Alpha Tech Pet Blog

Ditch the Bleach

sales@alphatechpet.com — Fri, 11 Nov 2022 11:00:00 -0600

For many years, people have used bleach in their homes, laundry, and as a last resort to get rid of any remaining bacteria or stains. So, here we are, discussing the effects bleach may have on your property as well as what we utilize in our products.

Is Smelling Bleach Bad for Dogs?

sales@alphatechpet.com — Fri, 26 Nov 2021 11:38:00 -0600

Regardless of working in a vet setting, doggie day care or as a groomer, using bleach might be part of your tool kit in your cleaning routine. It’s been around forever and bleach can kill bacteria and viruses and remove mold from various surfaces.

Sure, bleach is an effective cleaning agent, but did you know that bleach can harm dogs through their nose?

Because of their heightened sense of smell, dogs are easily attracted to the strong odor produced by bleach. Inhaling an excessive amount of bleach can cause several side effects for dogs, namely kidney damage, aspiration pneumonia, and blood serum changes. Bleach poisoning through inhalation can also damage a dog’s gastrointestinal tract. Who knew?

How can you possibly clean kennels or perform proper veterinary sanitization without compromising a dog’s health? By simply using the right pet cleaning products designed specifically for animal care, especially ones from Alpha Pet Tech.

Are There Any Pet-Safe Disinfectants in the Market Today?

To effectively clean your workspace, invest in the right pet cleaning products. Yes, pet cleaners that are safe for pets and effective in disinfecting surfaces exist in the market. In fact, you can find a handful of options in various online and offline pet stores.

When looking for pet-safe disinfectants, pay attention to the following:

Look for pet cleaners that have plant-based ingredients, namely coconut oil, corn, and soap bark. These ingredients are free from harsh chemicals and fumes and are safe for pets and even children!
Avoid buying pet cleaners that contain toxins like sulfates and bleach. Aside from irritation, long-term use of these toxins can increase dogs' risks of cancer.
Enzyme-based cleaners are also effective in cleaning kennels without harming dogs. These pet cleaners contain biodegradable and non-toxic ingredients, which means they're perfectly safe to use around humans and dogs.
Take the time to read labels and never use cleaning products that contain chlorine, formaldehyde, hydrogen peroxide, and phenols. You'll likely have a medical emergency once dogs encounter any of these ingredients, as these are highly toxic.

If you don't want to take any chances, you can also use household products as your pet cleaning products. For instance, you can use vinegar (Apple Cider Vinegar or white distilled vinegar will do), baking soda, or lime juice. If you want to get rid of foul odor indoors, essential oils, such as jasmine and lavender, are also great options!

These household products are all natural and safe around pets!

Questions? Comments? Contact Us Today!

Using bleach for cleaning is a common practice for many. However, if you’re regularly working around dogs, you should start looking for safer alternatives.

If you’re interested to know more about Alpha Pet Tech and why our pet cleaners are different, please feel free to contact us at 800-222-5537 or fill out our contact form with your information. We will help you learn how pet cleaners from Alpha Tech Pet can help you achieve veterinary sanitation and cleanliness!

Is It Safe to Clean with Bleach Around Dogs?

sales@alphatechpet.com — Fri, 19 Nov 2021 11:35:00 -0600

Bleach is commonly used to rid surfaces of germs, dirt, or other impurities. However, it is not a safe choice to use around dogs and other pets. Bleach contains chlorine, which is considered toxic to many animals and, at the very least, will damage a dog’s fur and at the other end of the spectrum is life-threatening when swallowed.

Despite this risk, it is amazing that some pet care centers, and vet clinics alike, still depend on bleach to clean their facilities knowing that bleach is harmful to dogs due to its toxic content. But what many may not know is that bleach is ineffective against a wide range of microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, and viruses making bleach unsafe for sanitizing kennels, clinics, and grooming centers.

What Is a Better Alternative to Bleach?

Veterinary disinfectants or vetted pet cleaning products are the perfect alternatives to bleach. They are specially formulated to be safe around dogs because they leave no residue on cages, floors, or other surfaces making it risk-free of ingesting bleach residue. Also, they are effective against the pathogens that bleach is not.

