With an increased awareness in preventing the spread of germs during common daily tasks, you may be wondering which disinfecting wipes are worth the investment. Brand-name disinfecting wipes claim to kill 99.9% of bacteria and viruses with brands like Lysol, testing and confirming that they are effective at killing the Covid-19 virus. Of course, with most brand-name household items, there are generic counterparts but how do they measure up?
Great Value Disinfecting Wipes claim to kill 99.9% of common household bacteria, fungus, and viruses from surfaces including Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella, E-coli., Influenza Type-A, and the athlete’s foot fungus. While they have not yet been tested against Covid-19, they make a comparable and more affordable option to other disinfecting wipes.
Along with being cost-effective, Great Value Disinfecting Wipes do kill most common household bacteria and viruses. Read on to learn the features and comparisons of these wipes to other disinfecting wipe competitors.
Do Great Value Disinfecting Wipes Kill Germs?
Great Value Disinfecting Wipes claims to kill 99% of bacteria and viruses. The wipes effectively kill the bacteria: Staphylococcus aureus (Staph), Salmonella enterica (Salmonella), and Escherichia coli (E-coli). The viruses removed by these wipes include Influenza Type A/Brazil and other flu viruses.
These wipes will also help kill germs where mildew occurs and areas that may harbor funguses such as athlete’s foot.
While some disinfecting wipe competitors have been tested and confirmed to kill the Covid-19 virus, Great Value Disinfecting Wipes have not yet been confirmed to do this.
How Do Great Value Wipes Compare to Lysol and Clorox Wipes?
When comparing Great Value Disinfecting Wipes with brand-name wipes such as Lysol and Clorox, there are a few notable differences. In terms of price, Lysol Disinfecting Wipes are the costliest of the three. Between Clorox and Great Value Disinfecting wipes, surprisingly, Clorox tends to be more cost-effective especially when purchased in combo-packs.
The disinfecting wipes of all three brands are approximately the same size at 8 x 4 inches and all are available in various pack sizes. Great Value Disinfecting Wipes are only available in solid cylindrical plastic containers that are sold individually or in combo-packs of 3.
Both Lysol and Clorox Disinfecting Wipes are available in hard plastic cylindrical containers individually or in combo packs. Both are also available in soft travel-friendly packaging to meet your on-the-go disinfecting needs.
In terms of effectiveness against killing the Covid-19 virus on surfaces, Great Value Disinfecting Wipes have not yet been tested and verified to kill the virus though it will kill 99.9% of other common household germs.
Both Lysol and Clorox Disinfecting Wipes have been tested and verified effective against the Covid-19 virus while also stating effectiveness against 99.9% of other common household germs.
Lastly, with companies increasing mindfulness towards the environmental friendliness of their products, these three brands of disinfecting wipes are not created equal. Great Value Disinfecting Wipes are not biodegradable nor are they compostable. They are intended for one-time use only and should be disposed of in the garbage after that.
Most Clorox Disinfecting Wipes are not biodegradable however they have created one line called Clorox Compostable Cleaning Wipes that are compostable and made of plant-based fibers.
Lysol leads all disinfecting wipe brands in this area as they have converted from non-biodegradable wipes in the past to exclusively having biodegradable and compostable disinfecting wipes that are made of plant-based materials.
It should be noted, that although some of these brands offer compostable disinfecting wipes, they should never be flushed down the toilet as they are not septic-safe.
What Scents Do Great Value Wipes Offer?
Great Value Disinfecting Wipes are available in a Lemon Scent or Fresh Scent and come in various quantities such as 35 count, 75 count, or combo packs with 225 wipes.
Great Value Disinfecting Wipes Ingredients
The active ingredients in Great Value Disinfecting Wipes include:
- Octyl decyl dimethyl ammonium chloride
- Dioctyl dimethyl ammonium chloride
- Didecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride
- Benzalkonium chloride
Other ingredients in Great Value Disinfecting Wipes are as follows:
- Water
- Fragrance
- Tetrasodium EDTA
- D-Glucopyranose
Does Great Value Disinfecting Wipes Contain Ingredients to Kill Covid 19?
While brand name disinfecting wipes have been tested and confirmed to kill the Covid-19 virus, Great Value Disinfecting Wipes have not yet confirmed that they are capable of the same.
Great Value Disinfecting Wipes kill many common strains of bacteria and viruses such as Influenza-A and contain similar active ingredients to their competitors, however.
Does Great Value Disinfecting Wipes Kill the Flu Virus?
Great Value Disinfecting Wipes claim to kill 99.9% of bacteria and viruses found in households including common flu viruses such as Influenza-A.
