www.ers.usda.gov/amber-waves/2015/september/quantifying-the-impacts-of-foodborne-illnesses/; September 8, 2015.

We continue to work with businesses every day on their touchpoint hygiene plans. We are continually impressed by how much effort these companies dedicate to keeping employees and guests safe.  Thank you to all those that are working tirelessly to stop the spread of COVID-19, its variants, other viruses, and bacteria.

A touchpoint is “a point of contact or interaction, especially between a business and its customers or consumers.”¹  The parts of a touchpoint hygiene plan are: (1) The touchpoints, (2) the cleaning method per touchpoint, and (3) the frequency of cleaning.

Common touchpoints include door handles/grips, chair armrests, banisters, trolley handles, table/countertops, light switches/pulls, shared literature, dispensers, sink handles, vending machine buttons, elevator buttons, copiers, and coffee makers.  Contact us for help identifying touchpoints in your facility.  You know your business best and sometimes fresh eyes can help identify new areas.

The method of cleaning and/or disinfecting touchpoints will depend on the surface and the chemical used. Disinfectants can be ready-to-use like Security Cleaner and Disinfectant or concentrated like QDII Sanitizer.  Sometimes wipes like QDII Sanitizing Wipes can be stored close to critical touchpoints and are the best tool.   Contact us to have a sanitation expert make recommendations and/or develop standard operating procedures (SOP) for your touchpoint hygiene plan.

The frequency of cleaning and/or disinfecting each touchpoint will depend on how frequently that point is used; how much soil is placed on the point per touch; and how critical that point is to your process, products, employees, and guests.  If your business is a food processing facility, your touchpoint hygiene plan can be part of a review of the micro mapping of your facility to make sure all critical control points are addressed.  If the spread of viruses is your primary concern, the CDC recommends increasing disinfection frequency with “High transmission of COVID-19 in your community”².

References:

1. 1. https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/touchpoint.
   2. When to Clean and When to Disinfect April 15, 2021. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/disinfecting-building-facility.html.

May 5 may be best known as Cinco de Mayo.  We hope everyone is able to visit a local restaurant to celebrate this day and tip well.

May 5 is also World Hand Hygiene Day.  The World Health Organization (WHO) started this global campaign in 2009 and has advanced the mission of “hand hygiene in health care” and “support of hand hygiene improvement around the world” on this day ever since.

From The WHO:

• Appropriate hand hygiene prevents up to 50% of avoidable infections acquired during health care delivery, including those affecting the health workforce.
• Appropriate hand hygiene reduces the risk of SARS-CoV-2 – the virus that causes COVID-19 – infection among health workers.
• 1 in 3 facilities lack hand hygiene facilities at the point of care.
• Globally, out of every 100 patients, 7 in developed and 15 in developing countries will acquire at least one HAI in acute care hospitals.
• To help celebrate this day, we are releasing a new hand sanitizer stand and promoting hand soaps and sanitizers.
  https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-hand-hygiene-day/2021

DeVere makes the hand sanitizers and soaps at our main production facility.  All products are registered with the appropriate governmental agencies.  We have never run out of stock on these key items and are the trusted brand for thousands of hospitality locations.

New, foaming hand sanitizer stand works with Bac-San and Bac-Off

Bac-San: 70% alcohol foaming hand sanitizer in a 1-gallon jug

Bac-San: 70% alcohol foaming hand sanitizer in a convenient 6oz foaming bottle

Bac-Off: Non-alcohol foaming hand sanitizer in a 1-gallon jug

Bac-San: 70% alcohol foaming hand sanitizer in a pre-filled 1-liter cartridge

Bac-Off: Non-alcohol foaming hand sanitizer in a pre-filled 1-liter cartridge

Be sure to place hand sanitizing units at the entrances to public buildings and just outside restroom doors.  DeVere has a variety of hand sanitizer and hand soap dispensers.

Disinfectant hand soap in a 1-gallon jug ready to fill any foaming dispenser

FDA-listed foaming disinfectant soap in a pre-filled 1-liter cartridge

See this post for more information on hand sanitizers.

DeVere makes a wide variety of hand hygiene products that are all appropriate for use on World Hand Hygiene Day (and Cinco de Mayo).

