8 common misunderstandings about home disinfection! Doing it wrong may cause harm

Disinfection is one of the effective ways to block the spread of viruses, but unreasonable disinfection methods not only fail to kill the virus, but may also cause harm to the body or the environment. Therefore, when using disinfectants at home, please pay attention to some misunderstandings.

No.

01

Over-disinfection

Ignore daily cleaning

Home protection should be based on cleaning, supplemented by disinfection. Do not over-disinfect due to panic. If there are no new crown cases in the community, no outsiders visit the home, and there are no suspected symptoms in self-isolation, then there is no need to disinfect every day. It is recommended to keep the home ventilated and the environment clean, and wash hands as soon as you go home. In principle, disinfection is not required when the environment outside the community is not clearly contaminated by vomit, secretions, or excrement. The outside of vehicles entering and leaving the community does not need to be disinfected.

No.

02

Disinfectant concentration

Too high or too low

Some people believe that the higher the concentration of disinfectant, the better the disinfection and sterilization effect, but this is not true. Strong disinfectants are generally very irritating. Too high a concentration may irritate the oral cavity, respiratory tract, lungs and other parts of the body, and may even cause organ and tissue damage. Commercially available disinfectants should be diluted according to the instructions and labels before use, and alcohol for disinfection should be used at a concentration of 75%.

No.

03

Different types of disinfectants

Mixed Use

Mixing two or more disinfectants can easily cause chemical reactions and may cause harm. The chlorine gas produced by mixing 84 disinfectant and alcohol can irritate and damage the respiratory tract. When the concentration reaches 3000 mg/m3, it can cause death. Mixing 84 disinfectant with toilet cleaner will produce toxic gas, which will irritate the throat, respiratory tract and lungs and cause poisoning. Laundry detergent should also not be mixed with disinfectants.

No.

04

When using disinfectants

No necessary protection

Disinfectants are generally very irritating and may cause damage to the respiratory tract and skin. When using disinfectants, be careful to avoid the mouth and nose, and it is best to wear a mask and rubber gloves to prevent liquid splashing.

No.

05

Indoor alcohol spray

Disinfection

When using alcohol indoors, avoid using spraying methods. When disinfecting the surface of an electrical appliance, turn off the power first and wait until the appliance cools down before disinfecting, otherwise it may cause an explosion.

No.

06

Use hand sanitizer

Alternative to running water hand washing

Hand sanitizer contains bactericidal ingredients (mainly alcohols) and has a certain disinfection effect. However, disinfectant ingredients are often irritating and may cause skin allergic reactions. Therefore, if conditions permit, wash your hands with running water as much as possible, and use soap or hand sanitizer to carefully clean your fingertips, palms, and wrists.

No.

07

After disinfection of items

No subsequent cleaning

Disinfectants are corrosive to objects, especially metals, and can also irritate the human body. After using disinfectants for half an hour, the surface of the environment should be wiped with clean water.

No.

08

Improper storage of disinfectants

Chemical disinfectants are flammable, explosive, and corrosive. Safety should be taken into consideration during storage and use. Do not buy too much disinfectant at a time. The container for storing disinfectants must have a closed lid. The volume of a single bottle should not exceed 500 ml. It should be placed in a cool place away from light and heat, and out of reach of children. After use, the rags or other items used for disinfection should be washed with plenty of clean water and placed in a ventilated place to dry.

(Source: Healthy China)