| 1. Match the product to its intended use | Confirm whether the tablets are intended for surfaces, equipment, water treatment, or another specific use. A product approved or labeled for one use is not automatically suitable for another. | Clear directions identifying the target use, application method, and surfaces or materials covered. | Vague claims such as “sanitizes everything,” or instructions that do not specify where the tablets may be used. |
| 2. Identify the active ingredient | Read the product label for the active ingredient and its concentration. Ingredients and concentrations vary, and effectiveness depends on the formulation and labeled use. | A complete product label that names the active ingredient and provides concentration or other required composition details. | Claims such as “natural,” “bio,” or “chemical-free” offered instead of a clearly identified active ingredient. |
| 3. Check directions and contact time | Follow the specified dilution or tablet-to-water ratio, application steps, and wet contact time. The surface generally must remain wet for the full labeled contact time. | Specific, readable instructions, including preparation, application, contact time, and any required rinsing. | Directions that omit dosage or contact time, or advice to use a stronger mixture than the label specifies. |
| 4. Review safety information | Read the label and Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for hazards, protective equipment, first aid, storage, and spill-response guidance. An SDS communicates hazards; it does not by itself certify that a product is safe or effective. | An accessible, current SDS and label precautions consistent with the product’s intended handling and use. | No safety documentation, missing first-aid guidance, or claims that a product is harmless under all conditions. |
| 5. Verify regulatory status for your location | Requirements depend on the product’s claims, use, and jurisdiction. In the United States, antimicrobial pesticide claims generally fall under EPA regulation; hand sanitizers are generally regulated by FDA as over-the-counter drugs. In the European Union, biocidal products require authorization for relevant uses under the Biocidal Products Regulation. | Check the applicable regulator’s official database or documentation, and confirm that the authorized claims and uses match the product label. | A regulatory number or approval claim that cannot be verified, or documentation for a different product, use, or jurisdiction. |
| 6. Consider compatibility and storage | Check whether the solution may damage the intended surface or equipment, and follow labeled storage, shelf-life, and disposal instructions. Keep tablets in their original container and away from children. | Label details on material compatibility, storage conditions, expiry or shelf life, and disposal. | No storage or expiry information, or instructions to mix the product with other cleaners without explicit label guidance. |
| 7. Compare evidence, not just claims | Look for test information relevant to the product’s specific intended use and the organisms or performance claims stated on the label. Do not assume that a laboratory result proves effectiveness in every real-world setting. | Clearly described test methods, conditions, and results that align with the label claims and applicable requirements. | Unsupported “kills all germs” claims, unexplained test results, or performance promises that go beyond the authorized label. |