If you are battling Clostridioides Difficile aka Clostridium Difficile or someone with C. Diff, has been inside your home, you will want to have your home (especially your bathroom) thoroughly disinfected. And the first thing that usually pops into our heads when we embark upon a large scale disinfecting job is: Does Lysol Kill C. Diff or will I need Something Stronger?
Is Lysol Going to Kill C. Diff Bacteria?
Your typical, metal can of Lysol Aerosol spray does not kill C. Diff spores and you WILL need something stronger. As for trigger spray bottles by Lysol brand, we have some good news and some bad news.
Lysol for C. Diff – Good News
The good news is YES, there is ONE, trigger spray, formula of Lysol that is approved by the EPA for being able to kill C.Diff bacteria throughout our homes.
Lysol for C. Diff – Bad News
The bad news is: depending on where you live, this particular formula can be impossible to find! We at WhatKillsIt.com, live in a relatively large city with every store imaginable and still couldn’t find this particular Lysol.
So we did what any good research team would do: We called Reckitt Benckiser Group (Lysol Makers) and asked “Where the HE*! can we buy your Lysol that kills C. Diff!?
After a few minutes, the customer service rep was able to find ONE store near us that stocked the C.Diff killing Lysol. It was a Rite-Aid, and off we went.
So before running around town like we did, we highly advise calling Lysol makers Reckitt and Benckiser @ (800) 228-4722. Hopefully they can locate a source near you and save you the headache we experienced.
The Lysol That Kills C-Diff
Lysol All Purpose Cleaner with Bleach is EPA approved to kill C. diff on hard, non-porous surfaces when used as directed. For added insurance, make sure you see EPA Registration Number – 777-83 located on the back of the bottle.
You’ll want to look closely at packaging, because some lysol products appear to be the right one, but even we were fooled until we noticed the EPA registration numbers didn’t match up.
Besides Lysol, What Kills C.Diff?
Because the above Lysol product is really hard to find, we’re going to list a few online options that can be delivered to your door that are also EPA registered for killing the very resilient spores of C. Diff.
Wherever possible, we’ve included a direct affiliate link to amazon, walmart or home depot. We cannot guarantee whether a product will be in stock but you can use our links or click on picture and you’ll be taken to the product page for a price check and availability.
These are some other products capable of killing C.Diff spores.
Clorox Germicidal Bleach Spray or Wipes Kills C. Diff Spores
Clorox Healthcare Germicidal products in both wipes and sprays is EPA registered to kill the C. Diff bacterial spores. You can click any image to see current availability and price or complete a purchase.
EPA Registration Numbers: 56392-7 for liquids and 56392-8 for wipes. Clorox makes it easy to find the right product because they list C.Diff on the front panel.
Household Size
Commercial Size
Bulk Wipes
PDI Sani-Cloth Bleach Wipes Kills C.Diff Spores
It’s important that you match this product EXACTLY. The slightest change in formula could mean you will NOT be able to kill C.Diff Spores.
Currently using an “orange” top, the full name is PDI Sani-Cloth Bleach Germicidal Disposable Wipe (link to price check): EPA registration number 9480-8
Dispatch Hospital Cleaner Disinfectant Towels with Bleach (Wipes) Kills C.Diff Spores
It’s important that you match this product EXACTLY. The slightest change in formula could mean you will NOT be able to kill C.Diff Spores.
Full name is Dispatch Hospital Cleaner Disinfectant Towels with Bleach Wipe (link to price check): EPA registration number 56392-8
Caviwipes with Bleach Kills C.Diff Spores
Full name: Caviwipes with Bleach – EPA Registration # 46781-14 kills C.Diff and are available at amazon (link to purchase) or you can click the product image below.
Disinfectant Wipes vs. Spray for C. Diff – What’s Better?
Many people wonder what is best better when it comes to disinfectant wipes vs. sprays. As long as your product is registered with the EPA for killing C. Diff spores and you follow the instructions for killing C. Diff, the preference is yours. Wipes do, however, tend to reduce cross-contamination. This is because it’s natural for us to toss a dirty wipe into the garbage.