When picking out a pet disinfectant for your clinic or kennel, there are a few things to consider such as strength in formulation and ease of application. You need to be sure you’re choosing the right veterinary disinfectant to suit your needs.

What Are Vet Disinfectants?

Veterinary disinfectants are made specifically to target germs, bacteria, and various microorganisms associated with pets. Veterinary disinfectants are also non-residual chemicals that keep facilities clean, including all surfaces and instruments that come in contact with an animal's blood or bodily fluids during surgery or diagnostics.

One example of a great product is our veterinarian formulated KennelSol Germicidal Cleaner and Deodorant by Alpha Tech Pet. It is a perfect multi-use disinfectant for animal hospitals, veterinary clinics, and pet care facilities. Another reliable product from Alpha Tech Pet is our SteriCide RTU Surface Sterilizer, which is meant to kill 100% of germs and bacteria on hard, non-porous surfaces.

Why It’s Time to Stop Using Bleach Around Dogs

Bleach is generally safe to use in pet-free businesses when properly diluted but it is not worth the risk for pet care professionals and veterinarians. A pet disinfectant is considered a standard pet cleaning product for veterinary clinics, kennels, and dog grooming centers. These places require high-grade yet safe cleaners, which kill microorganisms that can cause infections.

Regular bleach just won’t be able to stop the spread of diseases the way that pet disinfectant is designed to do. It's not enough to clean up after a sick animal using everyone’s favorite cleaning agent. You must sanitize the area so that the germs cannot be transmitted to any other animals or humans.

Animal clinics, kennels, and groomers need a dependable vet disinfectant on top of their regular pet cleaning products because of the special nature of their pet care facilities. The solutions should be able to clean and sanitize equipment and other surfaces, including the tools and materials used for diagnosing and treating animals.

A Must-Have for Pet Care Professionals and Vets

A vet disinfectant is the proper alternative to bleach and is an essential part of every pet care and veterinary practice. Pet care professionals and veterinarians must never settle for less when choosing the safest cleaners to maintain a clean environment for dogs. Discover the benefits of our veterinary-grade pet cleaning products and disinfectants from Alpha Pet Tech today.

For more education information contact Tom Bissanti: Tom@AlphaTechPet.com or visit our pet industry education website.

Do Vets Use Bleach?

sales@alphatechpet.com — Fri, 17 Sep 2021 12:22:00 -0500

Maintaining a hygienic environment in your kennel, grooming center, or vet clinic is a top priority for pet care business owners or vets like you. The health and well-being of the pets that visit your animal care facility is directly affected by the cleanliness of the place of business.

That’s why you may be wondering if you should use bleach or another type of veterinary disinfectant to sanitize your facility. Keep reading about the types of disinfectant products you should use to clean a vet clinic, grooming salon, or kennel.

Should Vets Use Bleach Products?

Bleach is a popular overall cleaning product so it’s not surprising if you are considering it as an option to disinfect your animal care facility. However, there are several crucial reasons why bleach may not be a suitable choice for your pet care business.

First, bleach has a poor cleaning ability compared to other veterinary disinfectants. It is not compatible with hard water because it has a high pH level of 11.5. It is also more time-consuming since it requires pre-cleaning before you can use it and rinsing after.

Next, bleach products have an unpleasant smell that may irritate pets with a sensitive sense of smell. It is also highly corrosive so it could potentially damage clothing, metals, and surfaces.

Aside from this, it is not cost-effective in the long run. Bleach may be affordable, but it requires the use of 4 ounces per gallon of water to meet the general disinfection dilution guidelines.

Finally, bleach products are not safe or eco-friendly. They create carcinogenic by-products that are harmful, not just to the environment, but also to the health of animals and humans alike.

What Is a Better Veterinary Disinfectant than Bleach?

Thankfully, you have other better options than bleach to sanitize your pet care facility. One of them is the KennelSol Germicidal Cleaner & Deodorant. This veterinary disinfectant is superior to bleach in various ways.

First, this EPA registered product has an excellent cleaning ability. It can effectively disinfect your facility from a wide range of bacteria, fungi, and viruses like SARS-CoV-2 and Canine Parvovirus.

It also has a neutral pH level at 7.0 - 8.0 so it is compatible with hard water. It is quick and easy to use because pre-cleaning is not necessary.

