When Will It Be Easy To Buy Clorox Wipes Again?

Available in clean scents including Crisp Lemon, Orange Fusion, and Fresh Scent, Clorox disinfecting wipes are a popular household item for any family on-the-go. Claiming to kill 99.9 percent of viruses and bacteria, these handy, disposable wipes have become an even hotter commodity as we deal with the risks of COVID-19. 

The demand for disinfectants has grown significantly with the pandemic as increased sanitization efforts become commonplace both at home, and in public spaces. In March and April, Neilson statistics show the sales of aerosol disinfectants jumped 230.5 percent, while multipurpose cleaner sales rose 109.1 percent when compared to the previous period (via CNN). 

Clorox wipes specifically have seen a 500 percent jump in demand, according to the company's Chairman and CEO Benno Dorer (via Today). Likewise, Lysol has seen a huge increase in demand of its product, leading to store shortages that may not come to an end anytime soon. Lysol likewise notes on its website, "We are experiencing unprecedented and accelerated demand for our Lysol products, and this demand is clearly having an impact on store inventory levels."

The increase in demand for Clorox wipes (and competitors' disinfecting wipes) is outpacing the company's ability to produce the product, meaning disinfectant wipes will be in short supply for quite a while. This, even though Clorox reports production has increased by 40 percent. Dorer elaborates, "We know that right now we cannot make enough products for everybody to find products at the store all the time, but we're making tremendous progress. We think we will be in substantially better shape by the summer." 

In the meantime, it's important to remember that all products should be used as directed. Other wipes on the market may not be effective for disinfecting purposes. Apartment Therapy recommends using diluted household bleach to disinfect certain surfaces; but read the product's label to be sure you are using the bleach safely. Rubbing alcohol may also be suitable for disinfecting, given its alcohol content is above 70 percent. 

Go to the CDC's website for more tips on how to safely disinfect household surfaces, as well as linens, and of course, perhaps most importantly, your hands.