Do Great Value Disinfecting Wipes Contain Bleach?
Great Value Disinfecting Wipes do not contain bleach, making them gentle on your skin while effectively killing most common germs on surfaces. Likewise, other brand names of disinfecting wipes refrain from using bleach to maintain gentle and safe contact with your skin.
Do Great Value Disinfecting Wipes Contain Alcohol?
Most disinfecting wipes including Lysol, Clorox, and Great Value Disinfecting Wipes contain some percentage of alcohol making them effective at killing germs on non-porous surfaces. Keep in mind, that these wipes are designed for non-porous surfaces and not to use as hand or skin sanitizer.
What Size Are Great Value Disinfecting Wipes?
Individual Great Value Disinfecting Wipes are approximately 8 x 4 inches. They are available in pack sizes of 35, 75, or combo packs of 225 wipes.
Are Great Value Disinfecting Wipes Biodegradable?
Because disinfecting wipes are intended for one use, some companies have fully transitioned to making their wipes biodegradable and compostable, are in the process of doing so, or are not quite there yet.
Unfortunately, Great Value Disinfecting Wipes are not biodegradable nor are they compostable. They are not septic safe and should not be flushed down the toilet. These wipes should be disposed of in the garbage.
Comparably, most Clorox Disinfecting Wipes are also single-use wipes however they have a specific product called Clorox Compostable Cleaning Wipes that are made of a compostable plant-based cloth. These wipes however are not septic safe and should not be flushed down the toilet.
Lysol has made the greatest strides, with all of their disinfecting wipes being completely biodegradable and compostable. These wipes are made of plant-based fibers and can break down as early as 6 weeks. They should not be flushed down the toilet as they are not septic safe, however.
Can I Flush Great Value Disinfecting Wipes Down the Toilet?
There can sometimes be confusion over what can and cannot be flushed down a toilet. Great Value Disinfecting Wipes should never be flushed down a toilet as they are unable to break down and the chemicals in them are disruptive to the ecosystem of your home’s septic tank.
The same should be applied to the other name brands of disinfecting wipes. Even though certain brands’ wipes are biodegradable and compostable they are not septic safe and should never be flushed down the toilet.
If disinfecting wipes have been flushed down your toilet and have made their way into your home’s septic tank, the cost to repair this can be high and should be avoided altogether.
Instead, Great Value Disinfecting Wipes should be thrown in the garbage and other brands’ wipes should be composted only if they are stated to do so.
Do Great Value Disinfecting Wipes Expire?
As is the case with any disinfecting wipe, Great Value Disinfecting Wipes will not have an explicit expiration date stated on the packaging. As a general rule of thumb, disinfecting wipes will expire approximately 12 months from the date they are opened.
They will not necessarily go bad but signs of expiration include fragrance loss, the chemicals will begin to break down and lose efficacy, or the wipes will simply dry out.
Are Great Value Disinfecting Wipes Pet Safe?
Just like most cleaning products, you want to exercise care and caution if you have pets around. Ingesting the cleaning agents from Great Value Disinfecting Wipes can irritate your pet’s stomach or lead to more serious poisoning in large quantities.
Ingesting the wipes themselves could lead to poisoning and an obstructed digestive system that could require surgery to remove. If your pet ingests either the liquid or the wipes, you should take them to a vet as soon as possible.
When used regularly to wipe down surfaces, allow the area to dry before allowing your pet near it to be safe. Great Value Disinfecting Wipes should not be used to wipe or clean your pets. The chemicals can be irritating and permanently harmful if applied directly to your pet’s body. Instead, there are specific pet wipes that can be used if you are looking for wipes for them.
The Verdict – Should I Use Great Value Disinfecting Wipes
Deciding between name brands and Great Value Disinfecting Wipes comes down to personal preference. If price is your main area of concern, then Great Value Disinfecting wipes certainly offer a competitive edge over Lysol wipes but not over Clorox wipes. If you are looking for wipes that offer value outside of cost including durability, effectiveness against the Covid-19 virus, and environmental friendliness, you will likely benefit from name-brand disinfecting wipes.
Read our related wipes articles:
- Lysol Wipes vs Clorox Wipes | What’s Better?
- Are Seventh Generation Disinfecting Wipes Good? (Reviewed)
- Can You Clean a Mirror with Disinfecting Wipes?
Jamie is the Founder of My Home Dwelling. He is a homeowner and enjoys sharing his homeowner tips with others. He has real estate experience working as a new home construction Realtor. Jamie has worked on numerous residential construction sites helping with interior and exterior renovations. He loves refinishing furniture, DIY home projects, and sharing his knowledge online.