
Your Favorite Disinfectant Wipes Could Do More Harm Than Good
January 12, 2025 | Source: Forbes | by Arlene Bloom
Though already popular, the Covid-19 pandemic skyrocketed the demand for disinfectant wipes. Masking and vaccines were contentious along political fault lines, but the public was united in its embrace of wipes. Americans zealously wiped countertops, door knobs and even groceries.
While other pandemic precautions waned, the disinfecting frenzy continues. The American Cleaning Institute — the trade group representing disinfectant manufacturers — proudly declared that “Americans are still wild about wipes.” In North America alone, the disinfectant wipes market grew to $3.72 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach $5.64 billion by 2031.
If you’re one of the millions of Americans conscientiously using wipes, perhaps you haven’t heard the warnings from scientists. Here’s what you should know.