How to disinfect?
February 26, 2020 11:23 AM Subscribe
I feel like I missed something in housekeeping 101, but I don't understand how to use bleach to disinfect surfaces when certain manufacturers/experts recommend that you do not use bleach. Can you tell me more about how to disinfect? I want to figure this out before this becomes an actual problem. More details below... this question brought to you by a toddler who will surely one day bring home norovirus (plus a touch of coronavirus anxiety).
1. If I need to disinfect a spot on a hardwood floor, can I use bleach? Can I leave diluted bleach on the surface for 5 minutes (as I believe is recommended)?
2. What about marble, granite, or certain kinds of tile where I've been told I should not use bleach?
3. Does this differ by material?
4. What if the contaminated surface is a rug or my couch? (I understand avoidance is the best option but again, I have a toddler...)
5. If I absolutely must not use bleach, what are my other options for disinfecting?
1. If I need to disinfect a spot on a hardwood floor, can I use bleach? Can I leave diluted bleach on the surface for 5 minutes (as I believe is recommended)?
2. What about marble, granite, or certain kinds of tile where I've been told I should not use bleach?
3. Does this differ by material?
4. What if the contaminated surface is a rug or my couch? (I understand avoidance is the best option but again, I have a toddler...)
5. If I absolutely must not use bleach, what are my other options for disinfecting?
Cleaning a hard non porous surface you simply need soap & water, a microfibre cloth the soap makes it easier to lift the bacteria, the cloth lifts the bacteria & viruses away and they wash down the drain when you wash the cloth in the laundry. Drying the surface after with a towel (paper or otherwise) makes sure if you missed any the remaining die & can't reproduce.
Hydrogen peroxide is a good alternative, it is basically what oxyclean is when mixed with water so easy to make a bucket of it to cover large areas.
Porous surfaces like marble, hardwood etc avoid bleach on. There are many surface sprays that don't discolor you can use if you feel the need to. Lysol is a common brand in the USA that makes products for this purpose, including spraying on soft furnishings but there are many out there & Clorox make disposable wipes that are handy for the same reason.
If using bleach make sure you dilute it, pure bleach from the bottle is way stronger than you need. Check the ratios on the bottle as some bleach formulas are concentrated & some are not. Always spot check in a hidden area to make sure it's not going to alter the color.
Vinegar is not a great disinfectant, it is however a fine cleaner & could be used with a microfibre cloth to help remove the viruses & bacteria. To be more than 80% effective though vinegar would need to be heated to 75F & left on the surface for 15 minutes.
posted by wwax at 11:49 AM on February 26, 2020 [4 favorites]
Hydrogen peroxide is a good alternative, it is basically what oxyclean is when mixed with water so easy to make a bucket of it to cover large areas.
Porous surfaces like marble, hardwood etc avoid bleach on. There are many surface sprays that don't discolor you can use if you feel the need to. Lysol is a common brand in the USA that makes products for this purpose, including spraying on soft furnishings but there are many out there & Clorox make disposable wipes that are handy for the same reason.
If using bleach make sure you dilute it, pure bleach from the bottle is way stronger than you need. Check the ratios on the bottle as some bleach formulas are concentrated & some are not. Always spot check in a hidden area to make sure it's not going to alter the color.
Vinegar is not a great disinfectant, it is however a fine cleaner & could be used with a microfibre cloth to help remove the viruses & bacteria. To be more than 80% effective though vinegar would need to be heated to 75F & left on the surface for 15 minutes.
posted by wwax at 11:49 AM on February 26, 2020 [4 favorites]
Childcare resources may have some handy information.
posted by typecloud at 11:59 AM on February 26, 2020
posted by typecloud at 11:59 AM on February 26, 2020
There's some interesting information here. I can't personally vouch for it, however.
posted by JD Sockinger at 12:06 PM on February 26, 2020
posted by JD Sockinger at 12:06 PM on February 26, 2020
I use isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) - it performs very well on soft and hard surfaces and with the exceptions of some plastics, which can get a foggy film after being wiped, or latex paint, which will eventually start being removed with vigorous rubbing, I've found no damage to wood, carpet, countertop materials, enamel, metal, etc in my use. You can wipe on and allow to dry or spray on and allow to dry. Very messy spills or things like vomit/pet accidents on carpet or soft materials get a good soak, absorb with towels, and air dry.
