This Is the Only Disinfectant Proven to Kill the Coronavirus
Two Lysol products have now been approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as effective against the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2.
When used on hard, non-porous surfaces, Lysol Disinfectant Spray and Lysol Disinfectant Max Cover Mist were found to kill the novel coronavirus after two minutes of contact, according to a study of laboratory testing data reviewed by the EPA.
The peer-reviewed study was commissioned by Lysol's parent company, Reckitt Benckiser, and published in the American Journal of Infection Control. In the study, the products were found to be more than 99.9% effective against the virus.
The two Lysol products are the first to have been tested specifically on the novel coronavirus and approved as surface disinfectants by the EPA, the agency announced in a statement. Before companies can legally make claims that their products are effective against a specific pathogen, the claim has to be reviewed and authorized by the EPA. The EPA said it expects to approve more products in the coming weeks.
If you can't get your hands on either of the Lysol products, which are still in short supply, there is a list of more than 430 products that the EPA says are effective against viruses that are "harder to kill" than the novel coronavirus (and therefore presumed to be effective against it as well).
The EPA's announcement also cautioned people to "follow the label direction for safe, effective use," in light of a May survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that found that many Americans were engaging in "nonrecommended, high-risk practices," such as washing food products with bleach or applying surface disinfectants to skin.
For more on how to disinfect items safely without endangering your health or ruining your things, follow these tips.
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