Dr. Piero's Blog
Gas Those Smells
February 1st , 2012
Sometimes you can’t spray away the odor. Chlorine Dioxide works to remove odors as a gas. If you put a little water in the foil packet and place the packet in a sealed area, the gas that is released will penetrate and eliminate the odor from the objects.
For small items: Place items in a large plastic bag, open the foil ClO2 packet, place 1 teaspoon of water in the packet, place packet in cup so as not to accidently spill on items, place in large plastic bag with items and seal for several hours or overnight.
shoes
baby toys
pet toys
purses
musty books
old musty boxes
hats
coats
sports bags
any non washable items
Some small sealed areas can be smelly and profit from being gassed. Place the foil packet with the teaspoon of water inside the small confined space and close the door. Do not open for several hours or overnight.
refrigerators
freezers
musty trunks
microwave
oven
camper cabinets
boat cupboards
inside boxes
You get the idea.
Smelly Smells
January 1st , 2012
I was blessed with a great sniffer. Good new…I can smell a gas leak a mile away. Bad news…smelly smells are everywhere. Maybe you’ve noticed them too. But with Chlorine Dioxide, you can eliminate them wherever they are…well not everywhere, outside is a little difficult. Here are some of the ways you can use Chlorine Dioxide to remove odors by spraying:
on feet
in shoes
on pet bedding
in pet crates
on carpets (do a color fast test)
in car trunk
pet fur (removes skunk smell)
on urine spots
in air for cooking odors
in air in bathrooms
in air for smoke fumes
in trash can
in diaper pails
in recycle bin
in compost buckets
on hunting or fishing gear
in mouth as breath freshener
It’s non toxic.
Wash Those Fruits And Vegetables
December 1st , 2011
Microbes (that can cause mild to severe stomach bug) from the skins of fruits and outsides of vegetables can easily be carried from the fruit or vegetable to the cutting board and then contaminate the inside of the produce. This is not a problem with produce that you cook. But if you are eating fruit (oranges, apples, melons, pineapples, etc.) or raw produce (lettuce, radishes, cukes, tomatoes, carrots, celery, broccoli, cauliflower, etc.) and even peeling them, be sure that you do not contaminate the cutting board or counter top. The best way to eliminate the potential for illness caused by germs is to spray or dip the produce in a solution of ClO2. To extend the life of your produce, dip or spray them before storing. There is no need to rinse the produce with clear water. Waiting about 10 minutes before eating the produce will not affect the taste at all. And don’t forget to use the ClO2 solution on the cutting board, sink, faucets and countertop when you clean up the kitchen.
Kitchen And Chicken
November 1st , 2011
The kitchen is a place that really can gather the microbes. Bring in a chicken from the store, take it out of the bag and put it on the counter. The cellophane will invariably leak and chicken juice runs out. Then unwrap it and put it in the sink to rinse off. Then it goes on the cutting board for trimming. Get the picture. Whether you know it or not, there are colonies of bacteria beginning to populate potentially all over the kitchen.
After your encounter with a raw chicken, BEFORE you slice and dice anything else, wipe down the sink, fixtures, counters, spice bottles (yes, your chicken contaminated hands are all over those too) and cutting board.
I Keep It Everywhere
October 1st , 2011
I am finding that the more bottles I have around the more I find uses for my ClO2. And I love it. I bought about 5 different size opaque spray bottles. I mix up a quart of ClO2 then fill each of the other containers. I have one in my office that is a 2oz fine mist sprayer. I spray once or twice in my mouth to kill any mouth odors before I see my patients. I have an 8oz fine mist spray bottle in the bathroom. This works great as an atomizer to kill odors (it doesn’t cover them up, but eliminates them) and as a sanitizer around the toilet. I have a 16oz trigger spray bottle in my kitchen to spray counters, fixtures, stove, microwave, produce, etc. I use it to spray down my refrigerator for both odor and to sanitize. Also its perfect to spray down fruits like apples or oranges and veggies like celery or lettuce. Then I have another 8oz pour bottle that I use if my dog has an accident in the house or I want to pour on a large area.
