When will Clorox wipes be back in stores? It may be a long wait, company says

Clorox disinfectant wipes sold out everywhere as the coronavirus pandemic hit the United States and have been hard to findever since. Don’t expect that to change anytime soon, Clorox says.

The company, which accounts for 45% of the disinfectant wipes market, says it won’t be stocking wipes in full until mid-2021, CNN reports.

“Given the fact that cold and flu sits in the middle of the year, and then we expect the pandemic to be with us for the entirety of the year, it will take the full year to get up to the supply levels that we need to be at,” said Linda Rendle, Clorox’s president and incoming CEO, according to the network.

Outgoing CEO Benno Dorer said the company has simply been unable to keep up with a six-fold increase in demand, Reuters reported.

“Disinfecting wipes, which are the hottest commodity in the business right now, will probably take longer because it’s a very complex supply chain to make them,” Dorer said

For example, polyester spunlace, used to make disinfectant wipes, also is used for critically needed face masks, medical gowns and other protective gear, Reuters reported.

Clorox sales overall rose 22% in the fourth quarter to $1.9 billion, The Street reported. Sales from the company’s health and wellness division rose 33%.

The company also announced that Dorer will step down after six years as head of the company in September, naming Rendle his successor, according to the outlet.

This story was originally published August 4, 2020 at 3:56 PM with the headline "When will Clorox wipes be back in stores? It may be a long wait, company says."