Can’t find Lysol disinfectant spray? Here’s what to buy instead

Even if you can't find Lysol spray or wipes, other disinfecting spray is still available.
Even if you can't find Lysol spray or wipes, other disinfecting spray is still available.

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As people are trying to stay safe and disinfect their homes during the coronavirus pandemic, families are searching for ways to buy hand sanitizer, toilet paper and other household essentials to help them stay safe and healthy in quarantine.

Even though we've reached a "new normal" in the availability of hand sanitizer, cleaning wipes and spray are still in limited supply. Not only has it been reported that Lysol spray and Clorox wipes would be in low supply through the end of June, Lysol products were approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for protecting against coronavirus, putting these products in high demand. While data suggests that catching coronaviruses from surfaces is unlikely, it's always good to have these disinfecting products on hand.

But don't panic. Even if you're can't find Lysol products, you can still get your hands on quality disinfecting supplies for the whole family at these online retailers. While we'll be updating this list daily, supplies are selling out extremely fast, so we recommend not putting it off more than you need to and only buying as much as you need. Here are the places online where you can buy cleaning wipes and spray right now.

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Where to buy cleaning wipes and spray

Cleaning wipes that actually disinfect surfaces are one of the hardest things to find right now, but you can occasionally get them along with cleaning sprays at the following retailers:

Amazon

Home Depot

Target

Office Depot

Staples

Walmart

Make your own disinfectant wipes

Despite the current shortage of Lysol and Clorox wipes, you can also make your own CDC-approved wipes right at home using a precise balance of bleach or alcohol. We put together comprehensive instructions on how to do so.

How to use cleaning wipes

If you already have cleaning supplies around the house, you'll want to be certain that you're using them the right way. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), disinfection won't happen immediately—it can actually take up to three to five minutes.

Although wipes and sprays are on the EPA's list of approved disinfectants, you may not be using them long enough to keep whatever surface you're cleaning—like a countertop, for instance—wet for the recommended amount of time to kill germs.

As a good rule of thumb, you may want to set a timer so you can monitor surfaces to ensure they're still wet. You may also want to make sure that you're sanitizing frequently-used objects and surfaces daily, especially when it comes to doorknobs, keyboards, faucet handles and more. You don't want to forget your phone, either—you can even use Clorox wipes or 70% isopropyl alcohol on Apple products, according to Apple.

Jonathan Chan, senior lab testing technician at Reviewed, recommends following best practices, and advises that if you're using wipes, you should make sure you're only wiping in one one direction, as studies have suggested that doing so can reduce the risk of recontamination.

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Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.

This article originally appeared on Reviewed.com: Lysol disinfectant spray is hard to find: Where to buy cleaning wipes and spray