If you’ve spent some time on our site, you know many of our products are made with citric acid. For instance, it is one of the key ingredients in our LEXX® cleaners, sanitizers, and disinfectants.
However, citric acid in cleaning and disinfecting solutions may be new to some visitors. So let us take a closer look at how and why this ingredient is transforming the professional cleaning industry.
Is citric acid safe to use?
Yes. Citric acid has been used for years in household cleaners, detergents, cosmetics, and food. The United States Food and Drug Administration considers citric acid so safe that it can be used as a direct food additive. It is also biodegradable, environmentally friendly, and derived from natural sources, such as limes and lemons.
Why is citric acid being used in professional cleaning products now?
We now know that traditional disinfectants and sanitizers, typically containing ammonia or chlorine bleach as their active ingredient, were used to clean nearly anything and everything during the pandemic. This practice came to be known as hygiene theater. We were using these traditional disinfectants even though we knew they risked the health of the user, building users, the infrastructure, and the environment. With the pandemic inching behind us, building managers and cleaning professionals have been looking for a safer – yet powerful – disinfecting agent. They found it in products made with citric acid.
So, can citric acid be used as a disinfectant alternative?
Yes. According to a recent report in ChemicalSafetyFacts.org, a consumer-focused information center, citric acid is used in disinfectants to help destroy bacteria and viruses. It has proven so effective that ProNatural Brand’s LEXX disinfectant and cleaning solution is registered as an EPA, hospital-grade disinfectant. This means it can be used as a disinfectant in hospitals, health care institutions, and medical facilities.
Further, it is now included in the EPA’s List N. This is a directory of disinfectants evaluated and proven to be effective at eliminating all strains and variants of the pathogen that causes COVID-19 when used according to the label directions.
What types of surfaces can LEXX be used on?
LEXX was designed for hard, non-porous surfaces including countertops, restroom fixtures, kitchen workstations, floors, tables, and desks. If used on a metal surface, citric acid is effective but must be used per the manufacturer’s instructions. To prevent corrosion, it should be wiped away right after cleaning, ensuring the surface is left dry.
Do your citric acid products have concentrated options available for purchase?
Yes, and this is important to know. When a product is concentrated, it lasts longer and saves money for the consumer. However, that is not all. Because it is concentrated and lasts longer, it helps promote sustainability. Concentrated products reduce fuel and transport needs, helping to reduce the number of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere.
Do you have to clean surfaces first and then apply a LEXX product?
Our LEXX disinfectant and cleaner concentrate is a one-step cleaner/disinfectant, meaning no rinsing required. It has been engineered to be used in health care settings, sports venues, schools, and commercial facilities. The significant benefit of using such a cleaning solution is improved worker productivity. Because cleaning professionals can clean and disinfect surfaces so much faster, improving worker productivity, this can also reduce cleaning costs. When it comes to professional cleaning, time is money. Anything that reduces cleaning times is a cost saver.
What type of feedback have you gotten from users of LEXX products?
Proudly, we have received very positive feedback regarding our LEXX products. We have placed the results of one study, conducted in a health care center, on our website. In the study, cleaning professionals were asked to compare and rate different ProNatural products. The cleaning professionals concluded the ProNatural products were effective, helped remove heavy soiling and buildup on surfaces, and one thing more, they enjoyed the pleasant fragrance of the test products.
Please read the study by clicking here.