We also have QDII Sanitizing Wipes available.  They are not meant for hands, but they are heavy-duty, EPA-registered to kill SARS-CoV-2, and will keep surfaces your hands touch sanitized.

DeVere is committed to your sanitation needs on World Hand Hygiene Day and every other day.

Anyone can go to the car wash and get a halfway decent cleaning job done on their car, but there is something special about cleaning your own car. No one can clean your car better than you, and with DeVere’s automotive care products, we’ll make it easy for you to keep your car spotless.

DeVere’s automotive care product line can seem relatively small compared to our other product lines, but it is full of high-quality cleaners. We have everything you need to keep the inside and outside of your car looking as good as the day you bought it. From your garage to the gas station fuel island, our products can keep your car clean anywhere.

Our Automotive Care Products:

• Liquid Cleaner – As our main automotive cleaner, this product will keep any surface of your car that is not harmed by water looking like new. This product will rinse free even with light, cold-water rinses and works on painted surfaces, upholstery, and even soft convertible tops.
• Thunder Blast – If you need to clean and degrease your car’s wheels, you can count on Thunder Blast to do it better than anything else. This clinging degreaser will grip onto all wheel surfaces and break away the grease. Simply spray on, let stand for a few seconds to a minute and wash away.
• C-Clear Glass Cleaner – Any of our glass cleaners would work on car windshields and windows, but C-Clear is probably the most convenient. This product is a convenient aerosol that sprays on a thick, clinging white foam that leaves no streaks and cleans a variety of soils when wiped away.
• WOW All Purpose Cleaner – WOW is one of the strongest yet safest detergents made. This product is great for automobile interior and fuel island wash buckets. Don’t just take our word for it, check out some testimonials on the product page!
• Armor Shine – Armor Shine is a cleaner and protectant made for protecting cars from harmful dirt, grime, and UV rays. This product will leave a clean, protective layer on the surface it is protecting. You can use Armor Shine on dashboards, vinyl seats, door panels, consoles, tires/trim, and bumpers.

For more information about any of these products, click the links above to visit the product pages or check out our automotive care product line page. Please contact us with any questions.

It takes a lot to keep an office looking clean. You need cleaners, disinfectants, tissues, and garbage bags, just to name a few things. Although DeVere is known for our industrial-strength cleaners and disinfectants, we also offer any other office essentials you may need to keep your workplace clean. With these janitorial supplies, convenient aerosols and ready to use disinfectants, there is nothing that can keep your office dirty.

Convenient Aerosols

C-Clear Glass Cleaner – C-Clear is DeVere’s best selling aerosol, and after using it just once, it becomes obvious why. This product clings to surfaces and will clean any glass surface without leaving streaks or film. C-Clear also cleans electric stovetops.

Carpet Stain Remover – This product is a powerful aerosol that removes tough stains from carpets without rubbing or scrubbing. Give Carpet Stain Remover a try today to make all of your carpets look noticeably cleaner with very little effort! Carpet Stain Remover is also ideal for use as a pre-spotter prior to carpet cleaning extraction.

Citrus Plus Foaming Cleaner – This product is an all purpose cleaner in the form of a convenient aerosol. Citrus Plus sprays thick, white foam that quickly penetrates soils for easy removal. This product also leaves behind a fresh citrus scent. This product’s ability to be used on a variety of surfaces and convenience makes it perfect for both at home and the office.

See a full list of our aerosols here.

Janitorial Supplies

Bathroom Tissue – Bathroom Tissue provided by DeVere is White, 2-ply tissue. Various sizes are offered that are perfect for both household and business use!

Facial Tissue – Choose between Kleenex and Coronet brand facial tissue. Both brands give premium quality and softness that provide the comforts of home at your office.

Garbage Bags – Can Liners (Plastic) – Black or clear, plastic garbage bags. Available in various capacities to work for cleaning jobs of many different sizes.

See the category page for janitorial supplies here.

Ready to Use Sanitizers/Disinfectants

QDII Food Service Sanitizer (Ready-to-Use) – This EPA-Registered, ready-to-use sanitizer will sanitize, disinfect, and deodorize hard, non-porous surfaces. This product is good for disinfecting surfaces like desks and moldy windowsills.

QDII Sanitizing Wipes – These EPA-Registered sanitizing wipes work similarly to QDII Food Service Sanitizer but in the form of convenient wipes. Like QDII Food Service Sanitizer, these wipes also quickly and effectively clean and disinfect hard non-porous surfaces.

