Shelf Life of a Chlorine & Water Mix for Decontamination

Chlorine and Water Mix

• To use a chlorine and water mix for decontamination around your home, use a 1:10 ratio of chlorine bleach to water. The 1:10 ratio kills bacteria and fungal growth on items like thermometers, humidifiers and other medical equipment. For more general cleaning that still disinfects, pour one-half teaspoon of chlorine bleach into a 1 quart spray bottle filled with water. The resulting mixture is strong enough to sanitize surfaces like kitchen counters, but isn’t strong enough to discolor linens or other items in your home.

Shelf Life

• In general, chlorine bleach retains its disinfecting power for about 12 months. After a year, it starts to weaken and should be discarded. Because the chlorine and water mix is more diluted, it loses strength in a shorter amount of time. Its shelf life is only a few months. As a rule, make only enough solution as you believe you will use in two month’s time. After the two months go by, discard any of the mix that remains and make a fresh batch if it is needed.

Use

• When using the 1:10 ratio, first rinse the object to be decontaminated. Any lingering soap clinging to something like a thermometer can interfere with the disinfecting action of the chlorine bleach. After dipping the object in the bleach mix or spraying it down, wipe it clean then rinse it again with water before drying it and putting it away. When using the solution in a spray bottle, spritz down the area you want to decontaminate, then wipe it clean with a damp sponge. You do not need to rinse the area with water.

Considerations

• Chlorine bleach can be used to decontaminate dirty water when boiling isn’t possible. Add five or six drops of bleach to a gallon of water, then give it 30 minutes to work. Although the diluted bleach mix is safe for household use, avoid spraying it near your eyes or someone’s skin; it can cause irritation and burning. When working with bleach, it is always safest to work in a well-ventilated area.