What Is Electrolyzed Water? A Simple, Science-Backed Explanation

If you’ve come across electrolyzed water and thought, “Wait…what is that and do I actually need to get some?” – you’re not alone. Most of us are just trying to keep up with sticky counters, mystery messes, and whatever got spilled five minutes ago.

Electrolyzed water sounds complicated, but the idea is actually simple. Force of Nature makes electrolyzed water in a small appliance that turns water, salt, and vinegar into hypochlorous acid (HOCl) – a disinfecting ingredient that kills viruses and bacteria.

The important thing to know is that not all electrolyzed water is the same. Force of Nature is designed to create a specific formula that meets EPA standards for disinfecting. In this guide, we’ll break down what electrolyzed water is, how it’s made, and why Force of Nature uses it as a non-toxic way to clean and disinfect your home.

What is electrolyzed water?

Electrolyzed water is created when electricity is applied to a solution of salt and water, transforming it into two new ingredients – one for cleaning and one for disinfecting and deodorizing.

How does electrolyzed water work?

You start with exactly the right proportions of salt, water and vinegar.  A salt molecule is made up of 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 HOCl (the disinfectant) and sodium hydroxide (the cleaner). The vinegar lowers the pH of the solution so that the right concentration of each ingredient is created.

If you’re more of a visual person, here’s a quick video that explains the process:

Why does electrolyzed water work?

Hypochlorous acid is an antimicrobial ingredient as effective as bleach. It’s actually the same substance your white blood cells produce to keep you healthy – ie your immune system’s fighter.  Its gentleness & efficacy have been extensively researched in wound, healthcare, and veterinary care products.

Sodium hydroxide is a highly effective detergent used in products ranging from toothpaste and skin moisturizers to conventional cleaners. Force of Nature contains a concentration of just 0.0000003%, which is significantly lower than what is typically found in conventional cleaners.

How Force of Nature compares to traditional disinfectants

Unlike many traditional disinfectants that rely on bleach or quaternary ammonium compounds, Force of Nature uses hypochlorous acid to disinfect and deodorize, and a low concentration of sodium hydroxide to clean grease and grime. Force of Nature kills 99.9% of viruses, bacteria, mold and mildew when used as directed on hard, non-porous surfaces. It’s EPA registered for use in hospitals, daycares, ICUs, gyms and more.

If you’re wondering how safe electrolyzed water is for kids, pets, and sensitive surfaces, you can read our full safety guide here.

How Force of Nature uses electrolyzed water

Electrolyzed water is typically produced using large industrial equipment. Force of Nature makes it accessible for home use by creating the solution in a small countertop appliance.

How long does electrolyzed water remain effective?

Just like bubbles in a carbonated drink, hypochlorous acid (HOCl) starts to dissipate over time. After 2 weeks, the disinfecting power starts to diminish. That’s why you won’t find electrolyzed water sitting on a grocery store shelf; instead you make it fresh in an appliance when you need it.

Learn More

More questions? Learn how electrolyzed water works, or see how Force of Nature cleans and disinfects your home.

If you want to dig in further, you can also compare electrolyzed water vs bleach, learn how safe Force of Nature is for your family, or explore how Force of Nature is proven to work.