FAQs

Product Basics

Q: What is Sani-Powder?

A: Sani-Powder is the industry’s first 99% bioactive, water-soluble granular HOCl (Hypochlorous Acid) hard surface sanitizer and disinfectant. Delivered in a dry form, Sani-Powder is packaged in convenient pre-measured packets that are simply added to water in various container sizes. Sani-Powder is EPA Registration “N” listing approved and is designed to kill viruses, bacteria, mold, fungi, and other harmful pathogens—similar to liquid HOCl solutions produced by expensive generators, but with a more stable and stronger solution. By adding Sani-Powder to water, users can create one of the strongest forms of HOCl available today. The product is designed and packaged to help users target the pathogens they are most concerned about in the most efficient and cost-effective way possible. Sani-Powder can be mixed into a strong solution for demanding environments like hospitals or a milder solution suitable for residential settings, helping eliminate unwanted pathogens safely and efficiently.

Q: What is the difference between cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting?

A:

  • Cleaning removes dust, debris, and dirt from a surface by scrubbing, washing, and rinsing.
  • Sanitizing reduces the bacteria identified on the product’s label on surfaces and in laundry.
  • Disinfecting destroys or inactivates both bacteria and viruses identified on the product’s label (such as influenza and rhinovirus) on hard, nonporous surfaces. It is important to read each product label to fully understand the claims recognized by the EPA.

Q: Why is it important to have an N-Listed product to safely disinfect?

A: The EPA’s N-List became important to many consumers and medical facilities after the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020. The CDC recognized several active ingredients, products, and manufacturers that produced sanitizing and disinfecting products meeting specific requirements. It is important to understand that being on the N-List does not make a product a cure-all for every disinfecting need. Sani-Powder is now on the EPA “N” List.

Q: Does Sani-Powder deliver any proprietary advantages over other common disinfectants?

A: Yes. Sani-Powder provides a faster speed of kill, leaves no residue, and typically requires no post-application wiping for most uses. This speed and ease of treatment are significant advantages and require minimal personal protective equipment (PPE) when applied in aqueous form. In many applications, Sani-Powder can be sprayed and left to dry without rinsing. It provides effective sanitation while using less chemistry and presenting lower skin and eye irritation risk compared with many traditional disinfectants. Sani-Powder can also be fogged or misted with people present for continuous disinfection. Additionally, no carcinogen-forming THM or HAA compounds are created as byproducts of Sani-Powder disinfection.

Mixing & Usage

Q: How do I determine what ppm or strength of solution I need for my application?

A: Every product registered with the EPA and tested against specific pathogens will have a kill claim. This claim identifies the product strength needed to eliminate a specific pathogen and how long the solution must remain wet on the surface to complete the kill. For example, Sani-Powder mixed with tap water at 600 ppm is strong enough to kill a variety of bacteria with a 10-minute dwell time. When mixed to 2400 ppm, Sani-Powder can eliminate some of the most resistant viruses in 4 minutes. Sani-Powder can also be used to sanitize food-contact surfaces in residential or commercial kitchens without rinsing at 100 ppm. The appropriate strength depends on what you are trying to eliminate and how quickly you need the treatment to work. Stronger solutions can kill pathogens more quickly but may require additional precautions. Lower concentrations may require longer dwell times but generally involve fewer precautions. A mix chart is provided on the Sani-Powder label to help determine the proper solution strength.

Q: How long does Sani-Powder last once it is applied?

A: Based on concentration, Sani-Powder rapidly kills contaminants on surfaces within minutes without leaving dangerous or hazardous residue behind. As surfaces are exposed to additional contaminants (the rate of contamination varies depending on the environment), Sani-Powder does not leave harmful residues to provide residual kill over a long period of time. It is designed to kill what exists on the surface when applied and leave a clean, pathogen-free, safe surface for human and food contact. Products designed for residual kill or barrier coatings should be used with caution to ensure that people or food touching treated surfaces are not exposed to residual chemistry that could harm people, pets, or the environment.

Q: How often is it recommended to spray Sani-Powder?

A: Depending on the environment, Sani-Powder can be applied for sanitization or disinfection as often as needed. Because Sani-Powder is efficiently applied and both eco- and human-safe, hotspot areas with frequent human touch points may benefit from multiple treatments per day as needed, such as classrooms, conference rooms, cafeterias, common areas, and transportation facilities.

Q: How long does Sani-Powder need to sanitize surfaces?