Sprays, on the other hand, are often used with cloth material such as dish cloths or “reusable” scrap rags. Because C. Diff is so resilient, resist the urge to launder or reuse a dirty C.Diff cleaning cloth. Toss them into the garbage like you would a disposable wipe.
Best Practices for How to Clean and Disinfect for C. Diff in the Home
Having the right product is not enough, you also have to clean your house the right way. Begin each disinfecting session with clean and preferably disposable cloths that you will not reuse over multiple areas. Once you have used the cloth, discard the cloth and use a new one next time.
Laundry and C. Diff Spores
While you are disinfecting your home, do not forget to properly treat your laundry. It is recommended that you wash your clothes with the hottest water with bleach along with your laundry soap.
Washing with cold water may not only fail to kill the spores, but it could also spread them to your machine and other items that may be washed in it. If you are concerned your washing machine has been contaminated, you can run the machine with hot water and clorox regular bleach.
If you are caring for someone with C.Diff in the home, consider providing them with clothing and bedding that is chlorine bleach friendly, such as white cotton or cotton blends. Keeping the area in bright colors will also help reveal infectious spills.
Disinfecting C. Diff Spores from Electronics
Electronics such as phones, computers, and remotes are also important to clean, but be sure to apply more care when cleaning them. Bleach is not intended for use with electronics and may cause damage. Try to use a soft microfiber cloth when cleaning a smartphone, and avoid getting any electronics too wet with whatever product you are using.
Hand Hygiene When Dealing with C. Diff
It is critically important that you wash your hands regularly and properly during the cleaning process to prevent spreading the bacteria spores. Hand sanitizers are capable of killing lots of different germs, but C. Diff spores are extremely difficult to kill. The Mayo Clinic advises that regular alcohol based hand sanitizer is not sufficient for C. diff, so when it comes to C. Diff, stick with soap and preferably warm water.
Make sure the soap goes up to your wrists and gets spread all around your hands, going between your fingers and under your nails. You should scrub your hands for around 30 seconds and rinse thoroughly, as it is the scrubbing which actually removes the C. diff spores. A useful trick is to hum the Happy Birthday song (slowly) two times while washing your hands. . That will ensure you’ll be at 30 seconds of hand-washing.
Control the Spread of C. Diff: Wear Gloves
Wearing properly fitting, disposable gloves (link to gloves), while cleaning is ideal, as you will not only prevent the bacteria from spreading to your hands, but you will also keep your hands from the chemicals you are cleaning with. Bleach is harsh and irritating.
While C. difficile can understandably cause a scare, you don’t have to worry. With the right equipment and technique you can keep the bacteria under control.
Ultimately, the most important thing to prevent getting infected is to make a regular habit of thoroughly washing your hands, and to use the right disinfectant for anything that someone with C. diff had direct contact with. If you clean right and clean often, you will have the clean, safe home that you want for yourself and your family.
Sodium Hypochlorite Kills C. Diff
If you cannot find or cannot afford products that are labeled for killing C. Diff, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests making a solution of one part bleach to ten parts water and let it contact the surface for a full 10 minutes.
That is an extremely high bleach to water ratio which proves how tough this bacteria is to kill. If a bleach solution is your preferred method, take caution to wear a vapor approved mask, gloves, and goggles because that chlorine concentration is highly irritating to the eyes and respiratory system. Buy new bleach because it degrades after 6 months and make sure it is real bleach: active ingredient must be Sodium Hypochlorite – accept no substitute.
Summary
According to the CDC (Center for Disease Control) Clostridium Difficile continues to be a major concern in 2020…
C. diff infections are an urgent problem in hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, inpatient rehab facilities, and skilled nursing facilities and in communities. C. diff infections can spread more widely when patients move between these healthcare facilities, both within and between communities.
Link to CDC C.Diff Guidance
What’s more disturbing is that newer strains of this already resilient bacteria are becoming harder and harder to kill and is beginning to present in people who are not in the high-risk category.
If you are faced with having to dissinfect Clostridioides Difficile in your home, or are care-taker to someone suffering the effects of this awful bacteria, your disinfecting routine is of paramount importance.
Using the right products, registered with the EPA for ability to kill C. Diff spores is step 1. Then, use disposable cleaning supplies and be sure to securely bag waste to prevent spillage or re-entry into the environment.
