Single-Use Wipes Are Making Germs Stronger, with John Shanahan of Ionogen

 

Did you know that the leading blue glass cleaner can kill you? Were you aware that the single-use wipes that many of us have in our kitchens and bathrooms are also putting our health at risk? At least, that’s what our guest today claims after years of research and industry experience.

John Shanahan, President & CEO of Ionogen, was recently at a social function and was questioned by another guest who heard his latest podcast appearance and begged to differ that the products were harmful. After Shanahan read the ingredient list and then asked again if she would use the product around her four-year-old granddaughter, she had a very different take on the safety of the products.

Why aren’t more Americans reading labels and what does a more practical sanitation solution look like? Shanahan’s research has pointed to single-use wipes potentially causing cancer, and yet most people aren’t aware of this because there aren’t many options to choose from. There isn’t a lot of new chemistry from product to product. Looking at the legacy brands (with 100+ years of retailing), they all use quaternary ammonium as a major ingredient, which can be extremely harmful to humans.

The second problem is that these wipes are often misused. Wiping the toilet seat or bathroom counter is “like a snow plow in Chicago in January,” Shanahan said. “It just starts pushing the germs.”

On this podcast, Shanahan explains how Americans are misusing both consumer-grade and commercial-level single-use wipes, why this is especially problematic for hospitals, and what the alternatives are.

For the latest news, videos, and podcasts in the Building Management Industry, be sure to subscribe to our industry publication.

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Twitter – @BuildingMKSL
Facebook – facebook.com/marketscale
LinkedIn – linkedin.com/company/marketscale

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

future-ready workforce
Building a Future-Ready Workforce: Disrupting Outdated Education with Employer-Driven, Community-Powered, Practical Skills Training
July 28, 2025

Workforce training is undergoing a radical transformation as industries face critical talent shortages and rapid technological change. Building a future-ready workforce requires rethinking traditional higher education models. These models emphasize broad academic development over targeted skill-building and struggle to keep pace with employer demands. According to the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report…

Read More
The Silent Health Crisis: Indoor Air Quality in Long-Term Care
July 28, 2025

The Silent Health Crisis: Indoor Air Quality in Long-Term Care Most nursing homes have infection control down to a science. They’ve got medication protocols that would make a hospital jealous. Fall prevention? They track every risk factor. But ask them about their air quality and you’ll likely get a puzzled look. That’s a problem, because…

Read More
educators
JUST THINKING… About Bringing out the Best in Educators and Learners with Ross Kimball
July 25, 2025

As the educational landscape rapidly evolves—shaped by advances in communication technology, growing mental health awareness, and post-pandemic classroom dynamics—one key question persists: How can we better connect with and empower both educators and students in the classroom? The stakes are high: studies show that teacher-student relationships directly impact student motivation, academic success, and long-term…

Read More
community
Bringing Community into the Transformation of K-12 Schools: The Impact of Mentors, Local Voices, and Student Entrepreneurs
July 24, 2025

As K-12 schools across the U.S. struggle to recover from the learning loss and emotional fallout of the pandemic, a deeper reckoning is underway—one that challenges the very foundation of who’s responsible for educating our children. Despite billions in federal relief, a third of U.S. students are not even reading at a basic level…

Read More