A: Sani-Powder reacts quickly against microbes and can eliminate many pathogens within a few minutes of contact time. For a comprehensive list of pathogens and required dwell times, refer to the EPA label and manufacturer guidance, as kill claims and dwell times vary by product and concentration.

Q: How much area will 1 gallon of Sani-Powder solution cover in a spray application?

A: Generally speaking, one gallon of Sani-Powder solution can cover approximately 4,000 square feet, depending on the spray volume and application method.

Application & Surfaces

Q: Will Sani-Powder work with sprayers?

A: Yes. Sani-Powder solutions can be applied using sprayers or misters and can also be sprayed, misted, or fogged with a variety of commercially available spraying, misting, diffusing, or fogging devices.

Q: What types of foggers can be used with Sani-Powder?

A: Sani-Powder solutions can be used with all foggers tested to deliver effective disinfection. The level of atomizing, spraying, or misting will vary depending on the equipment and should be adjusted by the operator to ensure surfaces are treated appropriately without oversaturating them.

Q: Do you have to wipe off Sani-Powder after applying it?

A: Sani-Powder does not leave a residual. At recommended concentrations, it is not corrosive or destructive to most hard surfaces and can be applied without wiping after treatment. However, if users prefer to wipe the surface after application, allow the solution to sit for the recommended 4–10 minutes (depending on concentration and bacterial or virus kill claims) before wiping to ensure complete elimination of contaminants. It is also important to know the surfaces being treated. As with many cleaning and disinfecting products, it is good practice to test a small area first to verify there will be no adverse reaction.

Q: Does Sani-Powder harm equipment, chairs, or other fabrics?

A: It is recommended to test fabrics first to determine the risk of bleaching. Sani-Powder is intended primarily for hard surface treatment. Soft surfaces do not carry official sanitization or disinfection claims. Avoid leaving any surface saturated for extended periods beyond 10 minutes, as stated on the label. Even water can damage surfaces if left standing for too long.

Q: What if Sani-Powder gets on my food?

A: Sani-Powder is certified as a spray-on, leave-on food surface cleaner and is approved for use in drinking water purification when used at the proper concentration. Washing produce with the appropriate strength of HOCl can also help extend shelf life. As with any FDA-approved product, it is important to follow label instructions for proper strength and application.

Safety & Storage

Q: Will Sani-Powder leave an odor after applying to a surface?

A: Sani-Powder is an oxidizer that uses FAC (Free Available Chlorine) to eliminate surface pathogens, bacteria, and viruses. During application, it may temporarily leave a slight chlorine-like scent on the surface and in the air. Once the surface dries completely, the scent will dissipate and leave a clean smell.

Q: Does Sani-Powder give off gas?

A: Once mixed with water, Sani-Powder will gradually degrade in strength over time and should be used within 30 days of mixing to ensure optimal performance. During application, users may notice a slight “clean” scent, which is normal.

Q: What is the shelf life of Sani-Powder?

A: In its dry granular form, Sani-Powder has a 2-year shelf life from the manufacturing date. Once mixed into solution, it should be used within 30 days to maintain effectiveness.

Q: Can I drink Sani-Powder?

A: No. Sani-Powder is not approved for internal use.

Q: Will Sani-Powder cause skin or eye irritation?

A: At recommended concentrations and according to OSHA and GHS testing, Sani-Powder is not harmful to eyes or skin. As with any product, it is important to use Sani-Powder as directed. Individuals with certain sensitivities may experience minor skin or eye irritation.

Q: What will happen if I accidentally spray Sani-Powder in my eyes?

A: No adverse effects are expected in humans or pets if Sani-Powder is accidentally sprayed into the eyes during application. If irritation occurs, rinse the eyes with water for several minutes. The product should never be intentionally sprayed on the skin or into the eyes.

Q: What if someone has an allergy to chlorine?

A: Most known chlorine reactions are associated with sodium hypochlorite, the chemical compound found in bleach. HOCl does not contain sodium hypochlorite. Hypochlorous acid (HOCl) is naturally produced by white blood cells in the bloodstream. Allergic reactions to HOCl are uncommon, but if any reaction develops, wash any exposed skin with clean tap water.

Q: Is it safe for an employee to spray Sani-Powder solutions and accidentally make contact with the mist?

A: Sani-Powder solutions containing HOCl have been safely used in working environments, agricultural and animal care environments around people, animals, and food. The product is environmentally safe and can be applied using a variety of equipment, including atomizers, sprayers, and foggers. When used at recommended concentrations, Sani-Powder solutions can be sprayed and applied in aqueous form without personal protective equipment (PPE).