Ringworm: How to Clean and Disinfect Effectively with Rescue
Ringworm is not a worm but a fungus that causes skin infections in both humans and animals. Highly contagious, especially in high kitten density environments, it is zoonotic and can easily be transmitted from animal to human and animal to animal.
While treatable, managing kittens with ringworm or an outbreak of ringworm requires vigorous environmental decontamination. Thus, thorough cleaning and disinfection are critical to prevent further spread.
For guidance on managing ringworm outbreaks, including effective cleaning and disinfection practices, read the blog below or download this PDF guide.
Cleaning and Disinfecting against Ringworm
Cleaning and disinfecting during a ringworm outbreak follows the following phases:
- Protect and Prepare
- Apply
- Wait, then Wipe/Wash
Protect & Prepare
- Protect: To prevent the spread of spores, wear protective clothing, including gloves and boots. Isolate your kittens in a plastic playpen that can easily be cleaned and disinfected.
- Prepare: Before you disinfect, you must clean by removing any visible soils, including litter, food, or any other debris.
Commonly used in shelters, Rescue contains detergents, allowing it to clean and disinfect against ringworm in one step once visible soils are removed.
Apply
Apply Rescue by spraying, mopping, or wiping the surface. If you are using Rescue Concentrate, dilute the concentrate at 1:16 (8 oz of Rescue Concentrate for every 1 gallon of water).
Wait, then Wipe/ Wash
Wait for the contact time by allowing the surface to remain visibly wet for the required contact time. This ensures that your Rescue disinfectant is doing the job of killing ringworm.
- Product Contact Time:
- Rescue Ready-to-Use: 1 minute
- Rescue Wipes: 1 minute
- Rescue Concentrate: 5 minutes at 1:16 (8 oz/gallon) during an outbreak, 5 minutes at 1:64 (2 oz/gallon) after an outbreak
- Wipe: Use a damp, clean cloth to dry small areas, or allow to air dry.
- Wash: If required, occasionally rinse with water to easily remove safe detergent residues that may build up over time.
Do’s and Don’ts
DO’S
- House and isolate infected kittens in areas that are easy to clean and disinfect such as bathrooms or uncarpeted spare rooms.
- Clean and disinfect spaces that your kittens come in contact with daily or more frequently if visibly soiled.
- Remove kittens from the area you are disinfecting until the solution has dried.
- Continue disinfecting pet contact surfaces at least once a week once pets are no longer contagious.
- Change clothes and boots after handling infected kittens.
DON’Ts
- Mix any other products or chemicals with Rescue.
- Use the same cleaning equipment and solution in sick areas then healthy areas. Dedicated equipment should be used for isolation areas to reduce the risk of cross-contamination.
- Use misting sprayers, which can create excess aerosolization of the disinfectant. Instead, use a foaming nozzle, microfiber cloth, or opt for wipes.
Can I use Rescue on…
We always recommend conducting a spot test to observe if Rescue affects the material before proceeding.
| Surface | Yes | No |
|---|---|---|
| Flooring | Rescue can be used effectively on treated hardwood, laminate, and tile. | We would not recommend using Rescue on untreated hardwood as it is porous and therefore difficult to fully disinfect. |
| Bathroom Sinks and Showers | Rescue generally has good compatibility with porcelain and stainless steel and can be used in your bathroom sinks and showers. | Marble, granite, and quartz are sensitive materials, prone to etching and are generally not resistant to many chemicals. |
| Pet Dishes and Toys | Rescue can be used to disinfect foodcontact surfaces. These surfaces will require a rinse with water after disinfection. | |
| Soft- Surfaces (ex: Cat Trees) | Rescue can be used to spot clean (but not disinfect) certain soft surfaces. | No. It is best to discard infected items that cannot be easily disinfected. Rescue is not recommended for disinfecting soft surfaces such as carpets, as it is specifically designed for hard, non-porous surfaces. Items with soft-surfaces that cannot be discarded are best treated by commercial steam cleaning. |
Which Rescue Disinfectant Product Should I use and When?
- Rescue Concentrate: 1:16 dilution for 5 minutes (8oz/gal), 90-day shelf life once diluted, ideal for larger surfaces.
- Rescue Wipes: 1-minute contact time, easy application, ideal for smaller surfaces.
- Rescue Ready to Use (RTU): 1-minute contact time, no dilution required.
Additional Resources to Combat Ringworm
University of Wisconsin-Madison Shelter Medicine. Cleaning and Disinfecting Foster Homes During a Ringworm Outbreak Retrieved from https://sheltermedicine.wisc.edu/library/resources/cleaning-and-disinfecting-foster-homes-during-a-ringworm-outbreak
VIN Dermatology Consultants. 2015. Ringworm Environmental Decontamination in Homes of Dogs and Cats. Veterinary Partner.
Retrieved from https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&catId=102903&id=7058488
Anderson, M. 2015. Ringworm Part 2: Cleaning Up. Worms and Germs Blog. Retrieved from https://www.wormsandgermsblog.com/2008/10/articles/animals/cats/ringworm-part-2-cleaning-up/
ASPCApro. Home-Based Ringworm Treatment Protocol for Kitten Foster Programs.
Retrieved from https://www.aspcapro.org/resource/home-based-ringworm-treatment-protocol-kitten-foster-programs