Next, it has a fresh, fragrant Wintergreen scent that is pleasant to smell. It is non-corrosive and non-staining, so it won’t harm surfaces or clothing.

It is also cost-effective in the long run because it only requires 2 ounces per gallon of water to meet the general disinfection dilution guidelines.

Finally, KennelSol Germicidal Cleaner & Deodorant is safe and environmentally friendly since it does not produce carcinogenic by-products. It is more conducive, not just to the environment, but also to the well-being of animals and humans.

Find the Ideal Veterinary Disinfectant with the Help of Alpha Tech Pet

A pet care business owner or vet must disinfect an animal care facility on a regular basis for the safety of pets and humans alike.

Discover safe, effective veterinary disinfectant products you can use for your pet care business with the help of Alpha Tech Pet. Call us at (800) 222-5537 and (978) 486-3690 or send us a message to learn more about our powerful sanitizing products.

For more education information contact Tom Bissanti: Tom@AlphaTechPet.com or visit our pet industry education website.

Top 10 Reasons to Stop Cleaning with Bleach

sales@alphatechpet.com — Thu, 12 Sep 2019 13:38:00 -0500

Bleach as a quick-fix cure, however, is more illusion than solution.

According to Wikipedia, chlorine-based bleaches were invented in Europe in the late 18th century. Swedish chemist Carl Wilhelm Scheele discovered chlorine in 1774, and in 1785 French scientist Claude Louis Berthollet recognized that it could be used to bleach fabrics.

200+ years later people still love bleach. It’s often been associated as a “quick-fix” to tough spills or stains. Is someone sick? Bleach the house. Did you just spill red wine on your white shirt? Add bleach to the wash load. Got some mildew and mold growing in the animal hospital? Get some bleach.

From toilet bowls to doggie bowls, bleach is a widely used product amongst those looking for a quick-fix cure to germs, stains and grime. And why wouldn’t it be? It seems to work like magic to make stains and mildew disappear and it likely does wonders for masking germs, at least temporarily.

Shawn Seitz, D.V.M., founder of Alpha Tech Pet, wholesale and retail provider of animal care products including environmentally-friendly cleaning solutions

On a mission to demystify the magical perception of bleach, Dr. Shawn Seitz, founder of Alpha Tech Pet, is well aware of the many misconceptions that dominate the cleaning culture of today.

“People are misplacing their trust when they believe that bleach is their “everything” solution for dealing with stains and infection control” says Seitz. “In the real world, that’s just not the case. And there are a number of reasons for why this is the case.”

Here are Seitz’s top ten reasons why bleach may not be the best choice for your cleaning needs:

1. Highly Corrosive.
Bleach is highly unstable and, thus, needs to be stabilized with Lye, which, in turn, raises the pH to the level where it becomes a very corrosive chemical that will damage various types of metals, pipes and fixings commonly found within Animal Care Facilities.

2. Short Lifespan.
Bleach is easily inactivated when exposed to light and/or organic matter, and it also degrades quickly with age, significantly shortening its lifespan compared to other chemicals on the market. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) even requires bleach products to use special labeling language stating that bleach “degrades with age.”

3. Not Economical.
Because bleach is so unstable and inactivates rapidly, it needs to be discarded every few hours, making it less cost-effective than you may think. And, since most people are not aware of the need to discard bleach every couple of hours, they are using a product with degraded capabilities, giving them a false sense of security in its use.

4. Time Consuming.
If you want to use bleach properly, it’s important to pre-clean surfaces first, before use (because organic debris inactivates bleach) and you must make sure that bleach remains in contact for at least 10 to 30 minutes. Not to mention the fact that bleach loses its content from the moment it is manufactured. In fact, bleach loses 50% of its potency within 60 days of being manufactured, something most people are not aware of. So, by the time you actually purchase bleach, it may have already lost half, or more, of its active ingredients, losing its impact, and thus requiring stronger dilutions than you may think, or longer dwell times.

5. Harmful to Health.
Because bleach is filled with powerful chemicals, it can aggravate the upper respiratory system, tissues, and mucous membranes. And then there is the intense harmful smell: obnoxious odors like bleach contribute to stress in animals, and stress makes them even more susceptible to diseases.

6. Potent Concentration.
Bleach concentrations vary widely, ranging from two to six percent. Therefore, unless you are aware of this, you may be using inadequate solutions on a batch to batch basis.

