HOCl.love

A mutual aid resource for affordable, effective hygiene solutions

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What is Hypochlorous Acid?

Hypochlorous acid (HOCl) is a powerful, non-toxic disinfectant that your own white blood cells produce to fight infections. It's the same molecule your immune system deploys against pathogens — now available as an affordable solution for water purification, wound care, surface disinfection, and more.

✓
80-100× More Effective Than bleach at killing pathogens
✓
Non-Toxic & Gentle Safe for skin, wounds, and eyes
✓
Extremely Affordable Less than $0.25 per gallon
✓
Proven & Approved EPA registered, NSF certified

Unlike household bleach (sodium hypochlorite), HOCl is pH neutral, doesn't irritate skin or mucous membranes, and leaves no harmful residue. It's safe for wound irrigation, oral care, and even eye wash at appropriate concentrations.

For more from Scientific American, see the accompanying article and podcast

HOCl for Mutual Aid

HOCl is one of the most effective tools community organizers can deploy for hygiene and wound care. A single box of tablets makes 100+ liters of medical-grade disinfectant — enough to supply an encampment, stock a disaster response kit, or keep a community fridge sanitized for months.

Applications & Concentrations

HOCl is versatile — different concentrations are appropriate for different uses. Lower PPM (parts per million) for sensitive applications, higher PPM for disinfection.

💧 Water Purification
2-10 PPM

Clear water: 2-5 ppm. Cloudy water: 5-10 ppm (filter first). Wait 30 minutes.

Evidence

NaDCC tablets are WHO/UNICEF approved for household water treatment. Studies show they reduce diarrheal disease by eliminating E. coli, Vibrio cholerae, and other waterborne pathogens within 30 minutes.

→ NaDCC Tablets for Household Water Treatment (PMC) → Disinfection By-Product Safety Study (PMC) → NaDCC vs Sodium Hypochlorite Review (ScienceDirect)
👁️ Eye & Eyelid Care
10-100 PPM

Blepharitis, dry eye, eyelid hygiene. Reduces bacterial load by >90%.

Evidence

Multiple RCTs show 0.01% HOCl significantly improves blepharitis symptoms, tear film quality, and reduces eyelid bacterial load. Safe for periocular use and effective against Demodex mites.

→ HOCl for Blepharitis: RCT (PMC) → HOCl Ultrasonic Atomization for Blepharitis (PMC) → HOCl in Eye Infection Management (PMC)
🦷 Oral Care
40-100 PPM

Mouthwash for oral hygiene, gum health, and periodontal disease. Swish and spit.

Evidence

100 ppm HOCl mouthwash reduces salivary bacteria by 62-77% in periodontal patients. Inactivates oral pathogens including P. gingivalis in under 30 seconds. Preserves beneficial oral bacteria better than chlorhexidine.

→ HOCl Mouthwash for Periodontal Disease: RCT (PMC) → HOCl Inactivates Oral Pathogens (PMC) → HOCl Substantivity as Antiplaque Agent (PubMed)
🧴 Skin Care & Acne
100-200 PPM

Acne, eczema, atopic dermatitis. Anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial.

Evidence

HOCl reduces S. aureus on atopic skin, decreasing inflammation. For acne, it's as effective as benzoyl peroxide without irritation. Reduces itch in 73% of eczema patients. Safe for daily use on sensitive skin.

→ HOCl for Skin Disorders: Clinical Review (PMC) → Dermatologic Applications of HOCl (J Integrative Derm) → HOCl for Acne & Seborrheic Dermatitis (JDD)
🧽 Surface Disinfection
100-200 PPM

Surfaces, utensils, produce. Kills bacteria, viruses, fungi. No rinse needed.

Evidence

HOCl is 80-100× more effective than bleach at the same concentration. EPA-registered for food contact surfaces. Effective against MRSA, E. coli, Salmonella, norovirus, and SARS-CoV-2 within 30-60 seconds.

→ HOCl Antimicrobial Efficacy Review (MDPI Biomedicines) → HOCl Microbicidal & Antibiofilm Properties (PubMed)
🩹 Wound Care
100-200 PPM

Cleaning cuts, burns, chronic wounds. Promotes healing, disrupts biofilm.

Evidence

HOCl kills pathogens within 12 seconds while promoting fibroblast/keratinocyte migration. Disrupts biofilms that block wound healing. Strong evidence for diabetic foot ulcers. Non-cytotoxic unlike iodine or peroxide.

→ HOCl: Ideal Wound Care Agent (PubMed) → HOCl for Infected Wounds (PMC) → Expert Recommendations for HOCl in Wounds (PubMed) → HOCl Promotes Re-epithelialization: RCT (PMC)
🦶 Foot & Fungal Care
200-500 PPM

Athlete's foot, toenail fungus, trench foot prevention. Antifungal soaks.

