Virkon S at a glance
| Product | Virkon™ S Disinfectant and Virucide (powder) |
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| Registrant | LANXESS Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
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| EPA Reg. No. | 39967-137 |
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| Active ingredients | Potassium peroxymonosulfate 21.41%, sodium chloride 1.50% (other ingredients 77.09%) |
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| Signal word | DANGER. The powder is corrosive; the label notes this refers to the powder, not the use-diluted solution. |
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| Standard use solution | 1% solution (1:100) = 1.3 oz of powder per gallon of water. Allow 10 minutes for the powder to dissolve, stirring occasionally. |
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| Contact time | Keep hard, non-porous surfaces visibly wet for 10 minutes (the label's pathogen list gives the exceptions) |
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| Canine parvovirus | 1% solution (1:100), 10 minutes |
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| Surfaces | Hard, non-porous surfaces, equipment, instruments, utensils and cages |
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| Solution life | The label says solutions are stable for 7 days; for premises disinfection, replace the solution daily or sooner if it is visibly soiled |
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| Size on this page | 10 lb (160 oz) of powder. At 1.3 oz per gallon that works out to roughly 120 gallons of 1% solution. |
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What Virkon S is
Virkon S is an oxidizing disinfectant powder. You mix it with water to make a use solution, which is a broad-spectrum disinfectant against the viruses, bacteria and fungi on its EPA-accepted label. In companion animal facilities the label lets you use the 1% solution as a "one step" cleaner and disinfectant, as long as you remove visible filth and soil first.
The label lists these places of use, among others:
- Companion animals: veterinary hospitals, infectious disease wards, quarantine areas, humane society facilities, grooming and boarding facilities, kennels, catteries, pet shops and animal transport vehicles.
- Farm premises: poultry houses, swine facilities, bovine housing, feedlot facilities, trucks and other livestock equipment.
- Equine: stables, horse boxes, box stalls, tack, equipment and feed rooms.
- Boot baths: 1% solution for waterproof or non-porous footwear at the entrances to animal areas.
Many kennels rotate between disinfectants with different chemistry. Rescue Concentrate is an accelerated hydrogen peroxide disinfectant, KennelSol is a quaternary ammonium germicidal detergent, and Oxine AH uses chlorine dioxide. Use each one at the dilution and contact time on its own label.
What Virkon S kills (EPA-accepted label)
The label tested the 1% solution on hard, non-porous surfaces with 400 ppm hard water and 5% organic material, usually with a 10-minute contact time. Some claims below are marked on the label as not approved in California. Check the label on your container before relying on a specific organism.
- Dog and cat viruses: canine parvovirus, canine adenovirus, canine distemper virus, canine coronavirus, canine parainfluenza virus, infectious canine hepatitis virus, feline calicivirus, feline rhinotracheitis virus, feline panleukopenia virus, feline herpes virus and feline infectious peritonitis virus.
- Bacteria in companion animal facilities: including Bordetella bronchiseptica, Leptospira canicola, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Salmonella.
- Ringworm fungi: Microsporum canis at 1% for 10 minutes; Trichophyton interdigitale needs the 2% solution (2.7 oz per gallon) for 10 minutes.
- Farm and poultry: avian influenza virus, Newcastle disease virus, porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDv), porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus, foot and mouth disease virus, Salmonella, E. coli and many others on the label's pathogen list.
- Horses: equine herpes virus types 1 and 3, equine influenza virus, Streptococcus equi (strangles) and others.
Virkon S dilution chart (powder)
| Water | 0.5% solution* | 1% solution | 2% solution |
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| 1 quart | 0.15 oz | 0.3 oz | 0.7 oz |
| 1 gallon | 0.7 oz | 1.3 oz | 2.7 oz |
| 10 gallons | 6.7 oz | 13.4 oz | 26.7 oz |
| 50 gallons | 33.4 oz | 66.8 oz | 133.5 oz |
*The label says the 0.5% solution is not approved for use in California. Most uses call for the 1% solution; use 2% where the pathogen list says so. The label's chart counts 1 scoop as 1.3 oz. Always measure.
How to disinfect kennels and cages with Virkon S
- Remove all animals and feed. Empty or cover bowls and other feeding and watering equipment.
- Remove litter, manure and visible soil from floors, walls, cages and kennel surfaces.
