Influenza is prevalent, don't do this at home! It's ineffective and harmful to your health

Daily household cleaning is an important part of maintaining health, especially during the peak influenza season or after influenza patients recover, when cleaning and disinfection need to be strengthened.

However, many people often make some mistakes when cleaning and disinfecting their homes, which may not only reduce the cleaning effect, but also bring health risks and even lead to unnecessary waste of resources. Today, we will list 6 common incorrect cleaning and disinfection methods and share detailed cleaning suggestions.

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6 Common Mistakes When Cleaning and Disinfecting

Many people have been tricked

Many people use disinfection products for daily cleaning, especially during the flu prevention period. However, many people do not understand the correct use of disinfection products, and there are many cases of overuse or incorrect operation. The following are 6 common incorrect uses and operation methods:

1. Spray alcohol over a large area to disinfect the air

Alcohol is highly flammable. Spraying it in large quantities in a confined space will increase the concentration of ethanol in the air. Do not use alcohol with a concentration of 75% or above for large-scale spraying for air disinfection, especially in a confined space. When the concentration of ethanol in the air is >3.3%, it may cause a fire or even an explosion when exposed to open flames or static electricity.

In addition, inhaling too much alcohol vapor may irritate the human respiratory system, causing dizziness, nausea and other discomfort symptoms. Therefore, it is not recommended to use alcohol spray to disinfect the air. Keeping the room ventilated and using professional air disinfection equipment are safer and more effective options.

2. Use chlorine-containing disinfectants to disinfect metal or leather products

Chlorine disinfectants contain active chlorine, which is highly oxidizing and can corrode metals and leather products. When metal surfaces come into contact with chlorine, a chemical reaction occurs to generate chlorides or oxides that accelerate rusting. For leather products, chlorine can destroy their collagen structure, making them brittle and hard. It can also react with dyes, causing them to fade or leave spots.

To avoid damage, metal surfaces can be cleaned with non-corrosive disinfectants, while leather products should be cleaned with special cleaners or alcohol wipes.

3. Use disinfectants directly on the human body

High-concentration disinfectants such as hypochlorous acid or alcohol usually contain strong oxidizing or corrosive chemical components. When inhaled, these substances will irritate the respiratory mucosa, damage epithelial cells, cause coughing, sore throat, and even cause mucosal inflammation or damage. When in contact with the skin, these ingredients will destroy the skin's protective barrier, causing dryness, redness, swelling, itching, and even burns or allergic reactions.

Therefore, personal protection is required when using disinfectants, such as wearing masks and gloves to avoid direct contact or inhalation of high concentrations.

4. Disinfectant concentration is too high or too low

Disinfectants with too high or too low concentrations will affect their effectiveness. When the concentration is too high, the chemical components in the disinfectant may irritate or even damage human skin, respiratory tract and eyes, and may also corrode furniture surfaces or equipment. When the concentration is too low, the ability to kill pathogens is insufficient, and the proper disinfection effect cannot be achieved, which can easily leave health risks.

For disinfection of frequently touched surfaces, 75% alcohol or disinfectant wipes of equivalent effectiveness are usually used for direct wiping. For example, the floor can be mopped with 500mg/L chlorine-containing disinfectant, but it should be washed with clean water after 30 minutes. If multiple people in the family are infected, the concentration needs to be increased to 1000mg/L.

The correct preparation method of 500mg/L chlorine-containing disinfectant is as follows:

Method 1: Water + chlorine effervescent tablets

500ml water + 1 effervescent tablet (250mg/tablet)

Method 2: Water + 84 disinfectant

990ml water + 10ml 84 disinfectant with 5% effective chlorine content

In addition, two points need to be noted. First, chlorine-containing disinfectants must be prepared before use, and the effective period in a sealed container is 24 hours. Second, because effervescent tablets and 84 disinfectant have different specifications, please be sure to mix them according to the instructions before use to ensure the disinfection effect.

5. Mixing different types of disinfectants

Mixing different types of disinfectants may produce dangerous chemical reactions or reduce the disinfection effect. For example, mixing 84 disinfectant (containing chlorine) with acidic detergents will release toxic chlorine gas, which may cause poisoning in severe cases. When quaternary ammonium disinfectants are mixed with soap, acid-base neutralization may occur, and the disinfectant will lose its activity. Even some mixed uses may generate irritating gases or corrosive substances, which are harmful to human health and the surface of objects. Therefore, when using disinfectants, you need to understand their ingredients and avoid mixing them at will to ensure safety and effectiveness.

6. Add common disinfectants to detergents

Adding non-clothing disinfectants to detergents may not have a real disinfecting effect. During the washing process, a large amount of water will dilute the disinfectant, making its concentration too low to effectively kill pathogens. Chlorine-containing disinfectants may corrode the metal parts and liner of the washing machine, shortening the service life of the equipment.

