FAQ About Pine-Sol® Ingredients & Disinfectant | Pine-Sol® (2024)

Find the answers to the most frequently-asked questions about Pine-Sol® cleaning products — including how and where to use them, which ingredients are inside, and how to save on them.

Pine-Sol® Settlement Information

Q: Why is Pine-Sol® entering a settlement and how do I make a claim?

A: The settlement pertains to last year’s voluntary recall of certain Pine-Sol® Scented products and seeks toresolve legal claims by U.S. consumers that the products were inaccurately labeled and advertised.

The Pine-Sol® products on shelves today are safe to use as directed.

More information will be available in the coming weeks. Please visit www.pssettlement.comor call 888-339-9884 for the latest information.

Pine-Sol® COVID-19

Q: Why don’t I see a kill claim for the COVID-19 virus on my Original Pine-Sol^® Multi-Surface Cleaner label?

A: EPA-approved kill claims against the COVID-19 virus can be used in marketing communications, such as on our website and in our advertisem*nts. Before a kill claim can be printed on a disinfecting product label, approval of the change must be registered in all 50 states. As a result, it may take a few months before this process is completed and the claim begins appearing on our product packaging.

Q: If I already have Original Pine-Sol^® Multi-Surface Cleaner at home, can I use this against COVID-19 virus or is it a new version of the product?

A: We haven’t made any formula changes to the product to receive the EPA-approved kill claim. If you’ve purchased Original Pine-Sol^® Multi-Surface Cleaner within the past two years (the recommended shelf-life of a Pine-Sol^® Cleaner) it’s effective against the COVID-19 virus.

Q: If I dilute Original Pine-Sol^® Multi-Surface Cleaner, is it still effective against the COVID-19 virus?

A: No. In order to disinfect against viruses and bacteria, you must use Original Pine-Sol^® Multi-Surface Cleaner at full strength (in its concentrated form). Apply the disinfectant product full-strength with a clean sponge or cloth on hard, nonporous surfaces. Wet surface, let stand 10 minutes and then rinse. For heavily soiled surfaces, pre-cleaning to remove excess dirt first is required.

Q: Why aren’t your other Pine-Sol products approved by the EPA to kill the COVID-19 virus?

A: Original Pine-Sol^® Multi-Surface Cleaner is our signature powerful disinfectant killing 99.9% of germs (Salmonella enterica, Staphylococcus aureus and Influenza A virus). Our scented Pine-Sol^® multi-surface cleaners, including Lemon Fresh^®, Lavender Clean^® and Sparkling Wave^®, are powerful cleaners and deodorizers that cut through tough grease, grime and dirt, but don’t disinfect.

Q: What Pine-Sol products are approved by the EPA to kill the COVID-19 virus?

A: The Original Pine-Sol^® Multi-Surface Cleaner now has an EPA-registered kill claim against the virus that causes COVID-19.

Q: What is the difference between cleaning, sanitizing and disinfecting?

A: Disinfecting is complete kill of both bacteria and viruses, while sanitizing is only a reduction of bacteria. Cleaning removes dust, debris and dirt from a surface. Disinfectants are the only products approved by the EPA to kill viruses such as SARS-Cov-2, the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19, on hard surfaces.

Q: Is Original Pine-Sol Multi-Surface Cleaner effective against the new, variant COVID-19 strains?

A: Yes. Original Pine-Sol Multi-Surface Cleaner is EPA-registered against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, and is included on theEPA’s List Nbecause it meets the criteria to use against SARS-CoV-2 based on the EPA’s Emerging Viral Pathogen Policy, which examines a product’s ability to kill a more challenging virus than SARS-CoV-2 and are expected to kill all strains of SARS-CoV-2. Pine-Sol completed third-party testing that confirmed the disinfectant’s efficacy against the three most prevalent variant strains of SARS-CoV-2, supporting the scientific understanding that disinfecting products that kill COVID-19 are effective against prevalent strains of coronavirus on hard, non-porous surfaces.

Inside Pine-Sol® Cleaners

Q: What are the ingredients in Original Pine-Sol^® Multi-Surface Cleaner?

A: You can find a full list of the ingredients in each Pine-Sol^®Cleaner atwww.smartlabel.org.

Q: Does Pine-Sol^® Cleaner contain ammonia?

A: No, Pine-Sol^® Cleaners do not contain ammonia.

Q: Are Pine-Sol^® Cleaners biodegradable?

A: All Pine-Sol^®products contain biodegradable cleaning agents.

Q: Can I recycle the Pine-Sol^® Cleaner bottle?

A: Yes, Pine-Sol^®Cleaner bottles are made of #1 recyclable PET.

Q: Do Pine-Sol^® products contain phosphorus?

A: No, Pine-Sol^®Cleaners do not contain phosphorus.

Q: What is the shelf life of Pine-Sol^® Cleaners?

A: A Pine-Sol^®Cleaner’s shelf life is two years. After that time, the color will change, but the product will still clean.

Q: Does Original Pine-Sol^® Multi-Surface Cleaner disinfect?

A: Yes. Original Pine-Sol^®Multi-Surface Cleaner is registered with the EPA as a disinfectant when used as directed full strength. When used according to the instructions on the product, it kills 99.9% of germs and household bacteria on hard, nonporous surfaces. It disinfects against Salmonella enterica, Staphylococcus aureus and Influenza A virus (Hong Kong strain).

How to Use Pine-Sol® Cleaners

Q: Can I use the Pine-Sol^® product in a steam cleaner?

