WE'VE ALREADY EXPLORED WHY NOTHING WE DO IS STOPPING COVID-19 AND ISN'T LIKELY TO, BUT A LOOK AT MISTAKES WE MAKE IN CLEANING MAY HELP US AT LEAST FEEL BETTER ABOUT TRYING TO STOP THE UNSTOPPABLE.
IF CDC WASN'T COUNTING ALMOST ALL DEATHS AS CV-19-RELATED, WE MIGHT BE CLOSE TO SEEING AN END TO THIS THING AFTER IT PEAKS AGAIN AFTER THANKSGIVING AND CHRISTMAS GET-TOGETHERS.
IT WILL RUN ITS COURSE JUST LIKE THE SPANISH FLU DID.
MEANWHILE, FROM THE CLEVELAND CLINIC
October 12, 2020
" 'You can’t just buy disinfecting wipes, swipe them on everything and expect your home to be coronavirus-free.
So how can you know for sure?
“The label will tell you what germs the wipes can kill, so look for the word coronavirus on the label,” says Dr. McWilliams. “There are hundreds of EPA-registered disinfectants that can kill the coronavirus. Don’t worry about one particular ingredient or brand. Just read the label.”
To find out which wipes kill the coronavirus, check the EPA’s running list of disinfectants for the coronavirus.
Disinfecting wipes vs. antibacterial or sanitizing wipes
Again, disinfecting wipes are for hard surfaces in your home.
How to use disinfecting wipes the right way
Disinfecting wipes contain chemicals, so they have safety steps to follow. Use them as directed to make sure those unwelcome germs are gone for good.
Check for EPA approval.
Remove visible gunk or dirt first.
Scrub with the wipe and let the disinfectant do its job.
The directions should indicate the “contact time, which is the amount of time that you should leave the disinfectant on the surface without drying or rinsing it. Don’t touch it until that contact time is up.
Are disinfecting wipes safe?
If you follow the steps above, they are. But stick with one product.
What about bleach?
Bleach is a notorious germ-killing machine. But it’s also very harsh.
“Bleach is effective if you dilute it correctly,” says Dr. McWilliams. “Don’t use it full strength.
Cleaning is good, but it’s not a cure-all
The coronavirus has made us hyper-aware of germs.
Go ahead and wipe your household surfaces with EPA-approved disinfecting wipes.
But cleaning alone can’t keep the coronavirus away.' "
OSHA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, has banned the use of bleach in restaurants, schools, nursing homes and hospitals, because of all the hazards.
Once inside a human body, the virus travels to the back of the nasal passages and mucous membrane in the back of the throat.
It attaches to cells there, begins to multiply (replicate) and moves into lung tissue. From the lungs, the virus can spread to other body tissues.
How long is a person infected with COVID-19 considered contagious?
Researchers are still learning about COVID-19.
What IS known is that people infected with COVID-19 can spread the virus to others before experiencing symptoms themselves (while people are still “asymptomatic”).
-You were tested too early in the course of illness. The virus hasn’t multiplied in your body to the level that it could be detected by the test.
-A good specimen was not obtained. The healthcare personnel may not have swabbed deeply enough in the nasal cavity to collect a good sample. There could also be handling errors and transportation errors, as the sample must be transported to a lab to be tested.
SEE ALSO
Explainer: Why is mixing cleaning chemicals such a bad idea?
" 'You can’t just buy disinfecting wipes, swipe them on everything and expect your home to be coronavirus-free.
You’ll want to make sure the wipes you buy can actually kill viruses and 'germs'.
You’ll also want to ensure that you’re using them the right way.
Infectious disease specialist Carla McWilliams, MD, explains what you should know about disinfecting wipes, including how to use them safely and effectively.
What are disinfecting wipes?
These disposable cleaning wipes have a 'germ-killing' solution on them. “They’re designed to kill viruses and bacteria on hard surfaces like doorknobs, counters and TV remotes,” says Dr. McWilliams.
What are disinfecting wipes?
These disposable cleaning wipes have a 'germ-killing' solution on them. “They’re designed to kill viruses and bacteria on hard surfaces like doorknobs, counters and TV remotes,” says Dr. McWilliams.
They don’t work on soft surfaces like clothing or upholstery.
The germ-killing ingredient on disinfecting wipes is a chemical pesticide, so you shouldn’t use them on your skin.
You also shouldn’t use them on food. (For example, don’t clean an apple with one before you eat it.).