70% or 91% isopropyl alcohol has low water content and it evaporates easily, so drying is much less of an issue. To get the best disinfecting effect, wipe or spray and then allow the alcohol to air dry. The few minutes of dry time helps to kill the maximum number of bugs. Additionally, a cleaner like alcohol doesn't create pathogen resistance. If you know you have a virulent bug in the household, I'd use something like this to be extra aggressive.
posted by quince at 12:07 PM on February 26, 2020
70% or 91% isopropyl alcohol has low water content and it evaporates easily, so drying is much less of an issue. To get the best disinfecting effect, wipe or spray and then allow the alcohol to air dry. The few minutes of dry time helps to kill the maximum number of bugs. Additionally, a cleaner like alcohol doesn't create pathogen resistance. If you know you have a virulent bug in the household, I'd use something like this to be extra aggressive.
posted by quince at 12:07 PM on February 26, 2020
4. I decided I’d rather use bleach on the kid’s rug and risk discoloration than deal with having norovirus come through the house again immediately, but YMMV! (Though truthfully I’m not sure how long it survives on a surface like that.)
posted by eirias at 12:35 PM on February 26, 2020
posted by eirias at 12:35 PM on February 26, 2020
Bleach is good when used properly - but hazardous with some misuses. (See below.)
Fortunately many bacteria and viruses are susceptible to a wide range of disinfectants. If Covid-19 is like other coronaviruses (which is likely) it will be killed on surfaces by sanitizing wipes, hydrogen peroxide, 70% alcohol, etc. (And, yes, the 70% is usually more effective than the 91% or 99%. Don't ask.)
BUT . . . observe the required contact times - the time the surface must be visibly wet with the disinfecting agent. Look at the label. Sometimes contact time is several minutes. Very few people do this.
The EPA has a chart that lists disinfecting agents and the the organisms for which they are effective. Contact time is listed near the bottom of the second page.
Some microorganisms laugh at sanitizing wipes and alcohol. Norovirus, for instance. Polio and its cousins. For them and certain others you will want a diluted bleach solution. Many emergency preparedness courses advocate a 1:10 dilution, that is: 1 part bleach in 10 parts water.
The CDC seems to recommend a much more dilute solution for many purposes. In the CDC chart for disinfecting after an emergency, 1 cup of bleach in 5 gallons of water seems their go-to mixture.
A couple of caveats: use a name brand bleach, as many off-brands have significantly less of the active ingredient.
And for goodness' sake, never, ever - as in REALLY NEVER - mix the bleach with other cleaners. You can make a dandy poison gas !
posted by wjm at 1:14 PM on February 26, 2020 [5 favorites]
Fortunately many bacteria and viruses are susceptible to a wide range of disinfectants. If Covid-19 is like other coronaviruses (which is likely) it will be killed on surfaces by sanitizing wipes, hydrogen peroxide, 70% alcohol, etc. (And, yes, the 70% is usually more effective than the 91% or 99%. Don't ask.)
BUT . . . observe the required contact times - the time the surface must be visibly wet with the disinfecting agent. Look at the label. Sometimes contact time is several minutes. Very few people do this.
The EPA has a chart that lists disinfecting agents and the the organisms for which they are effective. Contact time is listed near the bottom of the second page.
Some microorganisms laugh at sanitizing wipes and alcohol. Norovirus, for instance. Polio and its cousins. For them and certain others you will want a diluted bleach solution. Many emergency preparedness courses advocate a 1:10 dilution, that is: 1 part bleach in 10 parts water.
The CDC seems to recommend a much more dilute solution for many purposes. In the CDC chart for disinfecting after an emergency, 1 cup of bleach in 5 gallons of water seems their go-to mixture.
A couple of caveats: use a name brand bleach, as many off-brands have significantly less of the active ingredient.
And for goodness' sake, never, ever - as in REALLY NEVER - mix the bleach with other cleaners. You can make a dandy poison gas !
posted by wjm at 1:14 PM on February 26, 2020 [5 favorites]
Hi! I feel like an expert in this topic, as I have two children, BOTH of whom have brought home norovirus or other types of viral gastroenteritis more than once. The first time this happened, the kiddo infected both of his hapless parents and it was the single worst weekend of parenting I've had. We immediately upped our game and subsequent rounds of vomiting have not spread through the household.
Important note: make sure you have regular chlorine bleach on-hand. "Splashless" bleach does not have the same concentration and CDC warns the dilution instructions they provide may not work for splashless bleach. You also want to have on-hand a clean/new spray bottle, disposable latex gloves, small trash bags, and paper towels.
When/if kiddo starts vomiting like a volcano:
Use gloves, paper towels, and small trash bags to clean up solid matter as much as possible. Bag and throw away the entire thing.
