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1. What is HaloShield®?
HaloShield is an effective, patented, chlorine-binding coating from HaloSource® that prolongs the proven power of chlorine* bleach to kill 99.9 percent of odor-causing bacteria on textiles.
2. How does HaloShield work?
HaloShield’s patented N-halamine technology acts like “Velcro” to bind chlorine molecules in common household bleach, such as Clorox bleach, to textiles, providing ongoing odor control. The chlorine reacts when bacteria come in contact with the textile’s surface, killing 99.9 percent of odor-causing bacteria in as little as 10 minutes.
3. What are some examples of HaloShield products?
HaloShield is an “ingredient brand” whose technology is used in a growing line of products, including kitchen cloths and towels, bed linens and bath towels, and underpads, as well as protective textiles for military applications.
4. What is an ingredient brand?
Ingredient brands are distinctive components that add value to branded products and often establish new categories of products. Examples of ingredient brands include Intel Inside, Gore-Tex and NutraSweet. In a similar vein, HaloSource’s HaloShield and HaloPure® ingredient brands distinguish and lend credibility to the company’s partners’ brands and products.
5. What are the key benefits of HaloShield?
HaloShield antimicrobial solutions harness the power of chlorine to kill 99.9 percent of odor-causing bacteria on textiles such as cleaning cloths, towels and bed linens.
Numerous HaloShield benefits include:
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Fast acting—kills up to 99.9 percent of odor-causing bacteria in as little as 10 minutes of contact. |
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Washable and reusable—more cost-effective and environmentally friendly than disposable products. |
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Continuous “rechargeable” protection—by simply laundering it in chlorine bleach |
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HaloShield-treated fabric can be cost-effectively “recharged” many times to kill odor-causing bacteria on contact. |
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No antibiotic resistance results from using chlorine sanitizers to kill bacteria. |
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Quickly and cost-effectively leaves the HaloShield-treated item clean and fresh. |
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Eliminates unpleasant, embarrassing odors. |
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Reliable and effective. |
6. What are the current applications for HaloShield?
Today, HaloShield is a valuable enhancement to a wide range of products that benefit from antimicrobial protection against odor-causing bacteria.
Applications that currently employ antimicrobial HaloShield technology include:
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Cleaning cloths |
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Kitchen towels |
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Bed linens |
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Bath towels |
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Face cloths |
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Underpads and chair pads |
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7. What are potential applications for HaloShield?
HaloSource is currently pursuing approval from the Environmental Protection Agency to sell HaloShield-treated textiles with claims against human pathogens, such as Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae.
This approval will accelerate the expansion of antimicrobial HaloShield-treated products to:
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Sponges |
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Sports apparel and towels |
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Military garments (basic duty uniforms and chem-bio defense suits) |
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Masks, gloves and respirators for patient isolation units |
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Scrubs |
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Lab coats |
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Food service coats, aprons, hats, shirts and pants |
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Industrial apparel |
8. How is HaloShield different from and better than other antimicrobial products on the market?
No other antimicrobial textile treatment has the efficacy, speed, safety and simple recharging process with chlorine bleach that HaloShield offers.
HaloShield’s competitive advantages include:
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Unparalleled effectiveness in killing odor-causing bacteria. |
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The fastest kill rate of odor-causing bacteria on the market today. |
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Longevity—HaloShield can be effectively recharged with chlorine bleach throughout the life of the product and has been shown to extend product life. |
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Effectiveness without the side effect of creating antibiotic-resistant microbes. |
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Nonleaching properties. |
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A large number of product applications. |
9. How effective is HaloShield?
Numerous laboratory and field tests show that chlorine bound to a textile treated with HaloShield can kill 99.9 percent of odor-causing bacteria in as little as 10 minutes. HaloShield provides ongoing odor protection by binding chlorine to textiles to kill microbes for a week between cleanings.
