Right now, as you read this, your white blood cells are producing hypochlorous acid — one of the most powerful cleaning molecules known to science. It neutralizes pathogens on contact. It leaves zero toxic residue. And when it's finished doing its job, it breaks down into nothing more than salt water. HOCl for short — and your immune system has been making it your entire life.

Scientists have known about HOCl nearly 200 years. It was used to irrigate wounds on the battlefields of World War I. It has been studied in peer-reviewed research for decades. It is recognized by the FDA, EPA, USDA, CDC, and WHO across a range of applications. And yet most people have never heard of it.

I didn't hear about it either — until I started looking for something better.

My Journey to Hypochlorous Acid

I'm the founder and formulator of Everlasting Organics LLC, and a working flight attendant based in North Carolina.

I spend my days between a small-batch formulation lab and a 30,000-foot cabin. That means I think constantly about what I'm cleaning with, what I'm putting on my skin, and what I'm bringing into the spaces I share with other people. Hotel rooms. Tray tables. Touchscreens. Door handles. Lab equipment. My kitchen. My rescue pit mix Scrappy, who has an extraordinary talent for finding dead things to roll in.

For a long time I used what everyone uses — commercial cleaners, alcohol-based products, bleach dilutions for the lab. They worked, mostly. But they also left residues. They irritated skin. They couldn't go near food. They are not pet safe. And for my formulation lab, chemical residue on equipment is a real problem — it can compromise the integrity of what I'm making.

When I discovered HOCl and invested in a professional-grade generator to produce it fresh, I didn't expect it to change everything. But it did.

I now use HOCl to clean every piece of equipment in my lab before every production batch — mixing bowls, beakers, spatulas, immersion blenders. No rinsing required. No residue. I spray my counters, my bathroom surfaces, my kitchen. I mist my houseplants. I use it on Scrappy's coat after his wildlife encounters. I use it on my own face and hands daily.

It is the most versatile, non-toxic cleaning solution I have ever found. And the science behind why is genuinely fascinating.

What Is Hypochlorous Acid — And Why Does Your Body Make It?

When your body detects a pathogen — a bacterium, a virus, a fungal invader — your white blood cells (called neutrophils) launch an immediate response. They produce hypochlorous acid and deploy it directly at the threat.

This is not a chemical your body tolerates. This is your body. It is your first line of defense, produced naturally, used daily, and broken down harmlessly once the job is done.

The reason HOCl is so effective has to do with electrical charge. Most pathogens carry a negative charge on their outer walls. Many conventional cleaning chemicals are also negatively charged — meaning they are repelled by the very thing they're trying to neutralize. HOCl carries no charge. It passes directly through pathogen cell walls without being repelled, disrupting internal structures on contact.

According to research published in the National Institutes of Health's PubMed Central database, HOCl has been found to be significantly more effective than sodium hypochlorite (bleach) as a cleaning agent — at far lower concentrations and without the toxicity, corrosiveness, or residue associated with bleach. (Source: pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6255518)

And when it's done, it degrades into salt water. Nothing accumulates. Nothing lingers.

The Chemistry: pH and PPM

Two numbers define any HOCl solution: PPM (parts per million — the concentration) and pH (how acidic or alkaline it is).

These two variables together determine both how effective the solution is and what it's appropriate to use it for. This is documented in the scientific literature and referenced across regulatory guidance from the FDA, EPA, and CDC.

HOCl exists in its most active form in a slightly acidic pH range. As pH rises above approximately 6.5, the molecule begins converting to sodium hypochlorite — a less effective and potentially more irritating form. As pH drops below approximately 3.5, the risk of trace chlorine gas formation increases — which is why staying within the recommended range matters. A target pH of 4.5–6.5 keeps you well above that threshold under normal use conditions. The optimal range for most applications is between pH 4.5 and 6.5, depending on the specific use.

(Source: CDC Guideline for Disinfection and Sterilization in Healthcare Facilities, 2008/2024)

Concentration matters too. Higher PPM solutions are appropriate for hard surface applications. Lower PPM solutions are appropriate for skin contact. The table below reflects what the published regulatory and peer-reviewed literature documents for various uses — this is not my guidance, it is a summary of what the relevant agencies and researchers have found:

I spent weeks testing my own generator across different cycle settings, water types, salt amounts, and vinegar additions to document the actual pH and PPM outputs under real production conditions. That testing data is what allows me to make and use HOCl with confidence — not guesswork.

What the Research Documents

I want to be careful here to let the research speak for itself rather than make claims of my own. What follows are findings from peer-reviewed studies published in the NIH's research database — I am summarizing what the researchers found, with links to the original papers so you can read them directly.

Skin and wound research: Research published in PMC has documented HOCl's role in wound care settings, including studies on re-epithelialization (new skin formation), reduction of bacterial bioburden in wounds, and use in post-surgical and post-laser skin care. These are clinical and laboratory findings, not claims about consumer products.

