The Science of Spray & Forget
Spray & Forget is a type of Salt
How Does it Kill Moss Mould and Lichen?
We have tested many different chemicals and combinations over the past 10 years to refine Spik and Span’s Spray and Forget product.
We have literally sprayed 1000,s of litres over 1000s of square metres. Our formula has been used in the commercial market and now available direct to the consumer. Get serious about moss mould and lichen get spray and forget.
Benzalkonium chloride, also known as BZK, BKC, BAC, alkyldimethylbenzylammonium chloride and ADBAC, is a type of cationic surfactant. It is an organic salt classified as a quaternary ammonium compound. It has three main categories of use: as a biocide, a cationic surfactant, and as a phase transfer agent. ADBACs are a mixture of alkylbenzyldimethylammonium chlorides, in which the alkyl group has various even-numbered alkyl chain lengths.
Bioactive Agents
Especially for their antimicrobial activity, benzalkonium chloride is an active ingredient in many consumer products:
- Pharmaceutical products such as eye, ear and nasal drops or sprays, as a preservative
- Personal care products such as hand sanitizers, wet wipes, shampoos, deodorants and cosmetics
- Skin antiseptics, such as Bactine and Dettol
- Some disinfectant solutions, such as post-piercing ear disinfectants.
- Throat lozenges and mouthwashes, as a biocide
- Spermicidal creams
- Over-the-counter single-application treatments for herpes,
cold-sores , and fever blisters, such as RELEEV and Viroxyn - Burn and ulcer treatment
- Spray disinfectants for hard surface sanitization
- Cleaners for floor and hard surfaces as a disinfectant, such as Lysol
- Laundry detergents and treatments
- Softeners for textiles
- Wet and Forget, Spray and Forget, for clearing of algae, moss, lichens from paths, roof tiles, swimming pools, masonry, etc.
Benzalkonium chloride is also used in many non-consumer processes and products, including as an active ingredient in surgical disinfection. A comprehensive list of uses includes industrial applications. An advantage of benzalkonium chloride, not shared by ethanol-based antiseptics or hydrogen peroxide antiseptic, is that it does not cause a burning sensation when applied to broken skin
Medicine
Benzalkonium chloride is a frequently used preservative in eye drops; typical concentrations range from 0.004% to 0.01%. Stronger concentrations can be caustic and cause irreversible damage to the corneal endothelium.
Avoiding the use of benzalkonium chloride solutions while contact lenses are in place is discussed in the literature.
Adverse effects
Although historically benzalkonium chloride has been ubiquitous as a preservative in ophthalmic preparations, its ocular toxicity and irritant properties, in conjunction with consumer demand, have led pharmaceutical companies to increase production of preservative-free preparations, or to replace benzalkonium chloride with preservatives which are more natural.
Benzalkonium chloride has been in common use as a pharmaceutical preservative and antimicrobial since the 1940s. While early studies confirmed the corrosive and irritant properties of excessive amounts of benzalkonium chloride.