As long as the ingredients in your disinfecting wipes are registered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), they’re safe to use as directed.
Do disinfecting wipes kill the coronavirus?
Many wipes do, but just because they say “disinfecting” don’t assume they will kill the coronavirus.
The germ-killing ingredient on disinfecting wipes is a chemical pesticide, so you shouldn’t use them on your skin.
You also shouldn’t use them on food. (For example, don’t clean an apple with one before you eat it.).
As long as the ingredients in your disinfecting wipes are registered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), they’re safe to use as directed.
Do disinfecting wipes kill the coronavirus?
Many wipes do, but just because they say “disinfecting” don’t assume they will kill the coronavirus.
So how can you know for sure?
“The label will tell you what germs the wipes can kill, so look for the word coronavirus on the label,” says Dr. McWilliams. “There are hundreds of EPA-registered disinfectants that can kill the coronavirus. Don’t worry about one particular ingredient or brand. Just read the label.”
To find out which wipes kill the coronavirus, check the EPA’s running list of disinfectants for the coronavirus.
Disinfecting wipes vs. antibacterial or sanitizing wipes
Again, disinfecting wipes are for hard surfaces in your home.
If your wipes say “sanitizing” or “antibacterial,” they’re probably for your hands.
“Antibacterial wipes kill bacteria, not viruses,” says Dr. McWilliams. “They’re usually for your hands, but read the directions to be sure.
And remember that the coronavirus is a virus, not bacteria, so antibacterial wipes may not kill it. That’s why reading the label is so important.”
“Sanitizing wipes” may be alcohol-based wipes for your hands, or they could be disinfecting wipes for surfaces. Read the label so you know what you’re getting.
“Antibacterial wipes kill bacteria, not viruses,” says Dr. McWilliams. “They’re usually for your hands, but read the directions to be sure.
And remember that the coronavirus is a virus, not bacteria, so antibacterial wipes may not kill it. That’s why reading the label is so important.”
“Sanitizing wipes” may be alcohol-based wipes for your hands, or they could be disinfecting wipes for surfaces. Read the label so you know what you’re getting.
How to use disinfecting wipes the right way
Disinfecting wipes contain chemicals, so they have safety steps to follow. Use them as directed to make sure those unwelcome germs are gone for good.
Check for EPA approval.
Look at the fine print on the package.
EPA-approved products have a long EPA registration number on them.
Read the directions and warnings.
With all the different disinfectants out there, it helps to know what you’re working with.
In most cases, you need to wear gloves to protect your skin.
The directions also tell you what to do if you accidentally get some of the cleaning solution in your eyes.
Remove visible gunk or dirt first.
Use a rag with soap and water or paper towels to do so.
You may want your gloves for this step.
Scrub with the wipe and let the disinfectant do its job.
The entire surface should be wet with the disinfectant.
But keep in mind that the solution needs time to work.
The directions should indicate the “contact time, which is the amount of time that you should leave the disinfectant on the surface without drying or rinsing it. Don’t touch it until that contact time is up.
Toss disposable gloves or wash reusable ones.
Wash your hands with soap and water after removing them.
Put the wipes away. Keep them out of reach of children and pets.
After the contact time is up, you can rinse off the disinfectant if you wish.
Wash your hands with soap and water after removing them.
Put the wipes away. Keep them out of reach of children and pets.
After the contact time is up, you can rinse off the disinfectant if you wish.
“Definitely rinse it off if the surface will come into contact with food,” Dr. McWilliams says. “You don’t want to accidentally ingest the disinfectant.”
Are disinfecting wipes safe?
If you follow the steps above, they are. But stick with one product.
Mixing two different household cleaners — even so-called natural cleaners — can create toxic fumes. These fumes can cause:
-Wheezing.
-Coughing.
-Trouble breathing.
-Eye, nose, throat and lung irritation.
-Nausea.
-Pneumonia.
If you’re exposed to cleaning fumes from mixing chemicals, get everyone out of the house. If anyone feels unwell, get them medical care or call 911.
Can you just use soap and water?
Maybe you want to clean the old-fashioned way. Do you really have to use a disinfectant, or will a rag and some soapy water be enough?
“If you want to kill the coronavirus, you’re better off using something with disinfecting ingredients,” Dr. McWilliams says. “There’s nothing wrong with soap and water for everyday cleaning. But it’s hard to know whether you killed all the germs when you clean with soap and water alone.”
-Wheezing.
-Coughing.
-Trouble breathing.
-Eye, nose, throat and lung irritation.