• HOCl wound re-epithelialization RCT
• HOCl open wound healing study 2023–2024
• HOCl post-laser skin healing

Dermatology research: A 2025 review published in PMC examined HOCl use across dermatology, surgery, dentistry, and ophthalmology specialties, documenting its application in conditions including atopic dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis, and wound care.

• HOCl dermatology clinical review 2025

Agricultural and food safety research: The USDA has clarified that HOCl is consistent with organic production and handling guidelines. The FDA's Guide to Minimize Microbial Food Safety Hazards references the role of free available chlorine — including HOCl — in produce sanitation.

• FDA guidance
• USDA organic program

Safety research: Research using 2D and 3D skin and lung models found that HOCl at 300 ppm did not affect cellular viability or tissue morphology when nebulized, supporting its use in occupied space applications.

• HOCl nebulized safety study

I am not a medical professional and this blog is not medical or regulatory advice. The studies referenced here were conducted by researchers and reviewed by peer journals — I am simply pointing you toward them.

Why Freshness Matters — And Why I Generate My Own Hypochlorous Acid

HOCl is not shelf-stable the way conventional cleaners are. Once produced, it begins a gradual degradation rate that varies based on storage conditions including light exposure, heat, and air contact. (Source: EWCO/EcoloxTech — hocl.com/regulation)

This means HOCl stored in clear bottles, exposed to light and heat, or sitting in warehouse and shipping conditions can lose significant potency before it ever reaches the person using it.

I generate my own HOCl fresh using a professional-grade electrolysis generator — the same basic process that was first developed by Michael Faraday in the 1830s. The inputs are simple: distilled water, non-iodized salt, and electricity. The output is a solution that I test with calibrated pH meters and PPM test strips before every use.

Storing in amber glass, filling to the rim to eliminate air contact, and keeping away from heat and direct light all extend potency. Under those conditions, a properly generated solution at 200 ppm should remain above 180 ppm for two to four weeks.

If you're interested in generating your own HOCl at home, generators are available from several manufacturers. I am currently exploring whether I can offer a generator option through my own channels — I'll share more when that's confirmed.

A Note on Regulatory Claims

This is worth understanding clearly — and I say this as someone who has researched this carefully.

In the United States, three separate federal agencies have jurisdiction over how HOCl products can be described and sold:

EPA — Under FIFRA (the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act), any product claiming to kill, destroy, prevent, or repel bacteria or viruses is regulated as a pesticide and must be EPA-registered before sale. This applies regardless of how natural or non-toxic the ingredient is. The EPA has issued stop-sale orders to HOCl sellers making antimicrobial claims without registration. (EPA enforcement action, April 2023)

FDA — Under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, any product intended to treat, prevent, mitigate, diagnose, or cure disease is regulated as a drug and requires FDA approval or clearance. The FDA has issued warning letters to companies selling HOCl sprays with disease-related claims — including joint letters co-signed with the FTC. (FDA Warning Letter — Curativa Bay Corporation, June 2020)

FTC — Under the FTC Act, it is unlawful to advertise that a product can prevent, treat, or cure human disease without competent and reliable scientific evidence substantiating those claims. This applies to websites, social media, and any marketing materials. (FTC enforcement letters)

HOCl-based products that make antimicrobial, sanitizing, or health claims legally have gone through the relevant registration or clearance processes. Products making those claims without registration are operating outside the law.

This blog is educational content only. It summarizes what peer-reviewed research and regulatory agencies have documented about HOCl as a molecule. It is not a claim about any specific product, and nothing here should be read as product labeling or health guidance.

References

All sources are publicly available. I encourage you to read them directly.

• CDC Guideline for Disinfection and Sterilization in Healthcare Facilities (2008, updated 2024)
• FDA Food Contact Notification FCN 1811
• FDA Guide to Minimize Microbial Food Safety Hazards of Fresh-Cut Fruits and Vegetables
• EPA Food-Contact Surface Sanitizing Solutions guidance
• EPA enforcement action re: unregistered HOCl disinfectant claims
• FDA Warning Letter — Curativa Bay Corporation (HOCl spray, unapproved drug claims)
• FTC Warning Letter — Uwell Life Inc. (HOCl product health claims)
• USDA Organic Program HOCl guidance
• WHO: Hypochlorous Acid documentation
• NIH/PMC: HOCl efficacy vs. bleach
• NIH/PMC: HOCl dermatology clinical review (2025)
• NIH/PMC: HOCl wound re-epithelialization RCT
• NIH/PMC: HOCl open wound healing study 2023–2024
• NIH/PMC: HOCl post-laser skin healing
• NIH/PMC: HOCl nebulized safety
• NIH/PMC: HOCl antimicrobial in vivo review
• Scientific American: Hypochlorous Acid in skincare and cleaning
• EWCO/EcoloxTech: HOCl regulation and stability

This post is for educational purposes only. It does not constitute medical, regulatory, or product advice. Julie Vest is the founder of Everlasting Organics LLC — Everlasting-Organics.com

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