Mix dilute bleach solution - 1 Tbsp bleach to 11 Tbsp water (the upper end of the CDC recommended range for norovirus) - in the spray bottle. Spray down all hard surfaces (I would absolutely use this on hardwood floors and marble/stone, but I am not a contractor or materials expert, it just hasn't been a problem for us) with a thin layer, let sit for 1 minute, and wipe up with clean paper towel
Wet a paper towel with the dilute bleach solution and wipe down all frequently-touched surfaces that your kid or you are likely to touch: bedroom and bathroom doorknobs, faucet handles, light switches, shower door handle and faucet, and trashcan lids if you don't have the foot-operated kind
Remove gloves inside-out so you don't touch the outside of them, throw away, and then wash your hands vigorously with soap and water for 20 seconds
Repeat EVERY TIME your kid vomits. Your hands will hurt, it will feel like overkill, but it's surprisingly effective at preventing spread.
Other helpful strategies include quarantining your kid or any other sick person in their room; making sure any kids/adults who use the bathroom when sick are using a separate bathroom from the rest of the family, and are not entering the kitchen at all until 24 hours after last vomiting episode; and washing any textiles on hot, using the 'sanitize' setting on your washer if possible. I haven't ever used the bleach solution on carpets or sofas because we've been lucky in not having vomit land on those places, but I probably wouldn't risk it - I'd use a hand-held carpet cleaner machine while using disposable gloves + hand-washing afterward, then not worry about it.
posted by iminurmefi at 1:16 PM on February 26, 2020 [9 favorites]
Important note: make sure you have regular chlorine bleach on-hand. "Splashless" bleach does not have the same concentration and CDC warns the dilution instructions they provide may not work for splashless bleach. You also want to have on-hand a clean/new spray bottle, disposable latex gloves, small trash bags, and paper towels.
When/if kiddo starts vomiting like a volcano:
Repeat EVERY TIME your kid vomits. Your hands will hurt, it will feel like overkill, but it's surprisingly effective at preventing spread.
Other helpful strategies include quarantining your kid or any other sick person in their room; making sure any kids/adults who use the bathroom when sick are using a separate bathroom from the rest of the family, and are not entering the kitchen at all until 24 hours after last vomiting episode; and washing any textiles on hot, using the 'sanitize' setting on your washer if possible. I haven't ever used the bleach solution on carpets or sofas because we've been lucky in not having vomit land on those places, but I probably wouldn't risk it - I'd use a hand-held carpet cleaner machine while using disposable gloves + hand-washing afterward, then not worry about it.
posted by iminurmefi at 1:16 PM on February 26, 2020 [9 favorites]
I hate bleach. It stinks and it wrecks your clothes if you spill a drop!
I have a toddler and a cat and sometimes wear shoes in the house AND am slightly germophobic and I never use bleach in the house.... and my house is clean, and we're all healthy.
Floors:
I mop with half a bucket of water + a glug of Mrs. Meyers Multi-Surface Concentrate bc it smells amazing. Make sure that after use the mop is well rinsed in hot water, wrung very dry, then spread over the bucket to dry completely so it's not stinky.
About once a month, I throw the mop head into the washing machine with hot water + soap + vinegar, and again make sure to spread it out to dry.
Kitchen:
I wipe the kitchen counters and table using a dish sponge or j-cloth, with just water or maybe an added dab of dish soap. Dry with our kitchen hand towel to avoid water streaks. Then rinse the j-cloth well and spread it open to dry. Also make sure the dish sponge is never sitting in a nasty puddle of water- rinse it and squeeze it dry after use, and keep it in a basket-type thing so it can drain.
Bath:
I clean the sink and tub with a squirt of Vim and a scrubby sponge.
I clean the toilet with Hertel spray cleaner (randomly chosen bc it smells great) + toilet paper.
Windex and paper towels for the mirrors- or, when they're steamy after a shower, I just wipe them really well with my bath towel.
Pee/Poop/Puke:
Blot off as much as possible, then saturate with Nature's Miracle Urine Destroyer, then wash in the machine or wipe up + mop.
Textiles:
I got rid of non-washable textiles... they're just incompatible with kids and pets. Save yourself the hassle of caring about the furniture! One of my sofas is faux leather so it's wipeable; the other is an Ikea sofa where the dark coloured cover unzips and can be machine-washed and line dried. If my toddler slimes something I don't have time to wash, I just scrub the gross part with a baby wipe til I can't see it any more.
When I really feel the need to disinfect things, I use vodka in a spray bottle for things the toddler might mouth... and rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle or on a baby wipe for other things.
posted by nouvelle-personne at 9:20 PM on February 26, 2020
I have a toddler and a cat and sometimes wear shoes in the house AND am slightly germophobic and I never use bleach in the house.... and my house is clean, and we're all healthy.
