When speaking to a professional about their treatment plan for disinfecting your site, be sure to ask about the dwell time needed for their procedure. Depending on the disinfectant used, dwell time can vary from 30 seconds to 10 minutes!

What is it and why does it matter?

According to the EPA dwell time is the amount of time the treated surface should remain wet to be effective against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19). The surface should be visibly wet for the full duration of the contact time. Since the chemical needs to stay wet, the shortest dwell times are usually the most practical. Again, the chemical applied needs to stay wet for the duration of time noted by the manufacturer for it to have the most effective kill rate.

Whichever professional treatment plan you choose for your business, ask them about the treatment’s dwell time. Longer dwell times may mean that the treatment plan relies on repeatedly re-applying the disinfectant to achieve the desired result. Of course, the methods vary between each professional. Understanding this aspect will ensure you get your money’s worth and meet your commitment to keeping your staff and the public safe.

Remember to check the EPA website to confirm the disinfectant being used is approved for treating Covid-19: https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/list-n-disinfectants-use-against-sars-cov-2-covid-19