Can PDI Germicidal Wipes be used on toys?

Yes. PDI’s EPA-registered surface disinfectant products—including Super Sani-Cloth^®, Sani-Cloth AF3, Sani-Cloth Bleach, Sani-Cloth Plus, Sani-Cloth Prime, Sani-HP1™, and Sani-HyPerCide^® brands—are approved and labeled for use on hard, non-porous toys. They clean and disinfect in a one-step process unless the toy is visibly soiled. After disinfection, toys should always be rinsed thoroughly with potable water (tap water) and allowed to air dry.

This rinse step is not unique to PDI—it is required for all EPA-registered surface disinfectants when used on toys or items that may be mouthed, since disinfectants are not registered as food-contact surface sanitizers. Without the rinse, chemical residues could remain on items that children may put in their mouths.

According to the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), recommended best practice is: “Toys should be cleaned/disinfected between patients, especially those that are visibly soiled, mouthed, or used by patients in isolation. Toys should be washed thoroughly; disinfected with a non-toxic, low-level disinfectant; and air dried completely.”

Infection prevention experts also recommend only using washable toys for sharing. Stuffed animals and toys that cannot be cleaned and disinfected should not be shared.

SOURCE: APIC Text of Infection Control and Epidemiology, Chapter 39, p. 14-15, Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, 2011. www.apic.org