The Most Effective Ways to Kill Coronavirus in Your Home
(HealthDay News) -- A number of home
cleaning supplies may be effective against the new coronavirus, experts
say.
"Not many scientific studies have asked which are the most
effective disinfecting agents to use against [the new coronavirus]
because it was discovered so recently," said Siobain Duffy, an associate
professor of ecology at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, N.J., with
expertise in emerging viruses. "So scientists are assuming that what
works against other coronaviruses can work against this one."
But each disinfecting chemical has specific instructions, another expert in microbial risk assessment pointed out.
"An important general rule is that you shouldn't immediately wipe a
cleaning solution off as soon as you've applied it to a surface. Let it
sit there long enough to kill viruses first," Donald Schaffner said in a
university news release. He's a professor and food microbiologist at
Rutgers.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends
daily disinfection of often-touched surfaces such as tables, doorknobs,
light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets,
faucets and sinks, as well as the use of detergent or soap and water on
dirty surfaces prior to disinfection.
If someone in your household has flu-like symptoms, consider
regularly disinfecting objects in your home, since the new coronavirus
has been shown to survive for 16 hours on plastics.
Never use different cleaning agents at the same time. Some
household chemicals, if mixed, can create dangerous and poisonous gases.
If you use bleach, use one-quarter cup of bleach per 1 gallon of
cold water, but be sure to follow directions on the product label. Make
the diluted bleach solution as needed and use within 24 hours, as its
disinfecting power fades with time, Duffy and Schaffner said.
Nonporous items like plastic toys can be dipped in bleach for 30
seconds. Household surfaces that won't be damaged by bleach should get
10 or more minutes of exposure.
Bleach solutions are hard on the skin, so don't use them as a substitute for hand-washing and/or hand sanitizer.
Many forms of alcohol, including rubbing alcohol, can kill germs.
You can dilute alcohol with water (or aloe vera to make hand sanitizer)
but be sure to keep an alcohol concentration of around 70% to kill
coronaviruses, Duffy and Schaffner said.
Solutions of 70% alcohol should be left on surfaces for 30 seconds
(including cellphones) to ensure they will kill viruses. Pure (100%)
alcohol evaporates too quickly for such use.
Unlike bleach solutions, alcohol solutions will remain potent as
long as they're kept sealed between uses. But a 70% alcohol solution
with water is harsh on the hands and shouldn't be used as a substitute
for hand-washing and/or hand sanitizer, Duffy and Schaffner said.
Hydrogen peroxide is typically sold in concentrations of about 3%.
It can be used as is, or diluted to 0.5% concentration for effective use
against coronaviruses on surfaces. It should be left on surfaces for
one minute before wiping.
Natural chemicals such as vinegar and tea tree oil are not recommended for fighting coronaviruses.
More information
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on the coronavirus.
SOURCE: Rutgers University, news release, March 13, 2020
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