Frequently Asked Questions

You have questions. We have answers.

Most Common Questions

  • Some PDI products state “store at room temperature.” What is the definition of room temperature?

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    For our EPA-regulated products, such as Sani-Cloth® AF3, Super Sani-Cloth, Sani-Cloth Bleach, Sani-Cloth Plus. Sani-Cloth Prime, Sani-HyPerCide® and Sani-HP1™ brand products, room temperature within a temperature range of 20◦ to 25◦ C (68◦ – 77◦ F) degree for room temperature and within a temperature range of 15◦ C to 30◦ C (59◦ F to 86◦ F). For our FDA-regulated products, such as Prevantics® brand products, “controlled room temperature” indicates a temperature maintained thermostatically that encompasses the usual customary working environment of 20◦ C to 25◦ C (68◦ F to 77◦ F).

    SOURCE: USP 41-NF 36 General Notices and Requirements (August 1, 2013 First Supplements) Section 10.30.50. “Room Temperature” indicates the temperature prevailing in a working area. Section 10.30.60. Controlled Room Temperature

  • Does PDI offer a product that can be used in kitchens or cafeterias in a healthcare setting?

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    For hard, non-porous food contact surfaces, the Federal Food Code and 21 CFR 178.1010 recommend using a no-rinse food-contact sanitizer. PDI’s Sani Professional food safety division offers economical, and effective wipe alternatives to sprays, liquids, gels, and rags that meet these requirements.

    While PDI’s Sani-Cloth® and other intermediate-level disinfectants are widely used for environmental surfaces, they are not registered as food-contact sanitizers. If used on food-contact surfaces, they require a potable water rinse after disinfection. This is not unique to PDI—it is an EPA requirement for all surface disinfectants used on food-contact surfaces, since disinfectants are typically not registered as sanitizers and may leave residues that must be rinsed away before food preparation or consumption.

  • Which products are compatible with my equipment?

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    Our products are designed to be compatible. Extensive work has been performed on materials and equipment to confirm compatibility. For information on Compatible by Design™, our comprehensive program and resources for improving healthcare equipment compatibility, review our “PDI Material Compatibility Reference Guide”, our resources, and use our Equipment Compatibility Tool to learn more!

    Please refer to the surface or equipment manufacturer’s guidelines for approved disinfecting instructions and contact your local PDI representative or Customer Care with any additional questions..

  • Does PDI offer a product that can be used to clean computer hardware, touch screens and keyboards?

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    Yes. Routine cleaning and disinfection of high-touch surfaces such as keyboards, mice, and touchscreens is important.

    For touchscreens and delicate electronic surfaces*: PDI developed Easy Screen® Cleaning Wipes specifically for this purpose. The 70% IPA formula is the most referenced in healthcare equipment and electronic device manufacturers’ instructions for use, and PDI conducted extensive compatibility testing on touchscreen materials. Easy Screen wipes are proven safe for use on glass, polycarbonate, aluminum silicate, acrylic, stainless steel, and more.

    For keyboards and mice: Sani-Cloth® disinfecting wipes are generally safe to use, but they are not intended for touchscreen monitors.

    Note: Cleaning the screen of your mobile device with a wipe containing alcohol may reduce the lifespan of anti-fingerprint coatings. Always check your device manufacturer’s cleaning instructions.

    *Energized electronic equipment use only.

  • What are the levels of disinfection for PDI EPA-Registered products?

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    All of PDI’s Sani-Cloth® brand products are EPA-registered and meet or exceed CDC recommendations for cleaning and disinfection in healthcare facilities.

    Products with an efficacy claim against Mycobacterium bovis (Tuberculosis) are classified as intermediate-level disinfectants.

    This includes:

    • Sani-HP1™ Germicidal Disposable Wipes (EPA Reg. No. 9480-17)
    • Sani-HyPerCide® Germicidal Wipes (EPA Reg. No. 9480-16)
    • Sani-Cloth Prime Germicidal Disposable Wipes (EPA Reg. No. 9480-12)
    • Sani-Cloth AF3 Germicidal Disposable Wipes (EPA Reg. No. 9480-9)
    • Super Sani-Cloth Germicidal Disposable Wipes (EPA Reg. No. 9480-4)
    • Sani-Cloth Bleach Germicidal Disposable Wipes (EPA Reg. No. 9480-8)

    Products without a Tuberculosis claim are classified as low-level disinfectants, including:

    • Sani-Cloth Plus Germicidal Disposable Wipes (EPA Reg. No. 9480-6)

  • What is contact time and what happens if the surface dries before the stated contact time on a Sani-Cloth® product label?

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    The contact time listed on the product label is the total amount of time that it takes to inactivate ALL of the microorganisms listed on the product label. This time is typically referred to in minutes, and should be communicated to staff members that are utilizing the disinfectant.

