Purell Disinfecting Wipes · Cleaning Wipes
GOJO Professional Surface Disinfecting Wipes 7 x 8 Fresh Citrus 110/Canister
Skip due to opacity; disinfectant wipes lack transparency on fabric treatment and PFAS risk.
GOJO/Purell disinfecting wipes provide no public disclosure of fabric composition, coating agents, or PFAS content. Disinfectant wipes commonly use antimicrobial and moisture-barrier treatments that may contain PFAS, but this brand offers no independent testing or certification to clarify risk.
Shop Purell Disinfecting Wipes on Amazon →Material
nonwoven fabric wipe (composition unspecified by brand)
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
Why this grade
Category baseline
other is a category where PFAS exposure is more common.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement about PFAS in this product.
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
GOJO Professional Disinfecting Wipes are nonwoven fabric saturated with a quaternary ammonium disinfectant formula (active ingredient typically alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium saccharinate). The nonwoven substrate composition is not specified by the brand, creating uncertainty about water-repellent treatments (potential PFAS vector). The wipes are pre-saturated with a liquid disinfectant blend that includes fragrance (citrus), preservatives, and surfactants designed to kill pathogens on hard surfaces.
The brand's record and disclosure
Purell (GOJO Industries) has strong brand recognition for infection control but historically provides minimal transparency on fabric material composition and chemical treatment of wipes. The brand does not volunteer PFAS testing or absence claims on this product line. GOJO has faced scrutiny over fragrance ingredient disclosure but does list disinfectant actives on product labels. No major recalls or regulatory actions specific to this wipe product are on record, but the absence of third-party certifications (like EPA Safer Choice) limits independent verification.
How it compares in its category
Disinfecting wipes in general lack category-wide transparency on PFAS in nonwoven substrates; Purell's positioning as a premium brand does not translate to better disclosure than competitors like Clorox or store brands. However, Purell wipes are widely used in healthcare and food service without reported systemic safety failures in normal use. Alternatives with EPA Safer Choice certification (e.g., some Seventh Generation or Ecos wipes) offer more transparent ingredient lists but may have lower pathogen kill rates.
If you buy it
Use wipes on hard, non-porous surfaces only; avoid skin contact with undiluted saturation or prolonged hand exposure. Dispose of single-use wipes after one application; do not reuse or flush down drains. Store in a cool, dry place and close the canister tightly to prevent evaporation and saturation loss. If fragrance sensitivity is present, test on a small area first; avoid inhalation of vapors in poorly ventilated spaces.
Beyond PFAS: other things we checked
Established hazard classes for this product type, assessed from public information. These never change the PFAS grade; a Likely flag caps the Verdict at “Buy with care.”
Fragrance allergens and respiratory irritants
Fresh citrus fragrance contains limonene and related terpenes, which can trigger contact dermatitis or asthma-like symptoms in sensitive users, especially with prolonged exposure or poor ventilation. Brand does not disclose fragrance components beyond 'fresh citrus.'
Preservative toxicity (contact/inhalation)
Disinfectant wipes typically contain methylisothiazolinone (MIT) or similar preservatives linked to contact allergic dermatitis in healthcare workers with repeated use. GOJO does not specify preservative choice on consumer labeling, limiting risk assessment.
Skin and eye irritation from quaternary ammonium compounds
Alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium surfactants are known irritants; direct contact with undiluted saturated wipes or eye exposure carries risk of chemical burn. Product label carries appropriate warnings but does not quantify concentration.
Nonwoven substrate durability and particulate shedding
Nonwoven fabrics can degrade or shed microfibers, especially when saturated and wrung out. No published data on Purell wipe fiber integrity or contamination risk to food contact surfaces exists in open literature.
PFAS in water-repellent fabric treatment
Nonwoven wipe substrates are often treated with PFAS-based coatings to resist saturation and remain dry-edged during storage. GOJO provides no transparency on treatment chemicals, making PFAS presence unknown but plausible in this product class.
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 35% confidence. It is not a lab result.
No independent PFAS lab test is on record for this exact product. A lab test could move the score in either direction.
The brand has not made a specific, verifiable PFAS-free statement, so part of this score reflects that missing disclosure rather than a confirmed material.
Formulations and coatings change between production runs. Always check the current label before buying.
Safer alternatives in Cleaning Wipes
Seventh Generation Disinfecting Wipes
Disinfecting Wipes Seventh Generation
nonwoven fabric (polypropylene/polyester blend), quaternary ammonium disinfectant
Lower PFAS concern: Seventh Generation's transparent stance and third-party certifications support a safer choice for disinfecting wipes.
✓Verified PFAS-free by a third party
Better Life
All Purpose Wipes
nonwoven fabric blend (cellulose/polypropylene base)
Lower-concern choice; no known PFAS risk in basic all-purpose wipe formulations.
⚠Risky category by default
Ecos
EO Cleansing Hand Wipes Lavender 10 CT
nonwoven cellulose/plant-based wipe with water and plant extracts
Lower PFAS concern; routine hand wipes with no obvious treatment triggers.
⚠Risky category by default
More cleaning wipes grades
How we score: every product runs through the same public 0–100 rubric based on materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls. See the full methodology → Spotted a mistake? Report an error.