Cleaning Instructions regarding concerns about COVID-19 (Coronavirus)

sherpa & shire (and other 100% olefin fabrics)

Sherpa and Shire, and all of our 100% Marquésa Lana™ olefin patterns are made with a 100% solution dyed yarn which is impervious to 100% bleach, and should have no impact from the disinfectants that are recommended for Covid-19 (see list below). However, the CDC recommends household bleach (that includes 5.25% or 6.00%–6.15% sodium hypochlorite depending on manufacturer) diluted in water at a 1:10 dilution ratio which is 1.5 cups of bleach in a gallon of water to disinfect porous surfaces. The use of bleach on Sherpa and Shire will have no harmful impact and the recommended treatments will not void our warranty, but we always recomend that the fabric to be cleaned and disinfected should be tested in an inconspicuous area first.

Considerations concerning use of bleach as a disinfectant:

  • Chlorine solutions should be prepared fresh daily, as they are light sensitive. They have an expiration date and can lose efficacy fairly quickly if not stored properly. Bleach expires one year from production.

  • Most chlorine products require the removal of organic soil prior to their use (removing bulk spill matter, cleaning prior to disinfecting).

  • Disinfection requires a wet contact time (amount of time the disinfectant is required to be left on the surface to be effective). Ten minutes is recommended but please follow manufacturers instructions.

  • Chlorine solutions are corrosive and can pit metal and damage skin.

  • NEVER mix bleach with any product containing ammonia or acids.

100% polyester & polyester blends

HYDROGEN PEROXIDE PRODUCTS

Our polyester and polyester blend fabrics are more sensitive to the effects of bleach, but a 3% bleach solution (1/3 cup bleach to 1 gallon of water) is the highest concentration that can be used, but we can’t guarantee that long term use and cleaning will not pose a problem. We recommend using something like Clorox’s Hydrogen Peroxide Cleaner Disinfectant instead. This product, which is available as both a spray (for fabrics) and a wipe (for hard surfaces only), is listed below and will kill pathogens on both hard and soft surfaces, and can eliminate bacteria and viruses in 30 seconds. The industrial-grade cleaner can be applied to a variety of fabrics, including those that are 100% polyester. The cleaner has no volatile organic compounds (VOCs), harsh fumes, bleach, or added fragrance, and its active ingredient, hydrogen peroxide, breaks down into water and oxygen upon use.

QUATERNARY AMMONIUM PRODUCTS (QUATS)

These products such as Lysol’s Clean & Fresh Multi-Surface Cleaner is also EPA-registered for its virus-fighting abilities, killing 99.9% of viruses and bacteria. The product’s active ingredient, alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride has been implicated in various adverse health effects, so you’ll want to avoid skin contact, inhalation, or accidental ingestion. As with all potent cleaners, keep away from your kids, apply only in well-ventilated areas, and wash surfaces with clean water after use. Please follow all manufacturers instructions when using these products.

Again, we always recommend that the fabric to be cleaned and disinfected should be tested in an inconspicuous area first.

Approved disinfectants for use against SARS-CoV-2

Because SARS-CoV-2 is a new virus, it is not readily available for use in commercial laboratory testing to determine if a certain disinfectant product is effective at killing the virus. However, the following list of surface disinfectants has shown effectiveness against another type of human coronavirus similar to SARS-CoV-2, the cause of COVID-19

  • Asepticare™

  • Bleach (3%; 1/3 cup bleach to 1 gallon of water)

  • Bleach 1:10 (10% bleach)

  • Bleach-Rite® Disinfecting Spray

  • CaviCide™

  • CaviCide1™

  • Clorox® Healthcare Bleach Germicidal Cleaner

  • Clorox® Hydrogen Peroxide Cleaner Disinfectant Spray

  • Diversey™ Avert® Sporacidal Disinfectant Cleaner

  • Lysol’s Clean & Fresh Multi-Surface Cleaner

  • Oxivir® 1 RTU

  • Oxivir® TB

  • OxyCide™ Daily Disinfectant Cleaner

  • Virex II 256

 *This cleaning recommendation is supplied without warranty. Absecon Mills neither guarantees, nor will be responsible for specific results as testing of these products was conducted under laboratory conditions and results may vary under actual conditions. Any misuse of cleaning agents may void Absecon Mill’s Warranty and Performance Guarantee.

Performance Finishes

Even those who have a good handle on fabric specifications can be stymied when it comes to fabric finishes! Which finish has what properties? Can a finish be fire retardant and stain resistant at the same time? What is a “Green” finish? The answers to these questions and many more await you in this newsletter, as we attempt to demystify fabric finishes, or click on each box below for more detailed information.