If you have questions about any of our office essentials or any other of our amazing products, please contact us.

During these troubling times, the DeVere team would like to help you stay as healthy and safe as possible. We’ve compiled a guide on up-to-date recommendations to navigate the Coronavirus pandemic and to prepare for the future from the Mayo Clinic and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Physical and Mental Health

It probably won’t come as a surprise, but, the Mayo Clinic recommends getting good sleep, eating right, and exercising to improve physical health.¹ These habits will help equip you to tackle the new challenges that the pandemic throws our way, as well as helping you stay at your best to support others. Remember to clean and disinfect with a product like One Step Quaternary Cleaner and Disinfectant when using shared exercise equipment.

For mental health, set a daily self-care routine, focusing on things you can control, and trying to keep your mind in the present.¹ These tips may help ease your mind amid the current chaos and they can reduce worry. Focus on the things closest to you and don’t dwell on the latest government mandate or other items you can’t change. A good sanitizing regimen will help you responsibly stay active and engaged with others.

Cleaning and Disinfecting

Cleaning your home is an important safety measure and an important part of any self-care routine: especially if it contains someone who has Coronavirus. Be sure to clean a surface prior to disinfecting if it’s visibly dirty. Disinfectants like One Step Quaternary Cleaner and Disinfectant and Security Cleaner and Disinfectant will both clean and disinfect (sometimes it takes two steps) while QDII Sanitizer needs to be applied to a relatively clean (<5% soil load) surface.

Hard (Non-Porous) Surfaces: Consult EPA’s EPA’s List N. This list will help you determine the most appropriate disinfectant for the surface or object. Our newest disinfectant (Security Cleaner and Disinfectant) is one of the many DeVere products on this list and a great way to kill the virus before it can spread.

Soft (Porous) Surfaces: The CDC recommends removing visible contamination and using products “that are EPA-approved for use against the virus that causes COVID-19 and that are suitable for porous surfaces”.² QDII Sanitizer can be used on all types of surfaces and works as a laundry sanitizer and fabric softener.

Electronics: The CDC suggests following “the manufacturer’s instructions for all cleaning and disinfection products” applicable to your electronics. When in doubt, use QDII Food Service Sanitizer to sanitize any waterproof surface without harming it.

Hand Washing

Washing your hands is one of the most important things you can do to protect yourself from COVID-19. The CDC advises that you disinfect your “hands often, including immediately after removing gloves and after contact with an ill person, by washing hands with soap and water for 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available and hands are not visibly dirty, an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol [Bac-San has 70%] may be used. However, if hands are visibly dirty, always wash hands with soap and water”.² One should avoid “touching [their] eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands”.² This will reduce your ingestion of the virus, therefore, reducing your chances to contract it. Consider a powerful, FDA-regulated disinfectant hand soap like Fresh Foam Disinfectant Soap when washing hands.

Learn more about hand sanitizers and surface sanitizers here: https://deverechemical.com/hand-vs-surface-sanitizers/.

Moving Forward

This pandemic presents many new challenges. Taking the necessary precautions such as wearing a face mask and washing your hands for the foreseeable future will help reduce the uncertainty surrounding the pandemic. Focusing only on what you can control is a great way to reduce stress and worry. We at Devere wish you the best in your efforts to stay happy and healthy. We are all in this together and every little thing you can do will help those around you.

References:

1. Reichert, Sarah. “Self-Care Tips during the COVID-19 Pandemic.” Self-care during the COVID-19 pandemic – Mayo Clinic Health System. Mayo Clinic Health System, April 7, 2020. https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/self-care-tips-during-the-covid-19-pandemic.

2. “Cleaning and Disinfection for Households.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, July 10, 2020. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/cleaning-disinfection.html.

Events like pandemics highlight the roles that regulatory agencies hold in our existence.  As a chemical manufacturer, DeVere continually works to stay compliant and help our business partners stay compliant within the regulatory framework.  This article lists the primary agencies that regulate our products and how we work with them.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

https://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/our-mission-and-what-we-do

DeVere has several EPA registered products.  These sanitizers, disinfectants, and pesticides each come with an EPA registration number.  Any product that says that it sanitizes, disinfects, or “kills 99.9%” has to be registered with the EPA.

