Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, a lot of questions have been asked by millions of people globally. What can you do to stay safe? How can you protect yourself from the infection? Besides wearing a mask and keeping social distance, how can someone be sure that the surfaces touched at the workplace or home are virus-free?
The truth is, viral shedding contaminates >75percent of the joint surfaces at home. According to Al-Gheethi et al. (2020), one plausible way of preventing transmission includes using disinfectants. And the type that people are familiar with right now is hand sanitizers. That is because health experts, including the CDC, FDA, and EPA, are advising and reminding people now and then to adopt its use. If you have similar questions, then here are the answers by looking at what disinfectants are.
What are disinfectants and disinfection?
Essentially, understanding what something is before exploring what it does and its effectiveness is invaluable. The CDC defines disinfectants as active chemical agents used during cleaning to inactivate or kill harmful microorganisms on inert surfaces to reduce the chances of getting an infection. And disinfection is the process of applying disinfectants.
Can disinfectants kill viruses?
Disinfectants effectively eradicate germs, bacteria, fungi, and yes, they can kill viruses. There are various types of disinfectants, and even though they have the same purpose of eliminating harmful microorganisms, they don’t work the same way. Disinfectants have what we call dwell time, which is defined as the amount of time required by the disinfectant to stay on the surface as it does its job. Dwell times vary from seconds to 10 minutes, depending on the type of chemical you are using.
However, some pathogens are resistant to certain types of disinfectants, and for that reason, it’s essential to know what kind of pathogens you are targeting to eliminate. For example, if you target SAR-CoV-2, responsible for coronavirus, you can use simple disinfectants like alcohol-based sanitizers to disinfect your hands or bleach to clean your home. And if you are worried about electronic devices, including your cellphones, laptops, and TVs. Lysol disinfecting wipes have got you covered. All you have to do is to ensure that you understand the instruction for use and apply it correctly, and you are good to go.
Instructions for use
The study conducted by Matys, Grzech-Leśniak, and Dominiak (2020) proves that no test exists for knowing the benefits or the mental satisfaction associated with disinfectants. So, population-level measures, including hand hygiene, must be practiced over time as the cornerstone of controlling further infections. The application of disinfectants should adhere to the CDC’s recommendations and manufacturer’s guidelines. You don’t have to worry about where to look for instruction on how to use because it’s always written at the side of the product bottle. But if the instruction is not explicit enough, and you are not sure, don’t take a guess.
EPA recommends that ensure you have the right information before purchasing a disinfectant. Taking a guess could be dangerous to your health since you’re dealing with chemicals. Ask the dealer to guide how you should use the product safely and efficiently. The same applies to other Bactakleen disinfectants. You have to note that if you don’t mix the concentration of a particular product you are using as instructed, you stand to lose. If you mix more bleach in your concentration than is required, it can damage the material’s surface. And mixing a lesser amount increases the chance of it not working on pathogens.
Author Bio:
Bactakleen was founded in 2008 by the owners of Excelsia Technologies (Malaysia) after realizing that there was an immediate need to improve the hygiene standards in our daily working environment, in our vehicles, our homes, to protect ourselves and our loved ones from harmful bacteria and viruses. Bactakleen combines the best of the 21st-century technology from Japan and the USA to offer a complete anti-bacterial treatment that is customization and affordable.