How effective is bleach?

In laboratory studies, bleach (5.25% sodium hypochlorite) appears to kill HIV effectively. Studies have investigated the effectiveness of washing used syringes and needles with fresh, undiluted, thin household bleach to prevent HIV transmission.1 2

Experiments in the laboratory replicated injection behaviours and used bleach with the shortest possible contact times with blood inside the syringe, a conservative approach that gave the bleach the best chance of failing as a disinfectant. The study demonstrated that undiluted thin bleach is highly effective in destroying HIV even after minimal contact time.

Sunlight, warm temperatures, and exposure to air gradually weaken bleach so that it does not work anymore; IDUs have to be sure to use fresh, full-strength bleach.

It was also noted that washing syringes three times with water was nearly as effective as a single rinse with undiluted bleach in reducing the likelihood that contaminated syringes harboured viable HIV.

Scientists have also tested whether other liquids can disinfect syringes. These liquids, which are sometimes used by IDUs, include washing-up liquid, rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, and fortified wine. Results of these few studies are limited.3

References

  1. Abdala N et al. Can HIV-1-contaminated syringes be disinfected? Implications for transmission among injection drug users Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes 28(5): 487-494, 2001
  2. Abdala N et al. Survival of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 after rinsing infection syringes with different cleaning solutions. Substance Use and Misuse 39: 581-600, 2004
  3. The Body Syringe disinfection for injection drug users. www.thebody.com/content/whatis/art17115.html, 2006
This content was checked for accuracy at the time it was written. It may have been superseded by more recent developments. NAM recommends checking whether this is the most current information when making decisions that may affect your health.