Something new! To give this gadget its full title: this product from Banggood generates disinfectant liquid from nothing more than common salt and water using a process called electrochlorination.
Given the rather unique circumstances we find ourselves in today – I thought it worth putting something in the blog on the subject and Banggood were kind enough to send me one of these inexpensive units to play with.
In essence, take a plastic container with fresh water and add table salt, run a DC current through it using stainless electrodes (so they won’t corrode) and over time you will see hydrogen bubbles appear – and you will end up with a container of sodium hypochlorite – bleach (in water) – which can then be used to clean and disinfect. The upshot is that a number of gadgets are appearing on the market to do this for you. One option is a USB-charged, battery powered container like this one – generating (off-load) 5v – dropping as needed to keep a constant current.
Typically such devices will come complete with aesthetic coloured lights.
Here is the relevant Wikipedia article on the chemistry – and Big Clive’s video on a cheap example gadget. I’m assuming not that many of you are interested in commercial – large scale bleaching – there’s plenty of information out there if you are.
It’s not that long ago I got my first battery powered touchless foaming unit – you’ll see it here and it is now in daily use back in the UK in our holiday rental property – pretty much essential really given the current pandemic. And now I can even make my own disinfectant out of plain old salt and water? Ok, I’m happy to have you doubting this – I was convinced the whole thing was a con until I looked into the chemistry and went off to Banggood to get a unit. See my attempt at a short accompanying video below…
This spray container uses a USB-charged, battery-powered system which – a bit like those ultrasonic cold steam generators you see in garden centres which take plain water and generate utterly cold steam to add humidity to the air, this device converts salt and water into disinfectant in typically 5-10 minutes depensding on the setting. Instructions are in English and are pretty comprehensive. Trust me it works – you can smell the chlorine. The sterilization claim is 99%
In short, this device uses low voltage to turn simple salt and water into disinfectant. Depending on the setting of the timer button, you get a mild disinfectant suitible for cleaning fruit, seafood, vegetables, meat and other edible materials or a stronger version for cleaning floors, car interiors, toilets etc – but I’m not going to run through all of that here.
I like this easy-to-use gadget and suggest if you are not familiar with these, you do a little reading – Banggood product and Wikipedia information links above.
From scratch, with a flat battery, the unit shows a red light – once charged it turns green – while generating mild disinfectant it glows blue, for stronger disinfectant – it glows purple – in both cases generating fine bubbles in the process. This is GREAT fun. I thought it might make sense to put a label on my storage bottle – in case anyone took the contents to be drinking water.
The solution can be stored and diluted for hand-washing and disinfection, pet washing etc – all covered in the supplied manual. The unit comes complete with USB lead and measuring spoon.
Thanks for the article, I was looking fore more info about using it, but still a good read.
The quantity of salt should dictate to possible concentration levels. At the end of the day, it simply does what it says. There is no hype about vivid or washing your eyes. The Chinese have moved on from copying shit (or shit copying) to being highly innovative.
My bottle is specifically for using where I have no access to running water or drains. I like the idea of simple chlorine bleach at a suitable concentration. That is all this is.
It seems there are still lots of people still think the Chinese copy everything and Pink Floyd are still young 🙂 Yes, lots of innovation from that part of the world – sadly also lots of crap – not because that’s all they can do but because of the price people expect to pay (usually middle-men who then make a good mark-up). I wish one of them would come up with garden solar lights (pretty ones) which can handle Spanish summer sun + winter cold (same applies in the UK but with far less sun and more extreme winter damp). I get all sorts of issues like solar connection wires dropping off or the plastic cracking, PCBs and/or (unnecessary) switches corroding etc. But I digress. I like that disinfectant generator – it does the job.
It would be useful if there were some easy way to verify efficacy and sufficient concentration. For now I’m sticking with hydrogen peroxide, isopropanol, and commercial disinfectants (mostly the h2o2 based ones) but this is worth watching, at least seems like not 100% a scam 😁
Well, it certainly isn’t a scam – no way untreated salt water smells like that 🙂
If you mix some of the products of this device, hypochlorite with acid, as in your Spanish bleach, you will produce Chlorine gas, you won’t need to worry about the 1mm holes in your mask you’ll be meeting your maker.
Regardless of ones feelings about Donald Trump, there is precious little accurate covid virus information. The Chinese are trying to make a fortune out of a worldwide situation they created.
I think that comment applies to most cleaning solutions – mixing them together is asking for trouble. I’m not sure there are any specific claims about Covid in the product literature. I long ago learned to steer clear of chlorine gas – good point though.
Great idea :)) it looks really amazing especially at night, the whole room has a great atmosphere.
Certainly does look impressive !
I think the key phrase is “concentrated enough”. These devices at recommended settings and dilutions produce a very mild disinfectant which whilst not exactly palatable, or suitable as eye wash are unlikely to cause tissue damage. In fact there is some argument for it being remedial for some skin conditions.
The problem is Steve, you never know the concentration with any measure of accuracy.
But then Gary you never know the accuracy of a Trump virus statement – also I have some great looking masks with honking great 1mm ventilation holes – pretty – but I’m banking on them being totally ineffective – and so on down a rabbit-hole of doubt and worries. My amateur and totally ill-informed advice would be not to drink or wash your hands and face with this stuff – but surely it can’t be any worse than Spanish “Aqua Fuerte” which we use for cleaning concrete, toilets, floors etc.. oh and the price of isopropyl has gone through the roof.. I need some of that for hot Spanish summer feet – and my new resin printer…..
And no I’m not using the new gadget to clean either of those two either.
Talking of bleaching – you can’t beat experiments with battery acid for accidentally bleaching clothes.
🙂
At least we know the starting point, this gadget uses nothing more than table salt and water – and a spot of electricity – some of the bleach we buy in the Chinese stores here in Galera says it is made out of 25% hydrochloric acid – and that CAN’T be good for the skin.
you can buy in every pharmacy some strips to measure acidity or alkalinity of liquids, so easy to solve problem 🙂
That is a good idea Mr Sharky.
Thinking about it we use those strips for the hot tub to measure various things including acidity. Cheap – also at any place that sells hot tubs.
Pete, as an old textile technician I have to warn you of the dangers of Sodium Hypochlorite solution. It is extremely harmful if you get it in your eyes and will give you nasty burns. If it is concentrated enough it will rapidly bleach any textiles it comes into contact with. Personally I would not touch this with a bargepole. If you need to disinfect, get some 70% Isopropanol (Isopropyl Alcohol).