The EPA highly regulates these products.  DeVere has to submit all of our labels to the EPA for approval.  We also have to be a registered EPA manufacturing site to make and package these materials. Each state is also responsible for certifying and licensing pesticide applicators, licensing businesses that manufacture, sell, or apply pesticides.  Each state sets its own regulations and fee for these processes.  DeVere has to register each of its pesticides in a state prior to selling in that state.

Learn more about how the EPA approves products for use against SARS-CoV-2 here: Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2

Example products: Security Floor Sanitizer, Security Cleaner and Disinfectant, and Golden Sanitizer

Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

https://www.fda.gov/drugs/information-drug-class/topical-antiseptic-products-hand-sanitizers-and-antibacterial-soaps

https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary

DeVere manufactures a line of FDA products including hand sanitizers and topical sanitizers for animals.  The FDA regulates any product that comes in direct contact with humans or animals.

These products are also highly regulated.  DeVere has submitted each FDA product to the FDA and owns an accredited cGMP (Good Manufacturing Process) facility that manufactures these products.

Learn more about the differences in FDA and EPA jurisdictions here: Hand vs. Surface Sanitizers

Example products: Bac-San, Bac-Off, Fresh Foam Disinfectant Hand Soap

Department of Transportation (DOT)

https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/registration/registration-overview

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) regulates the transportation of hazardous materials (including some chemicals) in commerce.  The main focus is to identify hazardous material and understand the hazards associated with those materials.  DeVere must properly mark and identify the product as hazardous.  The shipper must also identify the product on the shipping papers as hazardous.  The carrier needs to be certified and in some cases properly marked on the truck sides with placards identifying the hazards on board.

DeVere properly labels all products during the manufacturing process.  We are a certified shipper allowed to handle and ship hazardous materials.  Finally, we use only certified carriers to deliver our products to our customers.  It is the customer’s responsibility to make sure that they are properly trained to handle and ship hazardous chemicals as well.

DOT responded to the COVID-19 pandemic by reducing the restrictions on how we can ship alcohol-based hand sanitizers.  Note that that relaxation of the regulation expired on October 31, 2020.  Since May, DeVere has been shipping alcohol-based hand sanitizers in packaging that complies with the standard that went back into effect on November 1.  Contact us to learn more about how to ship Bac-San or any other chemical product.

Kosher

There are several different kosher certification agencies that all abide by the same code.

While there are many certification agencies, we are partial to the agency we use (https://www.kosherwisconsin.com/) because they understand how our products are used in food production and food service and can work with us to make sure our ingredient sources meet their standards.

You can find DeVere’s certification and kosher product list here: Kosher certification (2021)

DeVere has over 50 certified kosher products to clean kosher food processing equipment and surrounding areas.

National Organic Program

There are numerous organic certifiers (e.g. MOSA and Oregon Tilth)  that will certify an operation in accordance with the USDA National Organic Standard.  The process is simple when it comes to the chemical end of things.

1. Contact your organic certifier with a list of DeVere products that you would like to use, along with DeVere contact information.
2. The certifier will contact DeVere and ask for information on each of these products.
3. The certifier will then make their decision and report back to the operation on what products they can use and if there are any restrictions in their use.

Note #1:  The certifier will not contact DeVere with their decision on products as they are specific to an operations certification.

Note #2: The certifier is approving the operation, not the product.

Registration with the Organic Research Materials Institute takes time and expense, but it makes it acceptable to use the certified product in most organic processes.  Here is DeVere’s current OMRI certification: OMRI Cert.

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Organic Products

https://www.usda.gov/topics/organic

As stated above, the USDA, among other things, sets the regulations for the National Organic Standard.

Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI)

https://www.omri.org/what-we-do

DeVere currently has Security Floor Treatment certified with OMRI.

OMRI verifies the substances used in organic production: fertilizers, pesticides, livestock health care products, processing aids, and a number of other products that organic farmers and processors rely on every day. Typically, an OMRI-certified product can be used in an organic process without additional certification steps.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) / Safety Data Sheets (SDS)

OSHA regulated employee safety and makes a great effort to make sure that employees are aware of the dangers associated with hazardous chemicals.  DeVere has published Safety Data Sheets (SDS) on all of its products to help communicate possible hazards.

