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Why Hypochlorus Acid is a Must Have in Our Home

Aug 8
4 min read

Updated: Oct 12

What is HOCL?

Hypochlorus acid (HOCL) is a molecule your white blood cells naturally produce to fight germs. It's a must have in our home. It’s part of your body’s natural defense system to help protect and keep skin healthy. We literally keep a bottle in each bathroom, our diaper bag, and our kitchen to clean with.


How White Blood Cells Use HOCl to Kill Germs


How Does HOCL Support the Skin?

  • Fights harmful microbes: Helps neutralize bacteria and viruses on contact.

  • Supports natural healing: Creates an optimal environment for skin to heal.

  • Soothes & calms: Helps reduce redness, irritation, and inflammation.

  • Gentle & non-irritating: Safe for daily use on all skin types.

  • Clean & effective: No harsh chemicals, fragrances, or alcohol.

  • Disinfects: Helps kill bacteria and viruses on surfaces, making it a gentle alternative to harsher disinfectants.

Two days of only using HOCL. We had run out of our spray and my son got this weird rash on his arm and allll over his stomach. It wasn't super horrible, but it was pesky and would NOT go away. Calendula helped keep it at bay, but as soon as we got our HOCL in it was completely gone in two days!
Two days of only using HOCL. We had run out of our spray and my son got this weird rash on his arm and allll over his stomach. It wasn't super horrible, but it was pesky and would NOT go away. Calendula helped keep it at bay, but as soon as we got our HOCL in it was completely gone in two days!

Understanding Concentrations

When you're shopping for HOCL you'll usually see it's concentration listed as either a percentage or ppm (parts per million). PPM is basically just a way to describe how much HOCL is in the solution.

  • 0.01% = 100 ppm

  • 0.015% = 150 ppm

  • 0.02% = 200 ppm 


Typically HOCL products fall somewhere around 50-220ppm. A higher ppm means a more concentrated soultion, it doesn't necessarily mean "better." And a lower ppm is usually intended for gentler use or repeated applications.


General breakdown of HOCl concentration ranges (PPM) and their common uses:


  • 50–200 ppm: common in skin sprays, but also found in surface-cleaning and disinfecting products.

  • 200–500 ppm: often found in both skin/wound-care formulations and surface-cleaning and disinfecting products.

  • 500+ ppm:hHigher-concentration formulations, including commercial and industrial disinfectants, as well as concentrated solutions intended for dilution before use


The concentration needed depends on what you're trying to accomplish, how long the solution remains in contact with the area, which microorganisms are being targeted, and the formulation itself. Research has demonstrated antimicrobial activity across a wide range of HOCl concentrations, with higher concentrations often providing greater antimicrobial activity and/or allowing for shorter contact times.


I feel like understanding ppm is so tricky because your mind wants to think, “Higher concentration means more effective,” but that’s not necessarily true. Or “Lower concentration means gentler on the skin,” but that’s also not necessarily true!


A higher ppm DOES mean more HOCl is available to kill microbes, but it doesn’t necessarily mean it WILL kill more microbes. Both higher and lower concentrations may achieve the same level of microbial reduction, BUT a higher ppm may accomplish it faster or under more challenging conditions.


So 100 ppm isn't necessarily less effective than 220 ppm. Depending on the formulation and what you're targeting, it may just take longer to achieve the same result!


I'm generally comfortable with a wide range of ppms in products specifically formulated for skin, but for cleaning and disinfecting, I typically prefer a higher ppm (like 180/200+). 


Understanding pH

Another number worth looking at when comparing HOCl products is pH (especially when it comes to skin sprays), which tells you how acidic or alkaline a solution is. Some skincare brands list this information, although not all do.


pH matters because it influences how much of the available chlorine exists in the hypochlorous acid (HOCl) form versus the hypochlorite (OCl⁻) form. HOCl is generally the more effective antimicrobial form.


For skincare, many HOCl products fall around a pH of 4-6, which is mildly acidic and generally compatible with skin. However, pH alone doesn't determine whether a product is skin-safe.


The takeaway? Two products can have the same PPM but different pH levels, meaning they may behave differently. That's why it's worth looking at both numbers, along with the overall formulation and intended use.


SOME HOCL OPTIONS


TOPICAL

For: face + body, acne/breakouts, eczema-prone or irritated skin, rashes, diaper-area irritation, bug bites, minor cuts/scrapes/burns, after shaving, post-workout, etc.


GEL


HOUSEHOLD CLEANING + DISINFECTING

For: counters, toys, high chairs, bathrooms, household surfaces, etc.


How We've Used HOCL


glass cut on finger / glass cut on foot / scraped knee / heat rash / lizard bite / pee stain + smell




 
 
 

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