A: Pine Sol^® products were not designed to be used in steam cleaners.

Q: Will Pine-Sol^® Cleaner get greasy work clothes clean?

A: Yes, it is very effective at removing grease and heavy soils from your laundry. Simply rub it full-strength on grease spots or heavily soiled areas before washing. For extra cleaning and deodorizing power, you can also add ½ cup to the wash load. Pine-Sol^®Cleaner should be used only on white or colorfast fabrics; if you're not sure about a particular article of clothing, it's always a good idea to test the fabric in an inconspicuous area first.

Q: Does Pine-Sol^® Cleaner clean toilets?

A: Pour ½ cup of Pine-Sol^®cleaner into the bowl and brush thoroughly, including under the rim.

Q: How can I use Original Pine-Sol^® Multi-Surface Cleaner to disinfect?

A: Apply Original Pine-Sol^®full-strength on hard, nonporous surfaces with a clean sponge or cloth. Wet the surface, let it stand for 10 minutes, and then rinse. For heavily soiled surfaces, precleaning is required.

Q: Where can I use Pine-Sol^® Cleaners?

A: You can use Pine-Sol^®cleaners on hard, nonporous surfaces, including floors, sinks, counters, stoves, bathtubs, shower stalls, tile, toilets, garbage cans and diaper pails. Just use ¼ cup per gallon of water. For tough jobs, use full strength and rinse immediately. On wood surfaces, do not allow puddles of product to remain. Pine-Sol^®is not recommended for use on marble, aluminum, or unsealed, waxed, oiled or visibly worn wood. Here is a chart showing recommended use:

Surface	Original Pine-Sol®	Pine-Sol® Scented Cleaners
Acrylic	√	√
Aluminum	X	√
Bisque tile/grout	√
Carpet	√
Cement	√
Ceramic tile	√	√
Copper	X	√
Corian®	√
Enamel	√	√
Formica	√	√
Glass (windows)	√	√
Granite, sealed and unsealed	√	√
Laminate Wood		√
Linoleum	√	√
Marble, sealed and unsealed	X	√
Mirror	√
Plastic	√
Porcelain tile	√
Quarry tile	√
Slate	√
Stainless Steel	√	√
Textiles (Cotton, Denim, Polyester)	√
Vinyl tile	√	√
Wood, sealed/painted/finished	√	√

Q: Where should I NOT use Pine-Sol^® Cleaners?

A: We do not recommend using Original Pine-Sol^® Multi-Surface Cleaner on aluminum, copper or marble surfaces. We also do not recommend using Pine-Sol^® Cleaners on cars, on dishes or as a pet shampoo.

Getting and Saving on Pine-Sol® Cleaners

Q: What scents do Pine-Sol® Cleaners come in?

A: The powerful clean of Pine-Sol^® is available in Original Pine®, Lemon Fresh®, Lavender Clean® and Sparkling Wave®. Check out all of the scents, and let us know what you think!

Q: Do you have discounts or coupons on Pine-Sol^® Cleaners?

A: We often have promotions, like coupons or sweepstakes. Check out ourFacebook Pageand ourHomepagefor what we are featuring now.

Q: Is the old formula of Pine-Sol^® Pine still available?

A: We will be selling the old formula of Pine-Sol® Pine directly to consumers at PineSolOriginalPine.com. We’ve decided to manufacture a limited supply of the old formula of Pine-Sol® Pine because we wanted to acknowledge the concerns voiced by a group of our long-time loyal fans, and provide a way to purchase the product they love, since it is no longer available in stores.

Pine-Sol® Cleaner Safety

Q: Is it safe to use Pine-Sol^® cleaners around pets?

A: Yes, all Pine-Sol^®products are recommended for use in pet areas.Please note that we do not recommend using Pine-Sol^®products as a pet shampoo.

Q: Is the scent of Pine-Sol^® cleaners harmful to babies or pregnant women?

A: All of our products are designed to be safe and meet federal safety regulations when label instructions and cautionary text are followed. As a general rule, you should keep all cleaning products out of reach of children.

Q: Can you mix Pine-Sol^® with other products (like glass cleaners, bleach, etc.)?

A: We do not recommend mixing any Pine-Sol^® product with other cleaning products or chemicals. Mixing cleaners can result in the release of hazardous gases.

Q: Are Pine Sol^® cleaners septic safe?

A: Yes! Following the recommended use of any Pine-Sol^® product will not harm your septic system.

Q: Is Pine-Sol^® safe to use on hardwood floors or on wood?

A: Yes! Pine-Sol^®is safe to use on wood floors, though it is not recommended for use on unfinished, unsealed, unpainted, waxed, oiled or worn wood.

Q: Is Pine-Sol^® safe to use on dishes?

A: We do not recommend using Pine-Sol^®on dishes. It is not approved by the EPA to be used on food-contact surfaces.

Q: Is Pine-Sol^® safe to use on painted surfaces?

A: We recommend testing a small inconspicuous area before using a Pine-Sol^® cleaner on any painted surface.

Q: Is it safe to use Pine-Sol^® to wash a car?

A: We do not recommend using Pine-Sol^® to wash a car, as it could damage the car's finish.

Q: Is it safe to use Pine-Sol^® on other surfaces?

A: Yes! Pine-Sol^®is safe to use all around your home, from your playroom and dining room to your bathroom and kitchen. A list of surfaces that Pine-Sol^®cleans and how to clean them arehere.