As the quarantine continues, search for cleaning solutions on the house (or the Internet)? Before you start using any disinfectants or antibacterial wipes to wipe the surface, make sure they are genuine.
The number of days… well, you may have forgotten how long the coronavirus pandemic and subsequent quarantine lasted-and you are probably close to the bottom of the Clorox wipes container. So you paused your puzzle (or some other new hobby) and started looking around for alternative cleaning solutions. (PS The following is what you need to know about the ability of vinegar and steam to kill viruses.)
This is when you find it: a pack of promising miscellaneous wipes in the back of your cabinet. But wait, are universal disinfectant wipes effective against coronavirus? What about other viruses and bacteria? If so, how are they different from antibacterial wipes?
Here is what you need to know about the different types of cleaning wipes and the best ways to use them, especially with regard to COVID-19.
First, it’s important to point out that when it comes to household products, there are clear differences between some of the words you might use interchangeably. “‘Clean’ removes dirt, debris and some bacteria, while’disinfection’ and’disinfection’ specifically target bacteria,” explained Dr. Donald W. Schaffner, a professor at Rutgers University who studies quantitative microbiological risk assessment and cross-risk. Pollution. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “disinfection” reduces the number of bacteria to a safe level, but does not necessarily kill them, while “disinfection” requires chemicals to kill most of the bacteria that exist.
Cleaning and disinfection are two things you should do regularly to keep your home generally clean and free of dirt, allergens and daily bacteria. He added that, on the other hand, if you think you have COVID-19 or other viruses, you should be disinfected. (Related: How to keep your home clean and healthy if you self-quarantine due to coronavirus.)
“Disinfectant declarations are regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) because they are actually considered pesticides,” Schaffner said. Now, don’t panic, okay? Of course, the word p may remind people of the image of grass full of chemical substances, but it actually only refers to the “designed to prevent, destroy, repel or alleviate any pests (including microorganisms, but not microorganisms in or on the surface of living humans).” ) Any substance or mixture of substances or animals),” according to the US Environmental Protection Agency. In order to be approved and available for purchase, the disinfectant must undergo rigorous laboratory testing to prove its safety and effectiveness, and its ingredients and intended use must be indicated on the label. Once approved, the product will receive a specific EPA registration number, which is also included on the label.
In short, these are disposable wipes for single use, pre-soaked in a solution containing disinfecting ingredients such as quaternary ammonium, hydrogen peroxide and sodium hypochlorite. Some brands and products you may see on store shelves: Lysol disinfecting wipes (buy, $5, target.com), Clorox disinfecting wipes (buy, 3 pieces for $6, target.com), Mr. Clean Power multi-surface disinfecting wipes.
It has not been studied whether disinfectant wipes are ultimately more effective than using disinfectant sprays (which contain some of the same common ingredients) and paper towels, but Schaffner points out that they may be equivalent in preventing viruses. The biggest difference here is that disinfectant wipes (and sprays!) are only used on hard surfaces, such as counters and door handles, not on skin or food (more on that later).
Another important takeaway: Sanitizing wipes are different from cleaning wipes that are considered to be versatile or versatile, such as Mrs. Meyer’s Surface Wipes (Buy It, $4, grove.co) or Better Life All-Natural All-Purpose Cleaner Wipes (buy it for $7, Prosperity Market.com).
So keep in mind that if a product (wipes or other) wants to call itself a disinfectant, it must be able to kill viruses and bacteria according to the EPA. But does this include the coronavirus? Schaffner said the answer is still to be determined, although it seems likely. Currently, there are nearly 400 products on the EPA-registered list of disinfectants used to fight the new coronavirus-some of which are actually disinfecting wipes. The question is: “[Most] of these products have not been tested against the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, but due to their activity against related viruses, [they] are considered effective here,” Schaffner explained.
However, in early July, the EPA announced the approval of two other products-Lysol disinfectant spray (purchase, $6, target.com) and Lysol disinfectant Max Cover Mist (purchase, $6, target.com)-in the laboratory Tests have shown that these disinfectants are particularly effective against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The agency described the two Lysol approvals as “important milestones” in stopping the spread of COVID-19.