-Nausea.
-Pneumonia.
If you’re exposed to cleaning fumes from mixing chemicals, get everyone out of the house. If anyone feels unwell, get them medical care or call 911.
Can you just use soap and water?
Maybe you want to clean the old-fashioned way. Do you really have to use a disinfectant, or will a rag and some soapy water be enough?
“If you want to kill the coronavirus, you’re better off using something with disinfecting ingredients,” Dr. McWilliams says. “There’s nothing wrong with soap and water for everyday cleaning. But it’s hard to know whether you killed all the germs when you clean with soap and water alone.”
What about bleach?
Bleach is a notorious germ-killing machine. But it’s also very harsh.
“Bleach is effective if you dilute it correctly,” says Dr. McWilliams. “Don’t use it full strength.
But even diluted, it can ruin surfaces and fabrics, so it’s not practical in many cases.”
Some disinfecting wipes contain bleach as their active ingredient. Check the label. Never mix bleach with other cleaners or chemicals, including natural cleaning products.
Some disinfecting wipes contain bleach as their active ingredient. Check the label. Never mix bleach with other cleaners or chemicals, including natural cleaning products.
Cleaning is good, but it’s not a cure-all
The coronavirus has made us hyper-aware of germs.
Go ahead and wipe your household surfaces with EPA-approved disinfecting wipes.
But cleaning alone can’t keep the coronavirus away.' "
OSHA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, has banned the use of bleach in restaurants, schools, nursing homes and hospitals, because of all the hazards.
This occurred some years ago.
OSHA is a national organization and their rules cover all states.
OSHA lists the potential health problems that can occur from using cleaning chemicals with bleach in them while at work. The safety administration requires that workers wear personal protection products such as goggles, gloves, masks and a covering for all exposed skin.
OSHA lists the potential health problems that can occur from using cleaning chemicals with bleach in them while at work. The safety administration requires that workers wear personal protection products such as goggles, gloves, masks and a covering for all exposed skin.
In settings such as hospitals, the biological material must be removed before the disinfection process begins, and that all disinfected surfaces be left wet for at least 10 minutes.
Before use, all disinfected surfaces must be washed with water, dried and allowed to air out until no bleach remains.
Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) and the common cold are examples of coronaviruses that cause illness in humans.
HOW IS COVID-19 (aka, CV-19, aka, novel coronavirus) likely spread?
HOW IS COVID-19 (aka, CV-19, aka, novel coronavirus) likely spread?
-When the virus travels in respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes, talks, sings or breathes near you (within six feet). This is thought to be the main way COVID-19 is spread.
-When the virus travels in small respiratory droplets that linger in the air for minutes to hours from an infected person who is more than six feet away or has since left the space. This method of spread is more likely to occur in enclosed spaces with poor ventilation.
-From close contact (touching, shaking hands) with an infected person.
-By touching surfaces that the virus has landed on, then touching your eyes, mouth, or nose before washing your hands.
(Not thought to spread easily by this method. BUT IT HAS AND IT CAN, SO BE AWARE.)
-When the virus travels in small respiratory droplets that linger in the air for minutes to hours from an infected person who is more than six feet away or has since left the space. This method of spread is more likely to occur in enclosed spaces with poor ventilation.
-From close contact (touching, shaking hands) with an infected person.
-By touching surfaces that the virus has landed on, then touching your eyes, mouth, or nose before washing your hands.
(Not thought to spread easily by this method. BUT IT HAS AND IT CAN, SO BE AWARE.)
Once inside a human body, the virus travels to the back of the nasal passages and mucous membrane in the back of the throat.
It attaches to cells there, begins to multiply (replicate) and moves into lung tissue. From the lungs, the virus can spread to other body tissues.
How long is a person infected with COVID-19 considered contagious?
Researchers are still learning about COVID-19.
What IS known is that people infected with COVID-19 can spread the virus to others before experiencing symptoms themselves (while people are still “asymptomatic”).
Once you do have symptoms, the CDC says you are no longer contagious 10 days after your symptoms began.
Until everything about COVID-19 is fully understood, the best advice from healthcare providers to remain safe is to:
-Stay six feet away from others whenever possible.
-Wear a cloth mask that covers your mouth and nose when around others.
-Wash your hands often. If soap is not available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
-Avoid crowded indoor spaces. Bring in outdoor air as much as possible.
-Stay self-isolated at home if you are feeling ill with symptoms that could be COVID-19 or have a positive test for COVID-19.
-Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces.