7. A Disaster Waiting to Happen.
You may have seen recipes that require you to mix a certain solution with bleach, but you really need to be cautious about mixing. If bleach is blended with acids, toxic chlorine gas will be released, resulting in a potential disaster. To be safe and sure, never mix bleach with any other chemicals.

8. Carcinogens. Need we say more?
Bleach combines with organic debris to form carcinogenic by-products and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The good news is that there is a movement discouraging the use of bleach due to these carcinogenic by-products and volatile organic compounds.

9. Ineffective Ingredients.
There are two forms of chlorine in bleach existing in a pH dependent equilibrium: HOCL and OCL. The more potent of the two is hypochlorous acid (HOCL) which is 120x more potent than OCL as a disinfectant. However, HOCL concentration is limited in solutions with a pH of 9.0 or higher. Because bleach has a pH of 11.5, most of the chlorine will be OCL, which is much less effective than HOCL. This is one reason why bleach isn’t as powerful as you may think. There are other more effective chlorine disinfectants that don’t have this limitation.

10. Nature’s Enemy.
Because bleach is inactivated by all things natural, dirt and organic material prevent bleach from doing the thorough job that you may have hoped for.

A Better, Safer Product

Having been in the animal care industry for 35 years, Dr. Seitz believes that we should be running in the opposite direction of bleach. Seitz’s experience has proven that bleach works under only very limited and controlled circumstances and he is realistic about the fact that there are far better options out there.

“Basically, any routine disinfectant is far better than bleach usage,” says Seitz. “These would include our products like KennelSol, Stericide, Trifectant, PurTabs, Purell Healthcare RTU Surface Disinfectant, Aqueous Ozone (3x more powerful than bleach and 3000 times faster killing microbes), and Wysiwash.. Bleach is good at killing microorganisms but, only under ideal circumstances, which in the real world just isn’t.”

Bleach Is Not the “TADA” That We Thought

Up until now you may have thought that bleach was the magic of cleaners, but it’s important to know there is no rabbit in the hat. Don’t let that strong smell fool you. Bleach is not as powerful as you may think and it’s far more harmful to your health than you may have imagined.

KennelSol® is available both retail and wholesale, shipping directly to you via Alpha Tech Pet.

Why You Should Replace Bleach

Tue, 23 Aug 2016 15:06:00 -0500

Chlorine bleach, the classic go-to disinfectant from home to hospital, is still widely used in animal care facilities across the country. But the scientific knowledge behind disinfection, and the cost to produce more effective disinfectants, has produced more effective– indeed, more ideal– disinfectant solutions. In short: bleach is outdated. Here’s why.

BLEACH LOSES ITS EFFECTIVENESS ON DIRTY SURFACES

This is problem number one with using bleach to clean and disinfect surfaces, but is widely unknown. The purpose of disinfecting a surface is to kill and remove dangerous pathogens, rendering it safe for a new patient. Often times these surfaces are dirty with body oil, hair, sweat, blood– what is generally called “organic load”. Unfortunately bleach loses its effectiveness under these conditions, as the organic compounds can neutralize bleach.

Bleach is Corrosive

The pH scale is a measurement of how acidic or basic a substance is and ranges in scale from a numerical value of 0 (acidic) to 14 (basic), with 7 being neutral. The further a pH moves away from neutral, the harsher it is, and the more likely it is to irritate, corrode, and damage humans, pets, and surfaces. Much of the effectiveness of bleach comes from its strong pH of around 12, making it strongly basic. Bleach applied to a clean surface and left unattended with damage that surface and cause irritation in any people or animals exposed to its fumes.

Bleach is Unstable

Undiluted bleach will start noticeably losing effectiveness after six months. With regular cleaning, you can probably balance your rate of purchasing versus use for this time frame. But bleach that has been diluted in water loses its effectiveness much more quickly– losing its potency in about a day. Filling spray bottles with diluted bleach and using them over time seems convenient, until you know you’ve been cleaning your facility with deactivated bleach– in short, little more than water.