In September, the EPA announced the approval of another surface cleaner that has been proven to kill SARS-CoV-2: Pine-Sol. According to a press release, a third-party laboratory test proved the effectiveness of Pine-Sol against the virus after 10 minutes of exposure on a hard, non-porous surface. After obtaining EPA approval, many retailers have sold out surface cleaners, but for now, you can still find Pine-Sol in many different sizes on Amazon, including 9.5 oz bottles (Buy It, $6, amazon.com), 6-60 ounce bottles (Buy It, $43, amazon.com) and 100 ounce bottles (Buy It, $23, amazon.com), and other sizes.
How do you use these different types of wet wipes, the main difference? According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, the contact time—that is, how long it takes for the surface you wipe to remain moist to be effective.
Before the coronavirus pandemic, you might have a pack of disinfecting wipes on hand that can quickly wipe the kitchen counter, bathroom sink or toilet-this is completely fine. But sliding quickly on the surface is considered cleaning, not disinfection.
In order to obtain the disinfecting effect of these wipes, the surface needs to be kept moist for more than a few seconds. For example, the instructions for Lysol disinfecting wipes indicate that the surface needs to be kept moist for four minutes after use to actually disinfect the area. Schaffner says this means that in order to be fully functional, you will have to wipe the counter, and if you notice that the area starts to dry out before the end of these four minutes, you may even need to use another cloth.
Many instructions for disinfecting wipes also say that any surface that might come into contact with food should be rinsed with water afterwards. Schaffner says this is especially important if you use these products in your kitchen, because it means there may be some residues of disinfectant that you don’t want to enter the food. (Regardless of what anyone may have said on this topic, you should never ingest disinfectants — or use them on your groceries — so it’s best to rinse the area thoroughly before you start cooking.)
It sounds like you have very little room for error here, right? Well, the good news: it is not always necessary to go through a disinfection process. If your family has no suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19, or if someone is not sick in general, “you don’t need these strong measures and you can continue to clean the house as usual,” Schaffner said. Any kind of more Use Spray cleaners, cleaning wipes or soap and water can solve the problem, so there is no need to feel pressure to find those coveted Clorox disinfecting wipes. (If your family does have a COVID-19 case, here is how to care for a coronavirus patient.)
Generally speaking, disinfectant wipes are used for hard surfaces, and antibacterial wipes (such as wet wipes) are used to clean the skin. Common active ingredients include benzethonium chloride, benzalkonium chloride and alcohol. Schaffner explained that antibacterial wipes, antibacterial soaps, and hand sanitizers are all regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) because they are classified as drugs. Like the EPA, the FDA also ensures that the product is safe and effective before allowing it to enter the market.
As for COVID-19? Well, whether antibacterial wipes or antibacterial hand sanitizers are effective against coronavirus is still inconclusive. “A product that claims to have antibacterial effects only means that it has been tested for bacteria. It may or may not be effective against viruses,” Schaffner said.
Having said that, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), washing hands with soap and H20 is still considered one of the best ways to prevent COVID-19. (If you cannot wash your hands, it is recommended to use a hand sanitizer with an alcohol content of at least 60%; however, the current CDC recommendations do not include antibacterial wipes.) Although you absolutely do not want to use any type of disinfectant wipes, Schaffner said, on your skin (The ingredients are too rough), in theory you can [and] if you are really in a tight state, you can use antibacterial wipes on a hard surface. However, he added that it is better to keep it for personal use and rely on ordinary old soap and water, or, if necessary, use an EPA-certified household disinfectant.
“Remember, your greatest risk of contracting COVID-19 is personal contact with the infected person,” Schaffner said. This is why, unless you have a confirmed or suspected coronavirus case in your home, social distancing and good personal hygiene (washing hands, not touching your face, wearing a mask in public) are more important than the things you use to wipe yourself. counter. (Next: During the coronavirus pandemic, should you wear a mask for outdoor running?)
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Post time: Sep-08-2021