The Disinfecting Wipe Throwdown: How Does Biom’s Quat-Free Formula Stack Up Against Industry Giant, Clorox?

Meet the Contenders

Biom Disinfecting Wipes: These wipes were designed around a simple principle: you shouldn’t have to choose between clean and conscious. Biom’s new Disinfecting Wipes are powered by plant-derived citric acid and made with just water + 10 simple ingredients, with no quats or bleach in an award-winning reusable, BPA-free dispenser.

Clorox Disinfecting Wipes: You probably know Clorox. One of the most recognized household cleaning brands, they've set the standard for "disinfecting wipe." Notably, though, their formula uses quaternary ammonium compounds (quats) as the active disinfecting agent, which we’ll get into below. You’re probably familiar with the look of their single use container and store it under your sink as it’s a bit of an eyesore. 

Efficacy

Before anything else, a disinfecting wipe has to actually disinfect. Everything else is secondary, so let's start there.

Biom: Biom Disinfecting Wipes kill 99.9% of bacteria and viruses* — including the virus that causes COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) — in as little as 30 seconds. No rinse required on non-food surfaces, and no sticky residue left behind. They do exactly what a disinfecting wipe is supposed to do, and they do it quickly.

Clorox: Clorox also kills 99.9% of bacteria and viruses* and eliminates a wide spectrum of pathogens, including SARS-CoV-2. Their efficacy track record is long and well-documented.

Winner: Draw — The numbers are the same: 99.9% of bacteria and viruses,* gone. That makes our next section considerably more interesting, though.

Ingredients & Formula

Here's where it gets worth paying attention to. Both products kill 99.9% of bacteria and viruses,* but how they get there tells two very different stories.

Biom: Biom's Disinfecting Wipes are powered by plant-derived citric acid, a botanical formula made with water and 10 simple ingredients. Made with no quaternary ammonium compounds (quats), no bleach, no ammonia, no parabens, no phthalates, this formula carries EPA Safer Choice approved ingredients, a certification that evaluates each component for its potential impact on human health and the environment. 

That 99.9% kill rate* from a botanical formula is really impressive. While we’ve come to equate more natural formulas with less effective outcomes, Biom proves that cleaning up doesn’t have to come at the expense of your ingredient list. 

Clorox: Clorox Disinfecting Wipes use alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride and alkyl dimethyl ethylbenzyl ammonium chloride as active ingredients, both of which are quaternary ammonium compounds. Clorox is the category standard, and most disinfecting wipes rely on quats. They work, but peer-reviewed studies have linked prolonged exposure to quats to respiratory irritation, skin sensitization, and microbiome disruption. Clorox's formula does not carry EPA Safer Choice certification, and the overall ingredient list is considerably longer than Biom's.

Winner: Biom — Achieving the same 99.9% efficacy* with plant-derived citric acid, EPA Safer Choice approved ingredients, and a 10-ingredient formula is a meaningful accomplishment. 

Wipe Material

Also worth considering? What the wipe is made of matters as much as what it's made with.

Biom: Biom's wipes are made from plastic-free wipe material. This is a notable departure from conventional wipe construction, and it puts Biom squarely outside the microplastics conversation that surrounds most of the wipe category.

Clorox: Clorox Disinfecting Wipes are made with plastic fibers (standard for conventional disinfecting wipes, but worth naming). Most disinfecting wipes are made with plastic fibers, which means they don't break down after disposal. This is a category-wide reality, not a Clorox-specific failure, but it's a real and material difference between these two products.

Winner: Biom — Plastic-free wipe material is a substantive distinction. In a product you're reaching for multiple times a day, it adds up.

Sensory Experience

This is what separates a wipe you tolerate from one you’re…dare I say excited? to actually reach for.

Biom: Biom's Disinfecting Wipes come in two varieties – a clean, citrus-forward scent and a fresh alpine mint scent. They’re not bleach-y and won’t burn your eyes. They leave no sticky residue, just a pleasant, minty or citrus-y scent. For everyday use around food prep areas, kids, and pets, the experience is noticeably different from conventional wipes.

Clorox: Clorox has a recognizable, distinctly chemical scent, which most of us have come to associate with "clean" simply because it was the only option. Some people find it reassuring; others find it more alarming. They can leave surfaces feeling slightly wet if you're not wiping thoroughly, which is common across the quat-based wipe category.

Winner: Biom — No harsh fumes, no sharp chemical smell, and a sensory experience that doesn't require opening a window. 

Price & Value

Because the reality is, it matters, too! 

Biom If you’re buying them online, Biom's Disinfecting Wipes cost somewhere between $6-7ish dollars per 60-pack depending on whether or not you bundle. In my experience, that nets out at around $0.10 a day. On top of that, the brand sells the most adorable re-fillable dispensers for $25. 

Of note, if you purchase the wipes at Target, they’re priced at $4.99 per 60-pack. 

Clorox: Clorox wipes generally cost somewhere under $5 for a 75-pack. At target, they’re $5.39 for a 75-pack.

Winner: Draw — They cost about the same at Target. And while Biom is slightly more expensive online, it’s not a meaningful difference.