Like I said, I have it everywhere!
Gas Those Smells
September 1st 2011
Sometimes you can’t spray away the odor. Chlorine Dioxide works to remove odors as a gas. If you put a little water in the foil packet and place the packet in a sealed area, the gas that is released will penetrate and eliminate the odor from the objects.
For small items: Place items in a large plastic bag, open the foil ClO2 packet, place 1 teaspoon of water in the packet, place packet in cup so as not to accidently spill on items, place in large plastic bag with items and seal for several hours or overnight.
shoes
baby toys
pet toys
purses
musty books
old musty boxes
hats
coats
sports bags
any non washable items
Some small sealed areas can be smelly and profit from being gassed. Place the foil packet with the teaspoon of water inside the small confined space and close the door. Do not open for several hours or overnight.
refrigerators
freezers
musty trunks
microwave
oven
camper cabinets
boat cupboards
inside boxes
You get the idea.
Chlorine Dioxide has many uses as a topical antimicrobial. It is gentle on healthy tissue. It works fast to kill a broad range of infectious agents. It works like an anti-inflammatory to speed healing. It neutralizes the oxygen the body produces in response to pain and stress, allowing the body to heal faster and reduce scarring. So you can use the solution to rinse cuts, lesions, scratches and burns. You can use it to fight fungal, yeast, bacterial and viral infections. These would include things like athlete’s feet, ring worm, acne, ear cleaning, toe fungus, skin dermatitis. You can use it on pets as well as humans.
Lots Of Microbes
July 1st , 2011
There are a lot of pathogenic organisms out there that can cause chaos. I happen to be an antimicrobial nut. That doesn’t mean I prescribe antibiotics for every little thing. I mean I don’t like the possibility of microbes lurking around my equipment, counters, food, clothes or air. Chlorine Dioxide is highly effective on most bacteria, virus, fungi, mold, spores, algae, blood born pathogens, protozoa, yeast and biofilms. Unlike antibiotics, bacteria does not form a resistance to ClO2.
Some names you might recognize are:
Legionella
Salmonella.
Cryptosporidium
Giardia Cysts
Coliforms
Listeria
Shigella
Staph
Norovirus
Influenza
Anthrax
Cholera
E-coli
Legionella
Hepatitis
Welcome To The World Of Chlorine Dioxide
June 1st , 2011
Most people have never heard of Chlorine Dioxide (ClO2). Or else they think its bleach (which is Sodium Hypochlorite or NaClO). Like bleach, ClO2 is used as a sanitizer and bleaching agent. Unlike bleach, ClO2 is safe to use, does not irritate and does not leave toxic residue. Chlorine dioxide oxygenates products rather than chlorinating them. ClO2 is considered a “friendly” sanitizer and disinfectant. It is used mostly today in major water plants and large fruit, vegetable, meat, and seafood plants to disinfect. It was usually only commercially used since it was produced as a gas, never stable and had to be processed with large complex equipment at the site
It was recently made available for medical, veterinary, and dental use when the chemical was developed to use as a two part mix. This enabled the user to combine two liquid components and create a ClO2 solution. This type of product was also popular with the campers and hikers when purchased in a liquid form. The only problem is that the liquid form has a very short (two month) shelf life, most of which is eaten up before it ever gets to the consumer by the manufacturer and distributor.
The great news is that now a new process has been discovered that puts ClO2 in a dry tablet form. It can be transported anywhere and dropped in a quart of water, making it ready to use, when and wherever you are. It has a few year shelf life as a tablet in a sealed foil pack. Only after dissolving it in water (which is instantaneous by the way), does it have about a two month shelf life in a sealed opaque bottle.
Where Microbes Lurk
May 2nd ,2011
There are lots of places we tend to forget when sanitizing our homes and work places. A towel sprayed with Chlorine Dioxide and used to wipe surfaces is an excellent way to reduce colds and flu. Some of the “forgotten” places are:
Door knobs
Telephone receivers
Cell phones
Computer key board
Computer mouse
Lotion bottle
Stapler
Purse and briefcase handles
Cabinet and cupboard handles
Plastic containers storing items
Toilet flusher
Sink fixtures
Washer and drier knobs
Light switch plates
Printers & copiers
Fax machines
Dishwasher buttons
Stove knobs
Microwave buttons Keys …and of course your hands.
