OPTIM 1 has been tested to be compatible with hard surfaces, including but not limited to dental chairs, stools, lights and counter tops if used according to our instructions for use on the label.

Surfaces that are composed of brass, copper, or other ferrous metals and soft plastic may show signs of discoloration or damage if not used as directed. Anodized aluminum (often used on handpieces) and carbon tipped instruments should be avoided. Please refer to the product label for the Instructions for Use.

¹ John Molinari, Ph.D., Peri Nelson, B.S. Effect of OPTIM* 1 on Tensile Properties of Dental Chair Fabrics*. Ann Arbor: Dental Advisor, 2016.

OPTIM 1 liquid can be poured directly down the drain. There is no need to dilute it with water since hydrogen peroxide breaks down into water and oxygen. Wipes should be disposed of in the trash after use; do not flush them down the toilet. The empty container should be recycled and if recycling is not available it can be discarded in the trash.

If the wipes have been used on surfaces where blood or body fluids were present, they should be disposed of according to federal, state and local regulations for infectious waste disposal.

² OPTIM 1 Safety Data Sheet

³ CDC, “Guideline for Disinfection and Sterilization in Healthcare Facilities” CDC. 2003, 26.

You may have noticed many disinfectants having new labels that include hazard pictograms they didn’t have before. This is because the revised hazard communication standard (HCS) of the new globally harmonized standard (GHS) has specific criteria for each health and physical hazard, and establishes both hazard classes and hazard categories. The previous HCS did not include categories for most of the health hazards covered by the GHS HCS, so this new approach provides the consumer with more information for awareness and that can be used to address the hazard.⁴

As with the old criteria, OPTIM 1 has been classified as non-hazardous in accordance with GHS HCS and therefore does not require any hazard pictograms, signal words or statements.⁵

⁴ Regulation (EC) No. 1272/2008 on Classification, Labelling and Packaging of Substances and Mixtures (CLP)

⁵ OPTIM 1 Safety Data Sheet

Quaternary Ammonium Compound (QUATs) based products leave residual chemistry on surfaces. OPTIM 1 will remove the residual chemistry that has been left on the surface; however, there may be several layers of residual chemistry to remove. The odor and film you are experiencing is caused by the QUATs reacting to OPTIM 1 removing it. It may take between 5 and 10 days of OPTIM 1 use before the odor and film disappear.

To prevent this from happening we recommend cleaning your surfaces with soap and water before switching to a new disinfectant.

No. Organic matter (food, blood or body fluid) on the surface forms a barrier that can either increase the contact time required to reach and kill the germs, or prevent their contact entirely.

OPTIM 1 is effective in the presence of organic matter, meaning it is a one-step cleaner and disinfectant. To ensure this, OPTIM 1 has been tested in the presence of organic matter called serum. The serum test measures the product efficacy when organic soils are present. To check whether a disinfectant has been tested with serum, check the label to see if it says “tested in the presence of 5% serum load.”

Yes, studies show that disinfectants that leave an active residue behind on surfaces contribute to the development of antimicrobial resistance, a major global health crisis we are facing.

It is best practice to look for disinfectants with active ingredients that readily degrade into the environment such as hydrogen peroxide, such as OPTIM 1. Accelerated hydrogen peroxide breaks down into water and oxygen leaving no active residues behind, ensuring that it won’t contribute to antimicrobial resistance.⁶

⁶ Ulas Tezel, Spyros G. Pavlostathis, “Role of Quaternary Ammonium Compounds on Antimicrobial Resistance in the Environment,” in Antimicrobial Resistance in the Environment, First Edition ed. Patricia L. Keen et al. (Toronto: John Wiley & Sons, Inc, 2011), 349-387.https://www.researchgate.net/publication/230547727_Role_of_Quaternary_Ammonium_Compounds_on_Antimicrobial_Resistance_in_the_Environment

Yes. Disinfectant product labels often include a long list of pathogens that it can kill, but which ones are the most important? Pathogens are divided into classes, and each class has a surrogate organism that is the gold standard or more difficult to kill pathogen in that class, for example:

When choosing a disinfectant, it is important to make sure that it can inactivate the more difficult pathogens so that you can feel confident that you are killing virtually everything.

⁷ VIROX, “Disinfection Digest: pH: Is it an appropriate indicator of product safety?,” VIROX. https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/241248/ph_is_it_an_appropriate_indicator_of_product_safety_HH.pdf (accessed December 2016).

⁸ Dr. Raghunath Puttaiah, “Compatibility of Hydrogen Peroxide-Based Surface and Immersion Disinfectants with Elastomeric Impression Materials.” Toronto: Spectrum Dialogue Volume 12, Issue 2 (2013), 66.

⁹ M.J. Alfa et al., “Use of a daily disinfectant cleaner instead of a daily cleaner reduced hospital-acquired infection rates,” AJIC Volume 43 (2015), 141-6.