In addition, mixing detergents and disinfectants may produce chemical reactions, release irritating gases or harmful substances, and endanger human health. Therefore, it is recommended to treat clothes separately when washing them, and use high temperature or separate disinfection procedures instead when necessary.

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These 4 cleaning steps are very important

But it is often ignored

Insufficient ventilation, incomplete cleaning of high-touch items, failure to clean cleaning tools in a timely manner, and lack of personal protection are all common omissions. These seemingly insignificant links are actually important guarantees for blocking the spread of the virus and maintaining family health.

Only by mastering the correct methods and avoiding these easily overlooked problems can we ensure the comprehensive effectiveness of cleaning and disinfection.

1. Ignoring ventilation: Relying solely on cleaning and disinfection without ventilation may lead to residual viruses in the air.

→Correct approach: Open windows for ventilation 2-3 times a day, each time for at least 30 minutes.

2. Neglecting to clean frequently touched items: Failure to clean items such as mobile phones and keys may lead to virus transmission.

→Correct approach: Use 75% concentration medical alcohol to wipe high-frequency contact items.

3. Uncleaned cleaning tools: After cleaning, rags, mops and other tools are not cleaned and disinfected, which may become a new source of contamination.

→Correct approach: Clean and disinfect cleaning tools promptly.

4. Failure to take personal protection measures: Not wearing gloves and masks during cleaning may cause chemicals or pathogens to come into direct contact with the skin and respiratory tract, increasing the risk of infection or irritation, so protective measures must be taken to ensure safety.

Scientific and effective cleaning and disinfection

You can do this

The Hong Kong Health Protection Department and the US CDC, among others, have specially compiled some online documents in response to the needs of the flu season, providing the public with scientific and effective cleaning and disinfection recommendations. These recommendations cover cleaning methods for furniture, floors, toilets and high-frequency contact items.

· Furniture cleaning: Frequently touched areas of furniture, such as furniture, toys, utensils, toilets, bathrooms and floors. It is recommended to use disinfectants for daily cleaning and disinfection (500mg/L chlorine-containing disinfectant can be used for non-metallic surfaces; 70% alcohol is recommended for metal surfaces). After disinfection, wait until dry, then rinse with clean water and wipe dry.

· Cleaning of pollutants: If the floor, furniture or clothing is contaminated by secretions or excretions (such as vomit, feces or sputum from respiratory patients), the dirt must be removed first, and then disinfected with 1000mg/L chlorine-containing disinfectant (70% alcohol can be used on metal surfaces). After disinfection, let it stand for 15 to 30 minutes, then wash with clean water and wipe dry.

· Floor cleaning: Clean the floor regularly, increase the frequency of cleaning as needed, and keep the floor dry after cleaning.

Refrigerator cleaning: Low temperatures may cause viruses to remain infectious, so raw meat, fruits and vegetables, and other items that may be contaminated should be cleaned, and the inside of the refrigerator should also be simply cleaned.

· Floor mats and carpets: Use washable floor mats, keep carpets clean, and vacuum daily and wash regularly.

· Bedding and clothing: Change and wash sheets, pillowcases, towels, and clothing regularly.

Pet environment: If you have pets at home (such as cats and dogs), you need to increase the frequency of cleaning.

· Garbage disposal: Garbage should be packed and placed in covered trash cans and removed at least once a day.

The bathroom is a key area of ​​household hygiene and a place where germs can easily breed and spread. Keeping the bathroom clean and dry can not only prevent odor and bacteria, but also effectively reduce the risk of germ transmission.

Daily cleaning: The toilet needs to be cleaned and wiped frequently and kept dry.

· Hand washing facilities: Hand sanitizer and disposable hand towels are available for use.

· Toilet flushing habits: Make sure the toilet equipment is used normally, flush after each use, and cover the toilet seat when flushing.

· Towel management: Avoid sharing towels. Personal hand towels should be properly stored and thoroughly washed at least once a day. It is recommended to prepare multiple towels for replacement for better results.

After experiencing the flu, cleaning and disinfection are not only important steps to resume daily life, but also a key link to prevent the secondary spread of germs. Through scientific cleaning methods and meticulous hygiene habits, we can effectively eliminate germs and create a safe and healthy home environment for our family.

I hope everyone can stay healthy and stay away from the flu virus.

References

[1]https://www.cdc.gov/hygiene/about/when-and-how-to-clean-and-disinfect-your-home.html

[2]https://m.cnr.cn/chanjing/health/20221218/t20221218_526098261.html

[3]http://www.cih.org.hk/news_dnload/Chi_Advice%20on%20Household%20Disinfection%20at%20the%20Height%20of%20Influenza%20Season_e.pdf#page=0.83

Planning and production

Author: Chen Mo'ao, popular science author

Reviewer: Li Dongzeng, Chief Physician, Department of Respiratory and Infectious Diseases, Beijing Youan Hospital