Here is a link to all of DeVere SDS: /safety-sheets/

This brief description of each section shows some of the requirements for all SDS: https://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3514.html

OSHA recently released a new, Global Harmonized System (GHS). Here is more information on that system: https://www.osha.gov/dsg/hazcom/

If you have any questions about any of these chemical regulatory agencies, please either see their websites linked above or contact us.

Thunder Blast Degreaser is a best-seller on our website, and after using it just once, it becomes clear why.

This product is both powerful and safe. Thunder Blast will quickly dissolve the toughest grease, dirt, and oil, and is safe to use on a wide variety of surfaces. Simply spray on the surface, wait five minutes for best results, and wipe the dirt away! This product is made ready to use (no dilution required). This product will also cling to vertical surfaces! No scrubbing is required to remove most soils. This degreaser flows down vertical surfaces and through filters/screens dissolving the oil, dirt, and grease as it moves. Thunder Blast is the most powerful, water-based degreaser available.

This product cleans up the toughest grease, dirt and oil stains with no scrubbing required. Look at what it does after letting Thunder Blast stay on a greasy surface for just 5 minutes:

Before and after, no scrubbing

Spraying on, letting it stick for 5 minutes, and after rinsing it off

Features and Benefits

• Ready to use (no dilution required)
• The most powerful, water-based degreaser available.
• Will dissolve the toughest grease, dirt, and oil from many surfaces
• Safe to use on most surfaces

With businesses reopening, the demand for sanitation has increased. Hand sanitizers play a key role in all our daily interactions. Knowing the types of hand sanitizers, their benefits, their status in our lives, and governmental guidelines help us stay safe and make the right decisions in this quickly-changing world.

Types of Hand Sanitizers

There are two main kinds of hand sanitizers on the market today: alcohol-based and non-alcohol based. Products containing benzalkonium chloride (BZK) are the most common non-alcohol based hand sanitizers. Both alcohol-based and BZK based sanitizers undergo regulatory testing by the FDA to make sure they uphold the FDA’s standards. BZK and Alcohol-based sanitizers work in a similar fashion; they each target and kill microbial cells but do so in different ways. BZK binds with viruses and bacteria to kill them. Alcohol disrupts bacteria’s membranes and viruses’ outer coating to kill the cells/virions. Our Bac-San Alcohol Hand Sanitizer is a great option; it is methanol-free, contains 70% ethanol, and complies with the U.S. Center for Disease Control’s recommendations for broad-spectrum sanitizers for use on hands. Both alcohol (Bac-San) and non-alcohol  (Bac-Off) hand sanitizers get the job done and have standards enforced by the FDA. You can read more about the types of sanitizers and disinfectants here: Types of disinfectants.

Bac-Off

 
InstantFoam

             
Bac-San

Dispensing Options

Foaming hand sanitizer dispensers like the touch-free dispenser stand, foaming cartridge dispenser, and refillable foaming soap/sanitizer dispenser provide great options for dispensing foaming hand sanitizers and soaps. DeVere chose this type of product because it spreads the best over hands, is the most efficient, and has the lowest use rates. This type of product also leaves minimal residue and can feel great due to the glycerin and aloe added to the DeVere products.

Gel hand sanitizers typically have a lower cost per unit but you use more per application and therefore cost more per use. The gel agents also tend to leave behind a film or little balls of gelling agent. Unlike the foaming agent that helps the sanitizer to penetrate into cracks and crevices in the skin, the agent used to gel these products does not have any additional benefits.

Sprayable (or pourable) hand sanitizers typically have the lowest cost per unit because they do not need foam or gel additives and are easier to make. Sprayable sanitizers tend to cost more per use and often do not contain surfactants needed to penetrate into cracks and crevices in the skin. These sprayable products were useful and more readily available when more effective products were hard to find.

FDA Regulations and Warnings

Recently, the FDA has released warnings surrounding faulty hand sanitizers. The FDA has been diligently warning consumers about hand sanitizers that contain methanol resulting in toxicity, products packaged in beverage containers, and products without enough active ingredient to be effective ¹. No DeVere products fall under these warnings. For updated information on new concerns, you can check the FDA’s updates on hand sanitizers page. This page also includes the lists of products that the FDA has advised to issue recalls.