- Mix a 1% solution (1.3 oz per gallon). Allow 10 minutes for the powder to dissolve, stirring now and then.
- Saturate hard, non-porous surfaces with the solution using a cloth, mop, mechanical sprayer or sponge.
- Keep surfaces visibly wet for 10 minutes, then let them air dry.
- Rinse waterers and feeders with drinking-quality water before reuse. Do not house animals until the treated surfaces have dried.
Using Virkon S in a boot bath
- Fill a boot bath or tray with 1% solution and place it at the entrance to the animal area.
- Rinse or brush boots first to remove visible dirt.
- Step in and scrub boots with a clean brush, paying attention to the soles. Surfaces must stay wet for 10 minutes.
- Change the boot-bath solution every 2 to 3 days, or sooner when it becomes visibly soiled.
The label says to use Virkon S only on waterproof or non-porous footwear, not on damaged or water-permeable boots.
Safety and storage
- DANGER: the powder is corrosive. It can cause irreversible eye damage or skin burns and is harmful if swallowed or absorbed through the skin.
- When handling the powder, wear goggles or a face shield, a long-sleeve shirt, long pants, socks, shoes and waterproof gloves.
- Do not mix Virkon S with other chemicals.
- Do not soak metal objects in Virkon S solution for long periods.
- Store the container tightly closed in a cool, dry place out of reach of children. Replace the lid after each use.
- Do not discharge effluent containing this product into lakes, streams, ponds or sewer systems except as the label allows.
Shipping and returns
- The shipping charge for this item is shown in the shipping details on this page and at checkout. See our shipping policy for how free, FLAT and heavy items ship.
- Returns follow our return policy. Call 800-979-2869 for a return authorization.
Virkon S powder does not need cold shipping.
Frequently asked questions
Does Virkon S kill parvo?
Yes, on hard, non-porous surfaces. The EPA-accepted label lists canine parvovirus at the 1% solution (1.3 oz per gallon) with a 10-minute contact time. Clean off visible dirt first.
How much Virkon S do I mix per gallon?
1.3 oz of powder per gallon of water makes the standard 1% solution. Use 2.7 oz per gallon for the 2% solution the label requires for some organisms.
How long does Virkon S need to stay wet?
10 minutes for most organisms on the label. Keep surfaces visibly wet for the whole time, then let them air dry.
How long does mixed Virkon S solution last?
The label says solutions are stable for 7 days. For general premises disinfection it also says to replace the solution daily, or sooner if it is visibly soiled. Change boot-bath solution every 2 to 3 days or when it is soiled.
Does Virkon S kill ringworm?
The label lists Microsporum canis at the 1% solution for 10 minutes (not approved in California) and Trichophyton interdigitale at the 2% solution for 10 minutes, on hard, non-porous surfaces.
Can I use Virkon S on dirt, gravel or wood?
The label's claims are for hard, non-porous surfaces. Do not rely on Virkon S to disinfect porous materials such as dirt, gravel or raw wood.
Is Virkon S safe to use around animals?
Remove animals before you treat an area, and do not house animals until treated surfaces have dried. The powder carries a DANGER signal word because it is corrosive. Rinse waterers and feeders with drinking-quality water before reuse.
Does Virkon S kill avian influenza?
The label lists avian influenza virus at the 1% solution with a 10-minute contact time, on hard, non-porous surfaces in poultry and farm premises.
Can I use Virkon S in a boot bath?
Yes. The label gives boot-bath directions using a 1% solution for waterproof or non-porous footwear, with a 10-minute contact time.
Will Virkon S corrode metal?
The label says not to soak metal objects in Virkon S for long periods. The corrosive warning on the label refers to the powder, not the use-diluted solution.
Can I mix Virkon S with bleach or another cleaner?
No. The label says not to mix this product with other chemicals.
How much solution does a 10 lb container make?
10 lb is 160 oz of powder. At 1.3 oz per gallon, that is roughly 120 gallons of 1% solution.
What protective gear do I need?
When handling the powder, wear goggles or a face shield, a long-sleeve shirt, long pants, socks, shoes and waterproof gloves, as the label directs.
This page summarizes the manufacturer's EPA-accepted label and published product information. It is a violation of federal law to use a pesticide in a manner inconsistent with its labeling. Always read and follow the label on the product you receive.
