Why You Should Always Read the Label on Your Cleaning Spray

Until I started reviewing kitchen gear five years ago, I rarely read product manuals or user guides. I’m sure that’s due in large part to my ADHD, as my brain tends to move more quickly than step-by-step instructions allow. Plus, I like to figure things out on my own, thank you very much!

But my rogue, DIY quick-start method hasn’t always worked out in my favor. I inadvertently killed my first Dyson stick vacuum (that I saved for months to buy) because I failed to educate myself on proper filter maintenance. And I’ve owned my car for a decade and still have no clue what a couple of the buttons actually do.

While user error can make for a funny punchline, it can also get expensive. For example, it might seem silly to read the manual for a nonstick frying pan or enameled cast-iron Dutch oven, but that’s where you’d learn that putting it in the dishwasher or using metal utensils can destroy or degrade the cooking surface.

In the case of cleaning products, the stakes can be even higher—especially in this era of, er, less restrictive food safety regulations.

Cleaning spray versus disinfecting spray

Before you get to the instructions on the back of a cleaning spray bottle, you need to pay close attention to what’s on the front, because not all kitchen cleaning sprays (no, not even all all-purpose cleaning sprays) are created equally.

Though they might have some very minimal, naturally occurring disinfecting properties from ingredients like vinegar or essential oils, basic cleaning sprays like Mrs. Meyer’s and Aunt Fannie’s have one job—and that is to clean the surfaces in your kitchen. And by “clean,” I mean they contain surfactants, which help to dislodge grease and gunk so you can more easily wipe away a mess.

But simply removing discernible debris won’t leave you with a germ-free countertop, which is why you also need a disinfectant to kill bacteria and viruses (not to be confused with a sanitizer, which only kills bacteria). And if you want to ensure your counters are so clean you could eat off of them, I recommend using both. If you spray a disinfecting solution on top of a spill, it’s not disinfecting the counter underneath the spill—it’s sanitizing the surface of whatever is stuck to your counter.

What is dwell time?

Here’s the real kicker, and the reason it’s important to read the instructions on the back of your disinfecting (or sanitizing) spray: In order for the product to kill the number of germs the label claims, it needs to sit on the surface in question for anywhere from about two to 10 minutes. This period is called the “dwell time” or “contact time,” and the product needs to remain visibly wet for however long it takes to be truly effective.

For example, Lysol's All-Purpose Cleaner (which is truly all-purpose when used properly), is a sanitizer at 10 seconds, but it only "kills 99.9% of viruses and bacteria" as the front of the label claims, if it's left to sit for 10 minutes. The little asterisks after that claim lead you to the back label, which details the dwell time along with the common bacteria and viruses it kills.

“Use as directed” shows up four times in the online product description for Clorox’s Multi-Surface Disinfecting Mist, which also claims to kill 99.9% of viruses and bacteria. It even has a specific instruction for kitchens (to rinse off of any food-prep surfaces after a 10-minute dwell time).

The moral of the story? Use your cleaning products as directed, which unfortunately does require reading the fine print on the label. While you’re at it, you might want to consider replacing your microfiber cleaning cloths after a 2010 study found that microfiber becomes less effective at removing contaminants from surfaces the more it gets used.

More Ways to Make Sure Your Kitchen Is Spotless

• How (and why) you should clean your trash can
• Get sparkling dishes even if your dishwasher sucks
• The correct way to clean your garbage disposal