CDC Recommendations

CDC recommends using ABHR with 60-95% alcohol in healthcare settings. Unless hands are visibly soiled, an alcohol-based hand rub is preferred over soap and water in most clinical situations due to evidence of better compliance compared to soap and water. Products like Bac-San are generally less irritating to hands and are effective in the absence of a sink ².

Staying Safe

Educating yourself on the types of hand sanitizer is just one way to help you navigate the Coronavirus pandemic. DeVere manufactures a wide variety of chemical products to meet all of your business and personal needs. Contact us today to get personalized information and recommendations.

References

1. Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “FDA Updates on Hand Sanitizers Consumers Should Not Use.” U.S.  Food and Drug Administration. FDA, August 11, 2020. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/fda-updates-hand-sanitizers-consumers-should-not-use.
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Hand Hygiene Recommendations: Guidance for Healthcare Providers about Hand Hygiene and COVID-19.” May 17, 2020. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/hand-hygiene.html.

It takes a lot to make a bathroom look, let alone smell, clean. DeVere has everything you need to keep any bathroom look and smell better than ever before. With our top-of-the-line commercial restroom cleaners and deodorizers, facility maintenance will be easy… and almost fun.

Cleaners

Restroom Cleaner & Deodorizer – Restroom Cleaner & Deodorizer is a concentrated detergent (also available as ready to use in quarts) that quickly removes soils from hard surfaces. Restroom Cleaner & Deodorizer neutralizes odor-causing substances and leaves a fresh orange citrus scent. This is an all-purpose cleaner and odor-neutralizer in one.

Lime Solvent – Lime Solvent is a mild, organic acid cleaner that floats lime and dirt away without abrasive action. In the restroom, Lime Solvent removes lime deposits from faucets, sinks, showerheads, shower stalls, toilets, and urinals.

Bowl Cleaner – Bowl Cleaner is an ultra-concentrated, industrial-grade acidic cleaner that quickly removes soils commonly found in toilet bowls and urinals. This product will quickly penetrate soils on porcelain and other rugged surfaces. Bowl Cleaner also removes mineral build-up in urinals and in drain lines.

Low Acid Bowl Cleaner – Low Acid Bowl Cleaner quickly removes soil, rust, lime, and mineral deposits. Its unique thick, clinging formula is safer to use than higher acid bowl cleaners. The lower acid level (9% hydrochloric/muriatic acid).

Lightning – This is the newest and strongest mold and mildew stain remover that works in a variety of applications. Lightning comes as a ready-to-use chlorinated, alkaline cleaner that will remove mold, mildew stains, and other tough, organic soils.

See our full restroom cleaners product line for more products.

Deodorizers

Spring Mist Fabric & Air Freshener – This product will encapsulate and neutralize offensive odors by eliminating their sources rather than just masking the smell. Spring Mist leaves behind a fresh, clean smell.

LED Air Neutralizers – Metered Air Fresheners – LED Air Neutralizers are metered aerosol air fresheners that deodorize restrooms and other areas where odors are a problem. Try all 5 of the available scents to see which one you prefer!

Block ‘N Screen – Block ‘N Screen contains a deodorant block (3-ounces) sealed in a flexible, vinyl urinal screen. This product solves odor problems while protecting the drain against debris at the same time.

See our full odor control and toilet & urinal odor control product lines for more products.

Soap and Hand Sanitizer

Bac-Off Foam Sanitizer – This product is an economical hand sanitizer that produces thick, rich foam. Bac-Off’s non-alcohol formula sanitizes thoroughly and is gentle on hands. Removes bacteria while leaving a fresh aloe scent.

Fresh Foam Disinfectant Soap – Fresh Foam Disinfectant Soap is an antimicrobial hand wash for use with DeVere foam soap dispensers. This product is an economical, high-foaming hand washing detergent that produces thick, rich lathering foam.

Fresh Foam Hand Soap – Fresh Foam Hand Soap is an economical, high-foaming hand washing detergent that produces thick, rich lathering, foam.  It cleans thoroughly and is gentle on hands. Fresh Foam Hand Soap also has a crisp mango fragrance.

Liquid Hand Soap 100 – Liquid Hand Soap 100 is a pink gel soap that foams well, cleans a variety of soils, and contains glycerin to hydrate skin.

If you have any questions about our commercial restroom cleaners and deodorizers, or any of our other products, please contact us.