Cleaning Products to Protect You Against Covid-19

Maintaining a clean surrounding is definitely a must because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The battle with something you can't see but can put your life at risk needs attention and a quick response. You have to do actively secure yourself against the virus. One of the best and easiest way to do so is to maintain a clean environment. However, when talking about the war against the new coronavirus, the usual way of cleaning as well as items used may not be effective. You must use specific products and clean your place correctly. 

Cleaning and Disinfecting Your House

Regular cleaning is not enough for protection against the novel (or new) coronavirus. Thorough disinfection is needed so you can totally get rid of the virus. But before you start cleaning, it is necessary to wear gloves to prevent the spread of harmful organisms and to protect your skin from possible reactions some cleaning agents can cause. 

Wash Your Hands Properly

According to experts, washing your hands frequently is still one of the best ways to protect yourself against the virus when properly done. It should take around 20 seconds with soap. Some suggest singing the "Happy Birthday" song twice to complete the process. 

It is also advisable to wash your hands as frequently as possible, especially after coming home from work, completing an errand outside (like shopping for groceries, walking the dog, running/jogging/biking or even taking out the trash), and after attending a public gathering (if it's allowed where you are).

Cleaning Products to Protect You Against Covid-19

Aside from washing hands with soap, you also need to know what ideal cleaning products to use. In general, these should be those which provide disinfection, and not just merely clean the surface area. Coronavirus can survive in different surfaces and can even stay there for a long period of time. 

Cleaning is not the same as disinfection because the latter involves killing microorganisms including bacteria, germs, and viruses while cleaning may be limited to removing visible dirt, dust, grease, grime, mold and so on. 

When it comes to disinfection, listed below are some of the products you can use. 

Disinfectant Wipes

These wipes contain a germ-killing solution that could help against coronavirus. They are effective on hard surfaces like counters and doorknobs. But you should not use them on your skin because of the possibility of chemical pesticide contents. Some brands offer natural ingredients such as those made from herbs, plants, and essential oils with known antiviral properties. Do check the label first to see what the disinfecting wipes are made of. 

This one below is from a locally available brand but not all supermarkets have it. There are other brands with similar packaging, making them easier to use.  

Natural Antiviral Options

Speaking of natural antiviral options, some of the choices include oregano, garlic, ginger, ginseng, basil, dandelion, sage, licorice, peppermint, rosemary, fennel,  lemon balm, echinacea, sambucus, and astragalus. 

Quats (Quaternary Ammonium Compound)

Quats is a popular choice when it comes to disinfection health facilities because it doesn't only work faster but it is also affordable. One example of quats you can use to disinfect high traffic areas, especially exposed surfaces is Nyco's Sani-Spritz Spray. Other known brands include Virex, Triad, Envy, and End Bac. However, these may cause breathing problems and skin irritation (well, even regular cleaning agents do) so they're normally not for homes but are more often used in environments where sterilization is important (like hospitals, laboratories and so on). 

Chlorine-based Disinfectants

Knowing that coronavirus can spread because of bodily fluids, you can look for disinfectants that are chlorine-based. These products are known to fight resistant viruses and other harmful organisms. However, make sure that you know how to use it correctly because it can cause skin irritation and may also lead to discoloration and corrosion of certain surfaces. Some examples are the regular household chlorine bleach and even pool bleach. 

Iodophors 

Iodophors are made of iodine and an agent which helps release iodine slowly to serve as a disinfectant. This can be considered one of the safest cleaning agents, which is why it's widely used in hand sanitizers.  

Hand Sanitizers 

Speaking of hand sanitizers, these are handy when washing hands is not possible. You can even bring a small bottle container or a commercial brand wherever you go so you're ready to disinfect hands as often as needed. 

How to Make Your Own Hand Sanitizer

You can even make your own hand sanitizer through a simple solution of combining 2 parts isoprophyl alcohol or ethanol and 1 part aloe vera gel. Add optional drops of any essential oil for scent. The World Health Organization even suggests their own formula* when making a larger quantity. Aside from the alcohol, their solution includes hydrogen peroxide, glycerol and distilled water or boiled. 

Warning: keep everything clean when making your own hand sanitizer! 

Disinfectant the area where you will combine the ingredients as well as the items to use when mixing. Make sure to wash your hands, wear gloves (if possible) and avoid touching the mixture until they're well blended and ready to use. 

Alcohol 

I'm sure you are already familiar with alcohol and you probably have been using this for a long time. It had become even more popular due to COVID-19. Like hand sanitizers, you can carry a pocket-sized alcohol bottle to sanitize your hands especially if you're outside the house. 

What to Consider When Looking for a Disinfectant

Looking for a disinfectant you will use at home should be taken seriously. These products can also be hazardous to your health when not used the right way. There are also products that are only allowed in selected areas and surfaces. With those things in mind, here are some points to consider when choosing a disinfectant.

Effectiveness

You would never want to waste your time and money for a product that will not provide results, so take your time when deciding what to pick. Read reviews about the product (through shopping sites, social media groups, forums, blogs and even published case study journals) first before making a purchase. It is best to choose a product that has been proven to be effective.

Know how long will it take for the product to work. 

When talking about life and death situations, you would surely go for a solution that could give you the quickest result. Bacteria and viruses only take seconds to spread out, which means you have to eliminate them fast.

Safe

Remember that your main reason to disinfect is to protect yourself and your family. Some products can be toxic and may even be flammable when not used properly. So check the label before buying and follow the instructions when using.

Easy to Use

Not everyone is fully aware of how certain disinfectants are used, so as much as possible, choose a product that is easy to use. Improper usage of such products will not give expected results and can even lead to unwanted effects. 

Being aware of products you can use to somehow lessen the threat of the coronavirus can provide hope that the world can survive this pandemic. Prevention will always be better than cure so it's best to learn how to protect yourself against the virus. Spending money on these products can save you and your family's lives as well as save you a fortune from possible medical bills. 

Related:

Red Cross Saliva Test for COVID 19

Contributor Content

*https://www.who.int/gpsc/5may/Guide_to_Local_Production.pdf

Updated 3/6/2022