    Per EPA guidance, treated surfaces must remain visibly wet for the full stated contact time in order to achieve the efficacy claims on the label. If a surface dries too quickly, additional wipes may be needed to keep the surface wet. The overall contact time itself does not change.

    Surfaces may sometimes dry before the stated contact time due to factors such as airflow and ventilation, temperature, humidity, or the material/porosity of the surface. This is not uncommon in healthcare environments, which often have high air exchanges and low relative humidity.

    While the EPA requires that treated environmental surfaces remain wet for the full contact time, some leading researchers in infection prevention have offered an alternate view. In a commentary published in Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology (March 2018, vol. 39, no. 3, pp 229–231), Dr. W.A. Rutala and Dr. D.J. Weber suggested that contact time and treatment time are mutually exclusive, and that treatment time — regardless of visible wetness — may be sufficient for wipes (except bleach products). PDI continues to monitor this research closely and will provide customers with the latest information as regulations permit.

  • Where can I find the expiration date for PDI’s Germicidal Wipes?

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    The expiration date is stamped directly on each product in MM/YYYY format. Shelf life varies by formulation:

    • Sani-Cloth® AF3, Super Sani-Cloth®, Sani-Cloth® Plus, and Easy Screen®: 24 months from date of manufacture
    • Sani-Cloth® Prime, Sani-HyPerCide® and Sani-HP1™: 12 months from date of manufacture
    • Sani-Cloth® Bleach: 11 months from date of manufacture

    Products can be used until the printed expiration date.

  • What personal protective equipment (PPE) is required when using PDI Germicidal Wipes?

    Show Answer

    For all PDI products, according to the label instruction, the use of gloves or other PPE may not be required to handle the product, particularly in non-clinical settings. Therefore, the routine use of PPE is not required unless potentially infectious blood or bodily fluids are present or if specifically referenced in the usage instructions. If bloodborne pathogens are present, such as HIV, HBV, and HCV, follow label instructions. You should, however, wear PPE as appropriate in accordance with your facility protocol. Also, in compliance with good industrial and health hygiene, you should wear gloves when cleaning and disinfecting in a patient setting.

  • Can PDI Germicidal Wipes ship by air transportation?

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    Most Sani-Cloth® brand germicidal wipes can be shipped via air transportation. However, Sani-Cloth® Prime, Super Sani-Cloth®, Sani-Cloth® Plus, and Easy Screen® wipes cannot be shipped by air due to shipping regulations and must be transported by ground only.

  • Can PDI Germicidal Wipes be used on toys?

    Show Answer

    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

  • Does National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 30 apply to PDI’s surface disinfection and cleaning products?

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    No. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 30 applies to the storage, handling, and use of flammable and combustible liquids. PDI products such as Sani-HP1™, Sani-HyPerCide® Wipes, Sani-Cloth® Prime, Super Sani-Cloth, Sani-Cloth Plus, Sani-Cloth Bleach, and Easy Screen® Cleaning Wipes are exempt from NFPA 30 requirements.

    Although the liquid portion of some of these products may be classified as flammable on the SDS, the wipes themselves are not considered “liquids.” EPA classifies wipes as mixture products containing both solids and liquids, and NFPA has confirmed that wipes are not treated as liquids for the purposes of NFPA 30.

    Additionally, NFPA 30 Section 9.1.4(4) specifically excludes “medicines, foodstuffs, cosmetics, and other consumer products that contain more than 50% by volume of water-miscible liquids, with the remainder of the solution not being flammable, where packaged in individual containers not exceeding 5 L (1.3 gallons).”

    For these reasons, NFPA 30 does not apply to PDI disinfectant wipes. However, always verify storage requirements with your insurance carrier, as their standards may be more stringent than NFPA guidelines.

  • Do you have any products effective against SARS-CoV-2 virus (the virus that causes COVID-19)?

    Show Answer

    Yes. The CDC directs users to EPA List N, which identifies EPA-registered disinfectants that meet the criteria for use against SARS-CoV-2. According to the EPA, products on List N are expected to kill all strains and variants of the virus when used according to label directions.

    All PDI surface disinfectant wipes are included on List N and are effective against SARS-CoV-2.

    This includes:

    • Sani-HP1™ Germicidal Disposable Wipes
    • Sani-HyPerCide® Germicidal Disposable Wipes
    • Sani-Cloth Prime Germicidal Disposable Wipes
    • Super Sani-Cloth Germicidal Disposable Wipes
    • Sani-Cloth Bleach Germicidal Disposable Wipes
    • Sani-Cloth AF3 Germicidal Disposable Wipes
    • Sani-Cloth Plus Germicidal Disposable Wipes

    For the most current information, you can verify PDI products directly on the EPA List N using the EPA registration numbers found on each product label. [https://www.epa.gov/coronavirus-and-disinfectants/list-n-advanced-search-page-disinfectants-coronavirus-covid-19]

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