I’ll bet you can come up with dozen more in your environment!
Wash Fruits And Vegetables
April 1st,2011
Microbes (that can cause mild to severe stomach bug) from the skins of fruits and outsides of vegetables can easily be carried from the fruit or vegetable to the cutting board and then contaminate the inside of the produce. This is not a problem with produce that you cook. But if you are eating fruit (oranges, apples, melons, pineapples, etc.) or raw produce (lettuce, radishes, cukes, tomatoes, carrots, celery, broccoli, cauliflower, etc.) and even peeling them, be sure that you do not contaminate the cutting board or counter top. The best way to eliminate the potential for illness caused by germs is to spray or dip the produce in a solution of ClO2. To extend the life of your produce, dip or spray them before storing. There is no need to rinse the produce with clear water. Waiting about 10 minutes before eating the produce will not affect the taste at all. And don’t forget to use the ClO2 solution on the cutting board, sink, faucets and countertop when you clean up the kitchen.
Problem With Mold?
March 1st,2011
Bathrooms are notorious for mold, especially on the grout. They tell you not to use harsh chemicals on the tile because the chemicals may deteriorate the grout. Here is where Chlorine Dioxide works wonders. It is non corrosive, so can’t hurt the grout. Yet, it packs a powerful punch when it comes to attacking mold, mildew and algae.
Not all molds are visible, so it is wise to mix up a quart of water with a tablet of Chlorine Dioxide and rinse down the entire tile, the floor, the tub and the toilet. Use it liberally and don’t wipe dry, let it set for at least 10 minutes. The nice thing about ClO2 is that it also kills spores (bleach does not). Alcohol, a standard disinfectant, actually can cause bacteria to go to the spore stage which can make the organism survive for years or decades or even centuries, only to reemerge when conditions are optimal.
Where Microbes Lurk
February 2nd,2011
There are lots of places we tend to forget when sanitizing our homes and work places. A towel sprayed with Chlorine Dioxide and used to wipe surfaces is an excellent way to reduce colds and flu. Some of the “forgotten” places are:
Door knobs
Telephone receivers
Cell phones
Computer key board
Computer mouse
Lotion bottle
Stapler Purse and briefcase handles
Cabinet and cupboard handles
Plastic containers storing items
Toilet flusher
Sink fixtures
Washer and drier knobs
Light switch plates
Printers & copiers
Fax machines
Dishwasher buttons
Stove knobs
Microwave buttons Keys
Bad Breath’s A Bummer
January 18,2011
Being a dentist, I see patient’s everyday. And I meet a lot more people with bad breath than the average person does. Job hazard. Sometimes the odor is due to poor oral hygiene or periodontal disease. Sometimes because they ate a garlic pizza before coming in to get their teeth cleaned. Sometimes it’s the medications or the systemic diseases that my patient may be suffering with and its side effects are causing the bad breath. Sometimes the patient has excellent oral hygiene, but is predisposed to halitosis. Whatever the reason, the patient usually isn’t interested in the root cause of the problem…but rather what can they treat it with.
The best product to reduce the bacteria in the mouth which is causing the odor is to rinse the mouth with Chlorine Dioxide. ClO2 will not mask the odor. It kills the bacteria. Patients who use ClO2 as their mouth wash are keeping their breath odor free longer during the day, because they are killing the bacteria. I also tell my patients to spray the solution in their mouth every once in a while during the day as you would a breath spray.
Not Just For Bad Breath
I know most people are interested in ClO2 as a bad breath reducer, but in the mouth it has other fine qualities.
1) It helps fight periodontal disease along with a perio regimen that includes meticulous daily home care to the teeth and gums and may include more frequent professional cleanings, scrapings &/or surgery. By rinsing one or two times a day with Chlorine Dioxide, you rid the mouth of the plaque producing bacteria.