How soon after becoming infected with COVID-19 will I develop symptoms?
This so-called “incubation period,” the time between becoming infected and showing symptoms, can range from two to 14 days. The average time before experiencing symptoms is five days. Symptoms can range in severity from very mild to severe. In about 80% of patients, COVID-19 causes only mild symptoms.
Is it possible to test negative for COVID-19 and still be infected with the virus?
Yes. This is possible. There are several reasons for “false negative” test results -- meaning you really DO have COVID-19 although the test result says you don’t.
Reasons for a false negative COVID-19 test result include:
Until everything about COVID-19 is fully understood, the best advice from healthcare providers to remain safe is to:
-Stay six feet away from others whenever possible.
-Wear a cloth mask that covers your mouth and nose when around others.
-Wash your hands often. If soap is not available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
-Avoid crowded indoor spaces. Bring in outdoor air as much as possible.
-Stay self-isolated at home if you are feeling ill with symptoms that could be COVID-19 or have a positive test for COVID-19.
-Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces.
How soon after becoming infected with COVID-19 will I develop symptoms?
This so-called “incubation period,” the time between becoming infected and showing symptoms, can range from two to 14 days. The average time before experiencing symptoms is five days. Symptoms can range in severity from very mild to severe. In about 80% of patients, COVID-19 causes only mild symptoms.
Is it possible to test negative for COVID-19 and still be infected with the virus?
Yes. This is possible. There are several reasons for “false negative” test results -- meaning you really DO have COVID-19 although the test result says you don’t.
Reasons for a false negative COVID-19 test result include:
-You were tested too early in the course of illness. The virus hasn’t multiplied in your body to the level that it could be detected by the test.
-A good specimen was not obtained. The healthcare personnel may not have swabbed deeply enough in the nasal cavity to collect a good sample. There could also be handling errors and transportation errors, as the sample must be transported to a lab to be tested.
-The COVID-19 test itself was not sensitive or specific enough to detect COVID-19. “Sensitivity” refers to the ability of the test to detect the smallest amount of virus. “Specificity” refers to the ability of the test to detect only the COVID-19 virus and not other similar viruses. Many different commercial and hospital laboratories have developed tests for COVID-19. All must meet standards, but no test is 100% sensitive and 100% specific for COVID-19. This is why there is always a possibility of “false negative” and “false positive” tests.
USING THE WRONG PRODUCT
Cleaners, sanitizers and disinfectants serve different purposes, and it is important to choose the least hazardous cleaning chemical that will accomplish the task at hand. Before purchasing cleaning products, determine whether or not sanitizing or disinfecting is necessary. If sanitizing or disinfecting is not required, then choose a cleaner. In general, disinfectants and sanitizers are more hazardous than cleaners.
USING THE WRONG PRODUCT
Cleaners, sanitizers and disinfectants serve different purposes, and it is important to choose the least hazardous cleaning chemical that will accomplish the task at hand. Before purchasing cleaning products, determine whether or not sanitizing or disinfecting is necessary. If sanitizing or disinfecting is not required, then choose a cleaner. In general, disinfectants and sanitizers are more hazardous than cleaners.
If sanitizing or disinfecting is necessary, be sure
that the product purchased is effective for the
microorganisms being targeted.
EPA regulates
sanitizers and disinfectants (termed “antimicrobial
pesticides”).
For further information, see EPA’s
webpage “What Are Antimicrobial Pesticides?”
(www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/
what-are-antimicrobial-pesticides).
Some cleaning
products contain hazardous chemicals that can
enter the body through skin contact or from
breathing gases into the lungs.
SEE ALSO
Explainer: Why is mixing cleaning chemicals such a bad idea?
AND THERE YOU HAVE IT.
CLEAN PROPERLY OR DON'T BOTHER CLEANING.
BE DILIGENT TO CLEAN AT LEAST TWICE DAILY.
REMEMBER THAT THINGS LIKE SHOES, PURSES/BRIEFCASES, CELLPHONES, TV REMOTES, HOME PHONES, ANYTHING SHARED BY THE FAMILY AND ANYTHING YOU USE THAT LEAVES THE HOME AND THEN RETURNS CAN BRING THE VIRUS IN.
HANDWASHING IS VITAL.
THINGS WILL GET BACK TO NORMAL, HEALTH-WISE, SOON AND COVID-19 WILL SIMPLY BECOME WHAT SWINE FLU BECAME...THE SEASONAL NORM.
MAY YOU ALL BE WELL.
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