10. Why is chlorine bleach more effective than other cleaning methods?
Used for decades in sanitizers and disinfectants, chlorine has earned a distinction as one of the best antimicrobial, antiviral and antifungal agents available. EPA-registered, chlorine-based sanitizers, such as Clorox bleach, are proven effective against bacteria — including Salmonella and E. coli—viruses and fungi. According to the World Health Organization, chlorine found in chlorine-based sanitizers is a recommended way to kill the SARS and HIV/AIDS viruses.
11. Why not just use chlorine bleach?
Cleaning with chlorine-based sanitizers can effectively kill all microbes existing in an environment, but the sanitizer evaporates as soon as it’s dry, leaving the surface unprotected against the accumulation of new bacteria, viruses and mold. HaloShield extends the protection of treated surfaces by binding chlorine to the surface of the material. HaloShield-treated textiles are continuously protected against odor-causing bacteria wash after wash.
12. Does HaloShield prevent odors?
Yes. Bacteria are the cause of most odors, and HaloShield harnesses the power of chlorine-based sanitizers to destroy—not mask—odor by eliminating the bacterial source.
13. Is HaloShield safe?
HaloShield is completely inert. HaloShield enhances the efficacy of the chlorine bleach, which is EPA approved. Vigorous laboratory and field tests show that HaloShield is nonirritating. It will not affect the integrity or longevity of fabrics that can be washed with bleach. HaloShield-treated fabrics remain as soft to the touch as untreated fabric.
14. How long does HaloShield treatment last?
The antimicrobial power of chlorine bound to HaloShield-treated fabrics can be continually renewed for the life of the fabric simply by laundering with chlorine bleach in the wash cycle. The odor control can be recharged by washing with bleach throughout the life of the product. Depending on usage, the antimicrobial effectiveness of the treated fabric can last several days between washings.
15. How is HaloShield marketed?
HaloSource works with partners to develop, manufacture and market a wide range of antimicrobial textile products that are powered by HaloShield. HaloShield’s reliable and effective antimicrobial technology enables partners to differentiate and enhance their product lines.
16. Who are some of HaloSource’s partners in marketing HaloShield?
HaloSource is partnering with the world’s leading brands and retailers to market and sell a full line of HaloShield-powered antimicrobial textiles and coatings. Current partners include:
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A large, well-known consumer products company and a major retailer (kitchen cloths and towels) |
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Gentex (developing a line of military antimicrobial products to protect against chemical and biological warfare agents such as anthrax, nerve agents and mustard gas) |
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Medline (bed linens and underpads for the institutional market) |
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Salk and drugstore.com (underpads) |
17. What value does HaloSource offer partners?
HaloSource provides partners unique, proprietary antimicrobial solutions for products that have broad market potential. Our innovative, patented and proven technologies enable partners to quickly enhance and differentiate their products. In addition, HaloSource gives partners access to an interdisciplinary team of world-class marketers, scientists, engineers, designers and technologists.
18. Where are HaloShield products manufactured?
HaloShield products are manufactured according to HaloSource specifications at major textile mills around the world, including in the United States, Pakistan, China and India. In the United States, 1888 Mills is our manufacturing partner for a number of HaloShield-powered products.
19. Where was the HaloShield technology developed?
HaloSource has taken the core N-halamine technology, which was initially developed at leading U.S. universities, and invested millions of dollars in research to commercialize and expand upon the patented HaloShield technology.
20. Does HaloSource have its own R&D laboratories?
HaloSource has had its own fully equipped research and development laboratories dedicated to investigative microbiology and analytical chemistry since 1999. In several labs focused on N-halamine and chitin/chitosan chemistries, our world-class chemists, biochemists and microbiologists develop solutions for purifying water and killing germs.
21. What is HaloSource planning for HaloShield in the future?
HaloSource is actively seeking additional partners who are interested in incorporating HaloShield’s game-changing technology into high-performance, best-selling antimicrobial products.
* - EPA registered chlorine bleach.
HaloSource, HaloPure and HaloShield are registered trademarks of HaloSource, Inc. Other names are the property of their respective owners.
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