Evidence

HOCl kills >99.99% of dermatophyte fungi (T. rubrum, T. interdigitale) within 5 minutes. Effective against Candida albicans. Higher concentrations (200-500 ppm) recommended for established fungal infections. Can decontaminate socks overnight.

→ HOCl Antifungal Activity Study (PMC) → Podiatrist's Guide to HOCl (Biomiq) → HOCl for Tinea Pedis (Podiatry Research)
🏥 Medical Equipment
500-1000 PPM

Sterilizing instruments and high-risk surfaces. Hospital-grade disinfection.

Evidence

At higher concentrations, HOCl achieves rapid sporicidal activity against C. difficile and other resistant organisms. Used in healthcare for instrument disinfection, surface sanitation, and pre-operative skin prep. Non-corrosive to most materials.

→ Stabilized HOCl: Innate Immunity Component (PMC) → HOCl: Future Gold Standard for Wound Care (PubMed)

Making HOCl with NaDCC Tablets

The easiest, most practical way to create HOCl solutions — just dissolve a tablet in water.

NaDCC (sodium dichloroisocyanurate) tablets are the gold standard for creating HOCl in field conditions. Used by UNICEF, WHO, Red Cross, and humanitarian organizations worldwide, they're stable, portable, and incredibly easy to use.

★ Recommended: PurTabs 334mg

1 tablet = 1 liter at ~100ppm. No math, no measuring. Perfect for wound care and surface disinfection.

  • Easy dosing: Drop one tablet in 1L of water, wait 3-5 minutes
  • Available at Zogics: 100 tablets for ~$22 (or le (~$0.22/tablet)
  • EPA registered, NSF certified — safe for food contact surfaces

For other concentrations: ½ tablet in 1L = 50ppm (skin care), 2 tablets in 1L = 200ppm (wound care)

Quick Reference: PurTabs 334mg at 200ppm

For wound care and enhanced disinfection:

250ml
½
tablet
500ml
1
tablet
1 Liter
2
tablets
4L (1 gal)
8
tablets

For 100ppm (general disinfection): use half the tablets shown above

⚠️ Safety Guidelines
  • Always dissolve tablets completely in clean water before use (3-5 minutes)
  • Do not mix with acids, vinegar, or urine — releases toxic chlorine gas
  • Store tablets cool and dry, away from sunlight; keep from children
  • Solution stays effective ~2 weeks in closed, opaque containers
  • For wound care, start with lower concentrations (50-100ppm)

📦 Community Distribution Ideas

Ways mutual aid groups are using HOCl:

  • Street outreach: Pre-fill small spray bottles (50-100ppm) for hand/wound care
  • Encampments: Provide tablets + instructions for on-site mixing
  • Disaster response: Stockpile tablets — they're shelf-stable for 3-5 years
  • Community fridges: Weekly surface wipe-down with 200ppm solution
  • Harm reduction: Wound care kits with HOCl spray + bandages

Dosing Calculator

Calculate exactly how many tablets you need for your bottle size and target concentration.

★ Why PurTabs? 1 tablet = 1L at ~100ppm. Zogics

Results

— Tablets Required

— Cost Per Batch

— Concentration

Volume Calculator

Calculate how much solution your tablets can make.

Metric
Imperial

Results

— Liters of Solution

— Total Cost

NaDCC Tablet Comparison

Compare different brands and tablet sizes. Prices are approximate bulk rates.

UNICEF/Generic: Unbranded tablets meeting international standards. Most economical.
PurTabs: EPA-registered, NSF certified for food contact. Easy dosing.
Aquatabs: Premium brand, individually sealed. Popular for camping.

Brand / Type Weight Chlorine Makes (200ppm) Price Cost/Gal
★ Recommended
PurTabs 334mg Easy 334mg 104mg 520ml ~$0.22 $1.60
UNICEF/Generic Humanitarian
UNICEF 167mg 167mg 100mg 500ml $0.01-0.02 $0.08-0.15
Generic 1.67g Common 1.67g 1000mg 5 liters $0.03-0.05 $0.02-0.04
UNICEF 8.68g 8.68g 5208mg 26 liters $0.25-0.35 $0.04-0.05
Other Commercial
Ef-Chlor 2.5g 2.5g 1500mg 7.5 liters $0.05-0.08 $0.03-0.04
PurTabs 3.3g 3.3g 1026mg 5.13 liters $0.40-0.60 $0.30-0.44
EZ-Bleach 5g 5g 1450mg 7.25 liters $0.40-0.45 $0.21-0.24

References & Resources

Suppliers

Standards

Research

Disclaimer: This calculator is for educational and planning purposes. Always verify product specifications with manufacturers, follow label instructions, and consult healthcare professionals for medical applications.

Help Build Community Health Infrastructure

CONSPIRE.to offers additional research, guides, and resources to help mutual aid groups provide effective care.