Domestic Uses

Hypochlorous acid (HOCl) is a versatile compound with several uses in the home environment. It is appreciated for its balance of being highly effective as a disinfectant while remaining safe and non-toxic, making it a popular choice for many household applications.

Here are some of the common applications:

Surface Disinfection:

Hypochlorous acid is a powerful disinfectant that can be used to sanitise surfaces in the kitchen, bathroom, and other areas of the home. It is effective against a wide range of pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi.

Food Safety:

It can be used to sanitise fruits and vegetables, helping to remove harmful bacteria without leaving harmful residues. It's safe for direct contact with food surfaces.

Air Purification:

Hypochlorous acid can be used in spray form or in misting devices to disinfect the air in living spaces, reducing the presence of airborne pathogens and allergens.

Wound Care:  

In a diluted form, hypochlorous acid can be used as a gentle antiseptic for cleaning cuts, scrapes, and minor wounds, promoting healing while reducing the risk of infection.

Pet Care:  

HOCl can be used to clean pet toys, bedding, housing and even treat minor skin irritations or infections in pets due to its non-toxic nature.

Laundry:

Adding hypochlorous acid to laundry can help disinfect clothing, towels, and linens, particularly when dealing with items that may be contaminated with bacteria or viruses.

Deodorising:

Hypochlorous acid is effective at neutralising odours, making it useful for eliminating smells from garbage bins, bathrooms, and other areas prone to odours.

Mould and Mildew Removal: 

HOCl can be used to clean areas affected by mould and mildew, particularly in damp areas like bathrooms and basements, preventing further growth.

Personal Hygiene:  

Hypochlorous acid can be used in hand sanitisers or sprays for personal hygiene, especially useful for those with sensitive skin, as it is less irritating compared to alcohol-based products.

Cleaning Baby Products:  

Due to its non-toxic nature, hypochlorous acid can be used to clean baby bottles, toys, and other items that come into contact with infants. 

HOCl Concentration - Guidance

Unless you are using a ready-to-use product, it is usually necessary to reduce the concentration of HOCl to levels suitable for particular uses.

For instance when using NaDCC, dropping a single tablet into a one litre bottle of clean water provides a concentration, or strength, that is likely to be too high for most purposes.

Here is a guide to how you might go about making up HOCl solutions, in water, to attain the levels needed for use in the home.

We are using a measurement of concentration called "parts per million of available free chlorine". Regard that simply as parts per million (ppm) of HOCl. If you are familiar with parts per hundred (pph), or percent (%) then the concept of ppm to describe very much lower concentrations should make sense. It saves a lot thinking and mental gymnastics working out how many zeros there are!

For instance 10ppm is the same as 0.001%. As you can see, using % may involve a potentially confusing number of zeros, and decimal places. If you wish to convert, there are many helpful aids on the internet. We use rapidtables.com.

Much of the diluting you might deal with is in the region of 1000 to 10ppm.

A guide to the use of HOCl generating tablets.

This guide refers to 1.7g NaDCC tablets. Purchase here.

Some guidance can be found on the Prosan container but volumes suggested are very large.

Dissolving a single tablet into a one litre bottle of clean water provides a concentration, or strength, that is likely to be too high for most purposes.

Here is a guide to how you might go about making up HOCl solutions, in water, to attain the levels for use in the home.

We are using a measurement of concentration called "parts per million of available free chlorine". Regard that simply as parts per million, or ppm, of HOCl in solution. If you are familiar with percent (%) or parts per hundred then the concept of using ppm to describe low concentrations should make sense. It saves a lot of thinking and mental gymnastics working out how many zeros there are.

For instance 10ppm is the same as 0.001%. As you can see, using % may be potentially confusing. If you wish to convert, there are many helpful aids on the net. We use rapidtables.com.

Much of the diluting you might deal with is in the region of 1000 to 60ppm.

You will find that a low cost clear plastic measuring jug, calibrated with a range of units (Metric and Imperial), will be helpful, together with used, clean drink bottles of two litre, one litre and 250ml, you will have all you need to quickly make a range of appropriate concentrations.

Making HOCl for use in the home.

Concentrations of 200, 100, and 60ppm are sufficient to deal with a wide range of domestic uses. See the guidance here. Our podcast on HOCl in the home will shortly be available.

Start with one tablet dropped into a clean two litre (2000ml) bottle filled to the top with fresh tap water.  (HOCl should be diluted only with clear, clean water, free of any organic contamination. Do not use or add any other product to the solutions.)

This will provide you with a starting point, or stock solution, for further dilutions. Please label it with the date as "500ppm HOCl Stock solution".

It is important to remember to label all of the dilutions of HOCl as you make them. Always store HOCl solutions out of daylight. Inside a cupboard is fine. Keep HOCL solutions cool, if possible, and minimise contact with air by using appropriately sized containers. Dispose of any unused solution after three months.

The three concentrations suggested below are all highly effective against bacteria, fungi, and viruses.

200ppm: for the treatmant of working surfaces, such as in kitchens and bathrooms.

100ppm: for use in contact with skin.

60ppm: for the treatment of foods such as fruits, vegetables and other edible produce.

To obtain 200ppm

Take 100ml of the 500ppm stock solution, pour it into a 250ml drinks bottle and fill it to the top with tap water. This will provide you with a 200ppm concentration.

If a larger volume is required pour 400ml of the 500ppm stock solution into a one litre bottle and fill to the top with tap water.

To obtain 100ppm

Pour 100ml of the 500ppm stock solution into a one litre bottle and fill with tap water to give a 100ppm concentration

To obtain 60ppm

Pour 30ml, equivalent to two UK tablespoons, of the 500ppm stock solution into an empty 250ml bottle and then fill it up to full with fresh tap water. You now have a 60ppm HOCl concentration. 

To purchase NaDCC tablets for use in the home, click here.