Working with Sodium Hypochlorite
The Scoop on Bleach
Sodium Hypochlorite is commonly known as Bleach. It comes in varying strengths. But the two most common are store bought, at 6%, and industrial strength, at 12.5%. The strength commonly used in the cleaning industry is 12.5% SH.
The CDC has announced that Bleach IS an effective cleaning and sanitizing agent against COVID-19. This is great news for all in our industry trying to clean (and sanitize!) during these times. As sanitizing surfaces and essential buildings deems the work both critical and essential and qualifies it in the eyes of the government as critical infrastructure.
Cleaning and Sanitizing
In order to sanitize with bleach, the surface must be first cleaned. To do this, spray down with your bleach and surfactant mix, let it dwell for a short time, and then rinse. To sanitize, go back over the surface with your bleach and surfactant mix. Let it dwell, then rinse a final time. This ensure the surface is first cleaned and sanitized.
Mix Rates
Mix rates vary depending on the different SH strengths. Store bought SH is 6% and industrial strength commonly used when Soft Washing is 12.5%. Here are the official CDC mix rates for
6% SH
4 OZ of SH
1 OZ Stick Surfactant
1 Gallon Water
Larger Tanks
For larger tanks, multiply up the ratio. For example, a 4 gallon pump sprayer:
16 OZ 6% SH
4 OZ Stick
3.75 Gallon Water
12.5% SH
2 OZ of SH
1 OZ Stick Surfactant
1 Gallon Water
Larger Tanks
For larger tanks, multiply up the ratio. For example, a 4 gallon pump sprayer:
8 OZ 12.5% SH
4 OZ Stick
3.75 Gallon Water
ProTool Stick Surfactant
Stick surfactant is made to be used WITH bleach. It is fully compatible and our recommendation to be used when cleaning and sanitizing. Stick ensure the bleach mix sticks to the surfaces and increases dwell time. Dwell time is oh so important when talking about both cleaning Houses/Buildings, and cleaning and sanitizing surfaces. We recommend a dwell time of 4 minutes during this process.
