James Parker Burnett, General Manager with Vital Solutions, recalls the early days of Vital Oxide. “About 10 years ago, Vital Oxide technology came from a need for allergy and asthma relief for environmental treatments and was created to treat the by-products of dust mites.” Its applications have expanded to include mold and mildew treatment, carpet sanitizing, HVAC, food surface sanitization, and disinfection of viruses and bacteria in hospitals and healthcare facilities. James states,
“We’ve run the gamut with this technology, and it’s one of the safest and most versatile chemical applications that we’ve found.”
Vital Oxide is a contact chemistry comprised of three active ingredients, the primary of which is a stabilized chlorine dioxide. This is a very unique oxidizer because it’s selective in nature. James explains, “Chlorine dioxide is in the same category as bleach or hydrogen peroxide, but those chemicals oxidize whatever they come into contact with. Vital Oxide is non-reactive with certain compounds, giving it more flexibility of use.” And, he notes, “You can spray it on carpets. You can spray it on fabrics. You can spray it on hard surfaces and you’re not going to have that degradation of the surface that you’d normally see with oxidizers.”
Vital Oxide also contains two different quaternary ammonias. Unfortunately, the word ammonia can sometimes be cause for concern in the cleaning profession, but as James indicates, “It’s used in a lot of products that you don’t even know about like shampoos and soaps. It’s just classified differently. It’s a highly prevalent chemical compound and, for us, the synergy of the two chemistries is better together than as separate components.”
James will tell you that the safety and welfare of those working and living in areas treated with VO, as well as that of the technicians that apply the chemical, are paramount. “One of the things that you look at in developing products is to not have side effects that are worse than your primary objective. In the case of VO, that objective is to kill nasty bugs, molds, mildews and allergens but we don’t want to produce by-products that are harmful while doing that,” he points out.
The process to get approval to manufacture chemicals is rigorous and, be certain, that safety is always the top priority with Vital Oxide. As an EPA registered hospital disinfectant, it has the lowest toxicity level that the EPA gives for pesticide applications – category 4. James notes,
“In a hospital setting where we’re treating viruses and bacteria, we don’t want to harm the people we’re trying to save.”
The lengthy process includes third party validation, chemistry reviews, toxicity calculations, and additional laboratory testing to produce a detailed chemical summary along with specifications. As James mentions, “We’ve done the testing. Our claims aren’t just claims. They’re all data-driven. Our industry is so regulated, you can’t come off the cuff.”
As mentioned, VO is a 7 in 1 chemical, effective for use as:
- EPA registered hospital disinfectant
- No rinse food contact surface sanitizer
- Mold and mildew killer
- Odor eliminator
- Allergen eliminator
- HVAC and air duct cleaner
- Soft surface and carpet sanitizer
The flexibility and forgiveness of the product is what separates it from other available chemicals. James explains,
“If you overspray or if the bottle spills, you’re not going to ruin something.”
Electrostatic spraying makes the application process for Vital Oxide incredibly easy. Developed for agricultural applications, electrostatic spraying uses a compressor to drive air through a charger in the sprayer nozzle. James notes, “It gives the product an adhering effect to the surfaces. It’s negatively charged, so it’s looking to ground, and it doesn’t pool on top of each other. It continues to spread and create a wrap around effect.” The simplicity and accuracy of the electrostatic spraying process is an added bonus for flooring and facility maintenance contractors because it allows them to include sanitization and disinfection in their service offerings. James mentions, “It’s a great additional revenue stream to be able to apply a chemical like Vital Oxide as effectively as possible using those type of spray applications. It’s not something you can do with your typical infectious control chemicals because of the risk to the technician.”
When asked for the elevator pitch on VO, James responds, “You need the best products to get the job done as effectively as possible. We know that there are a lot of different things out there, but you can consolidate your tool kit with VO. Get rid of odors, sanitize, get rid of blood, take care of fecal stains, and make it so your techs aren’t going to get sick from those things as well.”
And, he’s quick to point out,
“Once you use it, you keep using it.”
A statement to which all Vital Oxide customers will attest.
About Vital Solutions
At Vital Solutions, the well-being of people and planet is at the forefront of all that we do. With every bottle of Vital Oxide comes the promise that we are actively working toward environmentally sound cleaning and disinfecting solutions. Our disinfectant helps safeguard homes, schools, hospitals, jails, cruise ships, and other community environments from harmful bacteria and environmental toxins. Our products also help fight allergens, bacteria, mal-odors, mold, mildew, and viruses. Learn more today!
