Reckitt unveils Lysol Air Sanitizer
Lysol, a Reckitt brand, is debuting Lysol Air Sanitizer. The company describes the product as the first and only air-care product approved by the EPA to kill 99.9% of airborne viruses and bacteria.
Lysol Air Sanitizer kills 99.9% of Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae in the air, in 4 minutes, kills 99.9% of airborne viruses (Tested on MS2 surrogate for enveloped airborne viruses such as Influenza viruses, coronaviruses, and pneumoviruses) in the air, in 12 minutes, the company said.
Traditional air fresheners only freshen the air and traditional disinfectant sprays only kill viruses on surfaces. That's what makes Lysol Air Sanitizer a first-of-its-kind product in the air-care category, creating a new subset of products for consumers that want to create sanitized environments in their homes, the company noted.
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"Lysol has been a leader in germ-kill for more than 130 years. Our purpose—to keep your loved ones illness-free—remains constant, but our portfolio evolves, to fight the spread of illness-causing pathogens on surfaces, fabrics and now in the air," said Benoit Veryser, vice president of U.S. marketing for Lysol at Reckitt. "With COVID-19 making people more conscious of airborne transmission of germs, we're pleased to deliver on an unmet need for consumers to sanitize the air."
Reckitt partnered with experts in the field of aerobiology and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to create a rigorous testing protocol to measure Lysol Air Sanitizer's ability to reduce viruses and bacteria in the air. Robust testing of the protocol established Lysol Air Sanitizer as the first and only antimicrobial product approved by the EPA to effectively kill both viruses and bacteria in the air, Reckitt said.
"Lysol partnered with the EPA to develop a product that could help reduce the spread of airborne, illness-causing pathogens," said Anthony Kevek, global R&D senior scientist at Reckitt. "After extensive review and testing, Lysol Air Sanitizer is proven to kill 99.9% of bacteria and virus in the air, breaking the chain of airborne pathogen transmission and bringing a new level of air-care protection to consumers."
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Lysol Air Sanitizer contains active molecules that are hygroscopic in nature, which allows the molecules to attach to microorganisms suspended in the air. Once attached, the molecules break down the structural membrane of the microorganism, leading to its destruction.
Starting in July 2023, each 10 oz. can of Lysol Air Sanitizer will be available at major U.S. retailers for a suggested retail price of $7.99. Consumers can choose from three fragrances of Lysol Air Sanitizer: simply fresh, white linen and light breeze.