Chalk One Up For Ingenuity! This New Paint Kills 99.9 Percent Of Bacteria

When they say “cover the earth,” they mean it. Paint giant Sherwin-Williams will now be taking its business into hospitals everywhere with the release of Paint Shield — a new line of bacteria-killing paint.

Yeah, you read that right: bacteria-killing paint. The EPA-registered paint, which can be applied to walls, doors, ceilings, and trim, contains a microbicide that kills 99.9 percent of bacteria, including staph, MRSA and e. coli (aka The Really Bad Stuff) within two hours of contact. Big news when you consider the fact that one in twenty-five patients in U.S. hospitals contracts at least one infection during their stay.

This germ-killing paint isn’t just intended for hospitals, either. Sherwin-Williams suggests that any place with a high amount of public contact would benefit from using the antibacterial paint, including healthcare clinics, gyms, schools, daycares, nursing homes, hotels, and cruise ships.

Of course, like all good things, there is a catch: the bacteria-killing technology doesn’t come cheap. The price tag for a gallon is $84.99. That’s steep when you compare it to an average gallon of Sherwin-Williams paint. Also, the effectiveness of the paint doesn’t last forever. EPA tests showed that the microbicidal properties of the paint lasts for four years before vanishing.

Still in the market for Paint Shield? You can sign up to get yours at the paint’s official home on the web. In the meantime, put your decorating hat on. The paint will be available in 590 colors, giving you plenty of options to choose from.

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