4 October 2024

The Science Behind the Super-Solution in Affect+

 

'Nature's own powerful, non-toxic disinfectant.'
— British Dental Journal

 

In 2024, many of us are striving to reduce our carbon footprint, and our cleaning habits should follow suit. At Affect+, we recognise that our customers want to adopt greener practices without sacrificing effectiveness. Our natural disinfectant, powered by Hypochlorous Acid, offers a solution to both environmental and practical concerns. We're proud of the innovation behind this product – it’s highly effective at eliminating bacteria while being kind to the planet. Hypochlorous Acid is an electrolysed water disinfectant that kills 99.99% of known bacteria and viruses, harnessing the power of nature.

Hypochlorous Acid is the ideal alternative to traditional cleaning products like bleach, which can cause significant harm to the environment. Bleach production is a major contributor to pollution, creating persistent organic pollutants when released into waterways. Research from the University of West Virginia highlights that bleach manufacturing emits toxins into the air, posing a long-term risk through biomagnification. In contrast, the production of Hypochlorous Acid does not release harmful toxins or pollutants into the environment. It is a by-product from Paqua's PaquaVida water filtration system, which is low energy and non-pollutive.

Suitable for disinfecting all non-porous surfaces, Hypochlorous Acid is up to 200 times more effective than bleach and is pH neutral. We’ve rigorously tested it in a UKAS-accredited lab against bacteria, spores, viruses, and fungi, and it’s proven to be reliable in all scenarios. The BS EN testing includes medical, domestic, veterinary, food preparation, aerosolisation (via fogging), and water environments, demonstrating its versatility across sectors.

The active ingredient, Hypochlorous Acid (HOCl), is naturally produced by our white blood cells. As described by the British Dental Journal, it’s ‘nature’s own powerful, non-toxic disinfectant’ and a critical part of our immune system. HOCl eliminates pathogens while remaining non-toxic, unlike most conventional disinfectants.

Compared to alternatives like wet wipes, the difference in quality is stark. Cardiff University’s study on ‘Pathogen transfer and high variability in pathogen removal by detergent wipes’ found that many detergent wipes spread superbugs. Professor Jean-Yves Maillard noted that wipes often fail to meet cleaning standards, with most drying out before achieving the necessary contact time. In contrast, Hypochlorous Acid can be sprayed liberally on surfaces, neutralising pathogens within seconds.

Non-toxic, biodegradable, and safe, Hypochlorous Acid reassures users that they are not harming themselves or the environment. It eliminates the need for PPE like gloves, further reducing your carbon footprint. As a powerful and effective disinfectant, Hypochlorous Acid combines the strength of nature with cutting-edge technology to deliver outstanding results across industries like agriculture, domestic, and commercial cleaning. It’s poised to revolutionise the cleaning industry with its positive environmental impact.

To learn more, visit our Affect+ product page or contact us today!

 

Works Cited: 
 

  • Beirne, P. (2021) How bleach damages the environment and our health, Public Goods. Available at: https://tinyurl.com/3537vn8k
  • Ramm, L. et al. (2015) ‘Pathogen transfer and high variability in pathogen removal by detergent wipes’, American Journal of Infection Control, 43(7), pp. 724–728. doi:10.1016/j.ajic.2015.03.024.
  • ‘Nature’s own powerful, non-toxic disinfectant’ (2018) British Dental Journal, 224(7), pp. 553–553. doi:10.1038/sj.bdj.2018.302.
  • Lynch, A. (2015) Turns out, wet wipes might not be the easy-cleaning solution you thought, Metro. Available at: https://metro.co.uk/2015/06/09/wet-wipes-could-actually-be-spreading-ba…;