Start here · Liquids · Surface disinfectants
Sodium hypochlorite (bleach)
Also called: bleach, chlorine, hypochlorite
Chlorine bleach: cheap and strong, but corrosive and irritating.
Sodium hypochlorite is the active ingredient in bleach. CDC prefers an EPA-registered bleach product, but for a blood spill, if none is available, a 1:100 dilution (about 1/4 cup of 5.25% household bleach in 1 gallon of water) works. At high strength it corrodes metal.
How to spot it
- Sodium hypochlorite as the active ingredient; a strong chlorine smell.
What it is used for
- Blood spill cleanup and some surface disinfection; make fresh dilutions as directed.
Safety and care
- Never mix bleach with ammonia or acids; dangerous gases can form.
- Corrodes metal at high strength and bleaches fabrics.
- Do not use bleach or chlorine cleaners in suction lines that drain through an amalgam separator.
Related
Sources: CDC. Guidelines for Infection Control in Dental Health-Care Settings, 2003. MMWR 2003;52(RR-17), CDC. Guideline for Disinfection and Sterilization in Healthcare Facilities (2008): Chemical Disinfectants, eCFR. 40 CFR 441.30 Pretreatment standards for existing sources (dental offices), ADA. Amalgam Separators and Waste Best Management Practices