Does Clorox Splash-Less bleach not disinfect?
Amid the coronavirus pandemic, bleach sales have increased significantly across the United States with the growing need to disinfect surfaces regularly. However, a critical difference between Clorox’s regular bleach formula and its splashless solution has gone long unnoticed by the general public.
A Facebook post shared on May 15 shows two similar-looking bleach bottles side-by-side and says, “Important to know! Splashless does NOT disinfect.”
In the post – said to have been shared from “a friend” – it explains how the man was reading the back of the splashless bleach bottle to find out how long it needs to sit in order to sanitize. But to his surprise, he discovered that it does not disinfect but only “whitens, brightens and deodorizes surfaces and clothes.”
According to reviews posted on Clorox’s website, this misinterpretation has become more common in recent months. Some reviews go as far as to accuse Clorox of deceptive advertising for not clearly labeling its splashless solution as one that does not disinfect.
The user who shared the post did not respond to USA TODAY for comments and clarification.
All bleaches are not the same
As bleach has become more commonplace throughout American households, so have the slips and spills associated with the laundry room product. In recent years, consumers asked Clorox for a substance with a more controllable pour, which prompted Clorox to respond with its splashless bleach alternative, according to the Journal Inquirer in Manchester, Connecticut.
Last year, Rita Gorenberg, Clorox’s associate director of brand engagement, told the Journal Inquirer that Clorox developed its Splash-Less Bleach Formula with a higher viscosity “in direct response to consumer comments about bleach splashing when poured into washing machine dispensers.” The thicker, more controlled bleaching solution was meant to ease pouring struggles while maximizing the bleach’s laundry effects.
By adding the ingredients needed to achieve the higher viscosity for its Splash-Less formula, Clorox altered the concentration of sodium hypochlorite to a variable 1%-5%, which is not strong enough to sanitize and disinfect. According to the Clorox website, the company’s regular bleach, absent the sudsing agent, has a sodium hypochlorite concentration between 5% and 6.5%.
The active ingredient in disinfectants, sodium hypochlorite, is used for disinfecting purposes on a large scale, including for agriculture, synthetic and household purposes, according to Lenntech, a water treatment and purification company. It is effective against bacteria, viruses and fungi but only in concentrations above 5%. Hypochlorite is a popular household disinfectant because of its similar properties to chlorine.
To disinfect surfaces, the CDC recommends diluting 5 tablespoons of standard-grade bleach per gallon of water.
Concerns over deceptive labeling
In recent months, consumer and independent blogs have raised concerns over the “mislabeled” formula as having the same effects as Clorox’s regular bleach. Clorox has challenged these claims, asserting the company clarifies in the bottle’s description – located on the back – that the product is “not for sanitation or disinfection.” Further, if the disinfecting tab is selected on the company website’s products section, the Splash-Less Bleach Formula will disappear from the selection panel.
The Clorox Co. did not respond to USA TODAY’s request for comment.
Our rating: True
We rate the claim that Clorox SplashLess Bleach Formula does not disinfect surfaces as TRUE because it is supported by our research. The active ingredients used to achieve the higher viscosity in Clorox’s splashless solution reduce the percentage of sodium hypochlorite present to a level that is unable to actively disinfect surfaces.