2) It also works as a gargle for sore throats. Bacteria form biofilm. By eliminating the bacteria in the mouth and along the throat, the tissue has a better chance of fighting off the infection and repairing itself.
3) It helps heal mouth sores.
Getting Even More Out Of Your Chlorine Dioxide
January 7, 2011
An interesting characteristic of ClO2 is that a half used bottle will actually diminish its strength faster than if you where to refill the bottle with water. This is because the gas in the liquid is dissipating into the air left in the half bottle. This means that if you were to dissolve a tablet of ClO2 in a quart of water it would be at 35ppm. Then let’s say you used ½ of the quart on sanitizing your pet area. The amount left in the bottle would diminish to 17ppm (½ of 35ppm) very quickly. If you were to immediately refill the ½ quart to the top you would have a whole quart at 17ppm. So to get even more out of your ClO2, you can use the product and keep filling it with water. When the liquid no longer has a faint smell it is at a very low concentration. However, realize that even at 1ppm the product is effective as a sanitizer and at .02ppm is used as sanitized drinking water.
What Is The Difference Between Chlorine Dioxide And Chlorine Bleach?
August 10,2010
Unfortunately, the word “chlorine” is found in both Chlorine Dioxide (ClO2) and Chlorine Bleach (NaClO). This has led to a lot of confusion.
Chlorine Dioxide
Does NOT release free chlorine
Does NOT release harmful byproducts
Highly effective on bacteria, virus, protozoa, algae, fungus
Long term residual disinfection effectiveness
Penetrates biofilm more effectively
Non-corrosive Does not react with ammonia
Microbes do not build resistance
Broad spectrum antimicrobial
Kills spores
Effective at a wide range of pH
VERSUS:
Chlorine Bleach
Releases free chlorine
Releases harmful hypochlorous acid
Very low disinfection on bacteria, virus, protozoa, algae, fungus
Shorter effectiveness on water treatment
Does not penetrate biofilm as effectively
Corrosive
Very toxic reaction with ammonia
Microbes build resistance to bleach
Narrow spectrum antimicrobial
Does not kill spores
Reaction greatly affected by pH
Sanitizing Water
August 10,2010
Some people have asked, “If this stuff is so good, why isn’t it used in disaster areas to clean up the water?” The answer is, “It is!” When water is taken in or treated at disaster sites, it is Chlorine Dioxide that is used. The water has to be contained in something (not just a river bed or pond). The water in tanker trucks or drums is treated with Chlorine Dioxide to 0.02ppm to be safe to drink.
One of our tablets (which have a 35ppm concentration in one quart of water) would sanitize 40 gallons of water. Drop one tablet in 40 gallons of water and wait 30 minutes. The water is safe to drink. If you use one tablet in less than 40 gallons, keep the container opened and wait about 2 hours. This will allow the gas to dissipate, reduce the dosage to a very low level and be safe to drink.
Why Does Chlorine Dioxide Have Such A Short Shelf Life?
May 11,2010
ClO2 is a liquid AND a gas. Think of a bottle of soda pop. The carbonation in a bottle of soda pop creates the fizz in the liquid. However, once opened and left unsealed, the soda pop “loses” its fizz. The carbon dioxide dissipates into the air. The gas that is released is very evident in some sodas – take ginger ale for instance. If you get to close to the glass, the gas goes up your nose and makes you sneeze or cough.
Well, ClO2 is similar, although not exactly like the soda pop. In its liquid form, ClO2 will immediately begin to dissipate and consequently lose its strength. It also is light and air sensitive. If left opened or in a clear container, the concentration of ClO2 will diminish very rapidly than if stored in a sealed opaque container. So if you are buying “liquid drops” to add in water, you probably are not getting any value from the purchase as the compound in the bottle started losing its efficacy the minute it was made and bottled. (Here it is unlike the soda pop, as ClO2 will also lose strength just sitting unopened, although at a slower rate than if left opened to the air.)
This is why the tablet form is not only more convenient and “green”, it also is more effective. You drop a tablet in a quart of water when you are ready to use it. Keep it in a sealed opaque bottle and it will last two months.