Cleaning Coveralls and Other Potentially Contaminated PPE

Published: October 7, 2020

Q: Can we use the Alconox Inc. detergents for washing to clean and disinfect coveralls for re-use?

A: Yes! Our detergents are ideal to clean before using a disinfectant. See these important links:

Tergazyme® Enzyme-Active Powdered Detergent will do this for the laundry. And can be used to immediately assist – see our Tergazyme detergent video.

If you are looking to manually clean coveralls, bunny suits, bouffants, and the like, the powerful proteases in Tergazyme cleaner give thorough removal/cleaning of organic, proteinaceous, blood and other bodily fluids.

If you have Alconox® Powdered Precision Cleaner in stock – essentially Tergazyme detergent without the enhancement of protein enzymes – that can be used as well.

Both detergents, the Alconox and Tergazyme powder, do not contain traditional “laundry” detergent attributes: florescent whitening agents, softeners and fragrances. They both contain excellent dispersants, emulsifiers and wetting agents that can enhance cleaning significantly. The fragrances included in traditional laundry detergents are used to create a “clean smell” which consumers have come to expect. To create that clean smell, some fragrance residue must be left behind after rinsing. Alconox products are designed to leave no detectible residues after rinsing, therefore clothes won’t “smell” clean, they just will be clean. In fact, critically clean.

If you are looking to use in traditional laundry washers, the foaming nature of Alconox powder may cause foaming depending on cycle, agitation, and other parameters. If such is the case, Alcojet® Low-Foaming Powdered Detergent would be the best bet (low foaming equivalent to Alconox powder).

Lowering the agitation cycle will certainly help with any foaming issues that may occur when using the Alconox powder.

Existing stocks of Alconox and/or Tergazyme powdered detergent can be used immediately to help clean coveralls, bunny suits and other PPE equipment. And we are thrilled that our products will assist!

If you have specific PPE, coveralls and related cleaning questions, please reach out to us any time to discuss your particular application.

For the avoidance of doubt, our products are cleaners and therefore make no claim to be a disinfectant which kills or disrupts organic material.

To request any Alconox Inc. detergents for free, please complete the questionnaire at Get Sample. For more information about any one of our Alconox Inc. detergents, consult the technical bulletin for each product. Or click here to access each of our detergent’s Safety Data Sheets.

Do you have a critical cleaning question for the experts at Alconox Inc.? Search TechNotes to see if it’s been answered before or Ask Alconox.

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