Using Bleach-Water

Page 19

Please remember that the information provided in this course is standard practice.
​Be sure to follow the specific regulations mandated by the state or county for your program.

Licensing may regulate the type of disinfectant that is used as it is usually a chemical agent and should be handled carefully. The most commonly used chemical for disinfection is a homemade solution of household bleach and water. Bleach is easy to acquire, inexpensive, and simple to mix and have on hand. When the solution is made properly, it is safe to handle, and kills most germs. Bleach can also be used as a sanitizing agent when mixed with water, but this requires the use of less bleach than the disinfecting solutions. Always follow manufacturer instructions for the appropriate amount to be used.

Using Bleach-Water Safely in Child Care

Bleach-water solution is poisonous and can be dangerous to children. Keep children safe from accidental poisoning with these simple tips:

• Clean objects and surfaces when children are not around, or place them out of children's reach while they dry.
• Do not allow children to handle bleach-water solution.
• Keep children away from disinfected surfaces until the bleach-water solution dries.
• Store bleach and other toxic chemicals in their original containers in a locked cabinet or closet.
• Store bleach-water solution in a locked cabinet out of children's reach.
• Be sure to label spray bottles so adults will know what's in them.

New Bleach Concentrations Mean New Use Recommendations Effective 3/1/2013 
In early 2013, manufacturers of household bleach changed the concentration of bleach sold in stores. The bleach solutions now sold have a higher concentration of sodium hypochlorite (8.25%). The lower-concentration bleaches are no longer being manufactured and soon will not be available in stores. Because the new bleaches are more concentrated, the recommendations for diluting a bleach solution for disinfecting now depend on the specific bleach that is used.

​Here are the latest recommendations for bleach use in child care: 

• Use bleach products that have been registered with the EPA whenever possible. Check the product label for an EPA registration number. If the product has a number, it is EPA-registered.
• If the bleach product is EPA-registered, go to the EPA's Pesticide Product Label System website (http://iaspub.epa.gov/apex/pesticides/f?p=PPLS:1) and enter the EPA registration number into the "EPA Registration Number" field of the online form. You should get a list of dates the EPA approved the product.
• Click on the link next to the most recent EPA approval date. This link will open a PDF file of the manufacturer's instructions. Scroll down to find a chart with instructions for using the product to sanitize or disinfect.
• Follow the instructions on the chart when preparing bleach solution for use in child care. You may want to post these instructions near sinks and cleaning areas or tape the instructions to the bottle.
• If you buy a new brand of bleach, remember to check the new brand using these instructions. The specific recommendations for diluting bleach may be different. Be sure to update any instructions or labels that are posted.
• Do NOT mix household bleach with other household chemicals such as toilet cleaners, rust removers, acids, or products containing ammonia. Mixing these chemicals with bleach may produce toxic hazardous gases.

Be Cautious about Using Commercial Disinfectants

Not all cleaning chemicals are safe and appropriate for use in a group child care setting. Here are some cautions to be aware of.

Products that meet the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) standards for “hospital grade” germicides (solutions that kill germs) often are promoted for use in child care. But many of these products are dangerous and potentially even toxic to children. It is important to read product labels carefully.

Do not use cleaning products that carry a DANGER or a CORROSIVE label warning in your child care program.

Be cautious about commercial or industrial products that advertise themselves as “disinfectants,” having “germicidal action,” or being able to “kill germs.” Often these products carry a warning label on the front of the container because they are toxic.

Before using anything other than a bleach and water solution for disinfecting, check with your child care nurse consultant or licensing agency to make sure it's acceptable for use in child care. If you do decide to use an EPA-approved industrial product as a sanitizer, carefully read the label and always follow the manufacturer’s instructions exactly.

Course Navigation Menu

1. Course Agenda
​2. Purposes for Protection
3. Bloodborne Pathogens
4. Transmission of Germs
5. Hepatitis B
6. Hepatitis C
7. Hepatitis (1/5)
8. HIV
9. HIV/AIDS Awareness (2/5)

10. Bloodborne Risks 
11. Bloodborne Pathogens (3/5)
12.  Standard Precautions
13. Proper Handwashing
14. Personal Protective Equipment
15. Gloves
16. Personal Protective Gear (PPE)
17. Cleaning
18. Sanitizing versus Disinfecting

19. Using Bleach-Water
20. Disinfecting, Sanitizing, Cleaning
21. Cleaning up Bodily Fluids
22. Safety Considerations
23. Universal & Standard Precautions (4/5)
24. Reactions to Exposure
25. Reviewing Bloodborne Pathogens
26. Final Quiz
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