Floors:
I mop with half a bucket of water + a glug of Mrs. Meyers Multi-Surface Concentrate bc it smells amazing. Make sure that after use the mop is well rinsed in hot water, wrung very dry, then spread over the bucket to dry completely so it's not stinky.
About once a month, I throw the mop head into the washing machine with hot water + soap + vinegar, and again make sure to spread it out to dry.
Kitchen:
I wipe the kitchen counters and table using a dish sponge or j-cloth, with just water or maybe an added dab of dish soap. Dry with our kitchen hand towel to avoid water streaks. Then rinse the j-cloth well and spread it open to dry. Also make sure the dish sponge is never sitting in a nasty puddle of water- rinse it and squeeze it dry after use, and keep it in a basket-type thing so it can drain.
Bath:
I clean the sink and tub with a squirt of Vim and a scrubby sponge.
I clean the toilet with Hertel spray cleaner (randomly chosen bc it smells great) + toilet paper.
Windex and paper towels for the mirrors- or, when they're steamy after a shower, I just wipe them really well with my bath towel.
Pee/Poop/Puke:
Blot off as much as possible, then saturate with Nature's Miracle Urine Destroyer, then wash in the machine or wipe up + mop.
Textiles:
I got rid of non-washable textiles... they're just incompatible with kids and pets. Save yourself the hassle of caring about the furniture! One of my sofas is faux leather so it's wipeable; the other is an Ikea sofa where the dark coloured cover unzips and can be machine-washed and line dried. If my toddler slimes something I don't have time to wash, I just scrub the gross part with a baby wipe til I can't see it any more.
When I really feel the need to disinfect things, I use vodka in a spray bottle for things the toddler might mouth... and rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle or on a baby wipe for other things.
posted by nouvelle-personne at 9:20 PM on February 26, 2020
I read today (on Metafilter!) that you want to use regular bleach for disinfecting, not the thicker/gloppier "low spill" bleach, because the concentrations are different.
posted by 2soxy4mypuppet at 2:36 PM on February 27, 2020
posted by 2soxy4mypuppet at 2:36 PM on February 27, 2020
I think the concept of "disinfecting"in your home is... lacking in scientifically demonstrated value? I think keeping your house clean, washing hands frequently, washing kids faces frequently and perhaps doing a bleach wipe or soap and water scrub on door knobs and light switches if you want to be extra careful fight be of value? You cannot disinfect your whole home and the germs in your home are yours. They are unlikely to be dangerous to you. If you get a virus at home it will likely be directly from your child (who gets it in the community) not from surfaces.
posted by latkes at 9:44 AM on February 28, 2020
posted by latkes at 9:44 AM on February 28, 2020
Environmental Cleaning and Disinfection Recommendations (CDC)
Current evidence suggests that novel coronavirus may remain viable for hours to days on surfaces made from a variety of materials. Cleaning of visibly dirty surfaces followed by disinfection is a best practice measure for prevention of COVID-19 and other viral respiratory illnesses in households and community settings.posted by katra at 4:34 PM on March 9, 2020 [1 favorite]
5 Steps To Clean And Disinfect Your Home (Singapore National Environment Agency)
If you suspect that your home may be exposed to the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019), the National Environment agency has provided some guidelines on how to clean your living area.posted by katra at 4:40 PM on March 9, 2020 [1 favorite]
What is a 'deep clean’? How to effectively sanitize your home or business to help stop coronavirus (Oregonian, Mar. 2, 2020)
Kim Toevs, Communicable Disease Director for Multnomah County, said Sunday that now is a fine time to start thinking about doing a more thorough cleaning in your home or business, but that doesn’t mean you need to hire an outside company or pay a lot for different cleaning products than you already have in your home.posted by katra at 1:34 PM on March 10, 2020
“Just make sure you are using them,” Toevs said, “and using them right.” [...] Toevs recommends focusing on “high contact areas that people are touching with their hands” and “horizontal surfaces like counters or desk” where viruses can live in droplets and transfer from the surface to the next person who touches it and then rubs their eyes or eats food or scratches their nose.
The CDC lists high-touch surfaces as including doorknobs, bathroom fixtures, toilets, phones, keyboards, tablets and bedside tables. [...] Toevs said most over-the-counter cleaning products should work and the way to know if yours is adequate is to read the label, which should say “EPA certified” and “kills human coronavirus.”
“That means the common cold,” she said, “and it means COVID-19.”
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That said, I have had a toddler with norovirus and while I wiped down areas that were highly likely to be contaminated (changing table, toilet), I didn't worry about floors (we had carpet) or furniture and we survived. I'd say don't worry about it (that much).
posted by rabbitrabbit at 11:43 AM on February 26, 2020 [7 favorites]