These three factors add up to a long cleaning process with multiple passes in order to be effective. First, in order to clear away organic load, all surfaces should be cleaned with a surface cleaner and dried. Then, properly diluted bleach should be applied. Then the surface ought to be rinsed off and, if necessary, dried again. Without these steps, bleach will lose a great deal of its potency, certainly not reaching the “kill everything” level of effectiveness people think it has.

More advanced disinfectants, such as KennelSol, have been created to avoid these shortcomings. KennelSol does not lose its effectiveness under organic load, so you can be assured that the surface is clean. It also has a neutral pH, meaning it will not corrode your equipment or irritate the eyes and noses of the people and animals within your facility. Simply put: KennelSol is more convenient to use, and more effective at disinfecting your facility, than chlorine bleach. When you switch from bleach to KennelSol, you will know your facility is cleaner and safer than it ever has been.

Read This Before Deciding to Use Bleach

Wed, 09 Sep 2015 11:57:00 -0500

Sodium hypochlorite (bleach) is a halogen with a broad spectrum of activity that works by oxidation, denaturing proteins. Household bleach concentrations vary from 2% to 6%.

A 1:32 concentration (about 1600 ppm) is normally recommended for general disinfection, but levels as high as 1:10 are recommended for ringworm (microsporum canis), and 1:9 (5600 ppm or 14 oz/gallon) for Tuberculosis.
Kate Hurley of UC Davis recommends the following formula for determining correct 1:32 dilutions: 21 divided by the % active = the # of ounces of solution per gallon of water.
Bleach is significantly inactivated by organic matter, light, and extended storage.
Because bleach degrades so quickly, the EPA requires special labeling language stating the following: “Degrades with age”.
Because liquid bleach is so unstable, it needs to be stabilized by adding lye, a very corrosive chemical, resulting in a high pH of 11.5. Therefore bleach is very corrosive.
Because of its instability and quick inactivation, bleach solutions should be discarded every couple of hours.
Bleach loses its content continuously from the moment of manufacture, losing up to half its active by the time of purchase within 60 days of being manufactured.
When using bleach, pre-cleaning is necessary, and it must remain in contact with surfaces for 10 to 30 minutes.
There is no sustained release of active.
In bleach, 2 forms of free chlorine are present in a pH dependent equilibrium. The more potent of the two is HOCL- (hypochlorous acid), found only in trace amounts when a solution has a pH of 9.0 or higher. Because bleach has a pH of 11.5, not much HOCL- is actually available as a disinfectant. Instead what’s mostly present is the less-effective form of free chlorine, OCL- (the hypochlorite ion). Unfortunately the OCL- is 120 times less effective than HOCL- as a disinfectant. This is why bleach often experiences failures in eliminating dangerous pathogens like hepatitis and parvovirus, and it’s also why high levels and strict controls are required for confidence when using bleach as a disinfectant.
Bleach is a very potent mucous membrane, tissue, and upper respiratory irritant.
Bleach should never mix with acids, as toxic chlorine gas will be released.
A movement is gaining momentum where States and Municipalities are moving away from (discouraging) chlorine use due to the formation of carcinogenic byproducts and volatile organic compounds (VOC’s).

OxzPet: The Safer Alternative to Bleach

Mon, 10 Nov 2014 16:22:00 -0600

Just because you love working with animals, does not mean you always love the odor they may leave behind; one laundry solution that will effectively eliminate pet odor is OxzPet, a color-safe bleach alternative.

This product is a safe and powerful activated-oxygen alternative to bleach, and is perfect for pet bedding, towels, linens, scrubs, and other laundry items. When you’re working in an animal care facility, it’s important to have laundry products and cleaning products that quickly and efficiently eliminate odors and unwanted microorganisms; OxzPet is a great addition to consider for your laundry needs.

As we mentioned, this product is great for eliminating odor, but it also removes stains from fabrics, plastics and various other surfaces.

OxzPet is a color-safe bleaching product that was created to clean and remove soils, stains and odors in a variety of applications, surfaces and fabrics; it is safe to use on carpets, clothing, upholstery, and other laundry materials.

If you want to effectively eliminate pet odors, OxzPet is the color-safe bleaching alternative for you; not only is it the most effective way to eliminate odors, but it is also the safest and most environmentally friendly product on the market!

For more information about our color-safe bleaching alternative, or any of our laundry products, please feel free to give Alpha Tech Pet a call at 800-822-5537.