How To Disinfect For Coronavirus Correctly

In this article, How To Disinfect For Coronavirus Correctly , I have compiled as much factual information from trusted health and safety organisations as possible on how to disinfect your skin and hard surfaces.

The disinfecting safety advice below has come from official government organisations such as, CDC, TGA, EPA , FDA and DHHS.

Right now there is so much misleading information around on how we should be disinfecting our skin, homes and personal belongings, (including our groceries, clothes, keys, mobile phones and credit cards) against COVID19. This misinformation is dangerous, as many people are not adequately disinfecting to deactivate the COVID19 virus. For instance 80proof Vodka will not kill COVID, as it is actually only 40% alcohol.

In order to prevent the spread of COVID19, it is imperative to disinfect properly, with approved disinfectants.

How To Disinfect For Coronavirus Correctly for Skin and Hands

When cleaning our hands and skin, we must wash well with soap for at least 20 seconds, scrubbing up to a decent bubbly sud, then rinsing well.

Alternatively, if no soap and water is available, an approved and registered, alcohol hand sanitiser is key.

According to the CDC in this article here, alcohol sanitisers approved for use against COVID19 must contain, more than 60% Ethanol, or 70% Isopropyl alcohol to be effective. Too little alcohol content, or too much alcohol content, will not be effective against Coronavirus.

For example an alcohol hand sanitiser with more than 80% alcohol content, will evaporate too quickly to break down the protective envelope surrounding the virus, (which is the way disinfectants and detergents work to deactivate the Coronavirus).

This is why it is so important to use hand sanitisers that are approved by the TGA in Australia, the EPA in the US, or the equivalent government regulatory body in your country.

See the EPA’s hand sanitiser regulations here .

How To Disinfect For Coronavirus Correctly On Hard Surfaces

The disinfectant must be approved by a reputable organization, “as registered effective against COVID19″. See the TGA’s list here and here in Australia, and the EPA’s list here in the US, of approved for COVID19 disinfectants.

You must read and follow the disinfectant’s instructions for use properly. Contact time varies greatly between disinfectants. With certain disinfectants, the contact time to destroy the envelope surrounding the COVID19 virus can take considerably longer to destroy than with other viruses, as pointed out in this helpful article by Todd Neff for UCHealth.

Applying a disinfectant approved for Coronavirus to a dirty, greasy surface will not be effective! You must first use a detergent, or soap and water and apply some good old elbow grease to scrub away the dirt. Once this is done, then you can apply the disinfectant and allow it remain on the surface for the required time to dry. With some products this can be as long as 5 minutes. *There are some approved products that are a detergent with a disinfectant, see the lists in the links in the first point above.

You need to use a considerable amount of disinfectant to wet down the surface you are disinfecting thoroughly! A quick wipe over will not do it! Here is a link to the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention guide to Cleaning Your Home for Coronavirus. For example; when using an approved alcohol wipe, or alcohol spray on a clean paper towel to clean your phone , your phone needs to wiped down all over, it should look wet and left to dry completely.

Caution – Do not soak or pour any detergents, approved disinfectants, or alcohol onto or over any electrical devices, as this is very dangerous and flammable. Also be careful never to get any liquids inside of any electrical power points etc.

It is best to use disposable paper towels to prevent spreading the virus from surface to surface. If using dishcloths, wash them well in hot water with detergent, rinse and dry, as you would your bathroom towels.