Electrolyzed Water 101
Electrolyzed Water:
Electrolyzed Water 101
The technology to make electrolyzed water has actually been around for years, but it has required expensive industrial-size equipment accessible to only large institutions and companies. The applications of electrolyzed water are broad given its efficacy, safety & low cost per ounce. Research on hypochlorous acid, its active ingredient, has been extensive given its many applications, including in eye, wound & veterinary care products. Examples of institutions using electrolyzed water are hospitals in Japan and in the United States for both cleaning & disinfecting as well as in wound care products.
Even though the chemistry is pretty simple, some of the equipment costs $10,000 or more. That is, until Force of Nature miniaturized this technology. Here is what industrial-size electrolyzed water equipment looks like – not exactly something you’d want on your kitchen countertop, right?
How Electrolyzed Water Is Made
Making it is pretty simple chemistry. You start with the right proportions of salt, water and vinegar. A salt molecule is made up of the elements sodium and chloride, and a water molecule is made up of hydrogen and oxygen. When an electrical current is applied to the solution, the molecules are broken apart and combined into 2 new molecules:
- Hypochlorous acid – This is ingredient is as effective as bleach. This is actually the same substance your white blood cells produce to keep you healthy. As in your immune system’s fighter. Really! It’s gentleness & efficacy are what make it commonly used in wound, healthcare, and veterinary care products. It’s even approved for use in organic crop production.
- Sodium hydroxide – a detergent used at low concentrations in products like toothpaste and skin moisturizers, and at higher concentrations in conventional cleaners. Force of Nature contains a concentration of just 0.0000003% (not toxic). In all-purpose cleaners, typical concentration levels are from 1-5% (3 million to 17 million times the concentration as in Force of Nature, and can be extremely harmful).
The vinegar lowers the pH (the acidity) of the solution so that the right amounts of hypochlorous acid & sodium hydroxide are created. The result is a cleaner & deodorizer that’s just as effective as conventional cleaners with no harmful chemicals, residues or fumes. It’s even EPA-approved for fighting Covid-19 and Green Seal certified. See 3rd party independent lab test results here and watch this little video for a super simple chemistry lesson.
Why Can’t I Buy Electrolyzed Water in a Store?
The reason it must be made in an appliance at home is that just like bubbles in a carbonated drink, hypochlorous acid starts to dissipate over time. That means a bottle of electrolyzed water sitting on a store shelf or in a warehouse would lose its deodorizing efficacy within just a few weeks. That’s why we tell our customers that they should dispose of any unused solution after 2 weeks.
Learn More
More questions? Learn more about electrolyzed water or see how it compares to typical natural cleaning products. And if you want to dig in even more, we’ve also got the scoop on how to compare electrolyzed water vs bleach, how Force of Nature is safe to use on virtually any surface in your home, and about how Force of Nature actually works.