Our perceptions of disinfection methods are different. For those who have ever suffered from infectious diseases will be more careful and likely to be sure of the disinfection method to use. When it comes to our health, there is no debate. We have to use any means possible to ensure that we don’t expose our family to harmful situations. That is why we are going to show you the best way to disinfect your house.
Things to Consider When Looking for the Best Disinfectant
You may buy the best disinfectant from the store, use the best method of disinfection but still get unwanted results. Below are various things to consider when looking out for the best disinfectant.
- The effect of the disinfectant on germs.is the disinfectant going to kill the micro-organisms that are worrying you? It could be viruses, bacteria, mold, fungi, etc. look out first for the effect of the disinfectant you want to acquire on the active pathogens at your place. You can as well look out for the disinfectant with the highest number of pathogens that it can get rid of from the surfaces.
- The contact time the disinfectant takes to kill germs. When it comes to contact disinfectants, you can look at the contact time a disinfectant will take to get rid of bugs effectively. Contact time is the period it takes to kill pathogens from the time you spray, sprinkle, or wipe a surface. There are recommendations given on each disinfectant of the period you should leave it to get on to the surfaces and deal with the pathogens.
Some disinfectants require a surface to be entirely wet for it to successfully kill germs on those surfaces as some need you to close doors and windows and stay out to allow for contact time. If you are in the office or in a place where you have no time to wait for the effectiveness of a disinfectant, you can go for those with shorter kill-time. You can also go for “non-touch” disinfectants if you don’t want to deal with wetness, taints, or any residue left by the other disinfectants.
The convenience of use. Some disinfectant methods go through complicated steps to achieve successful disinfection. To effectively disinfect your house, you should go for an easy to use disinfectant with a simple way of killing germs from your home. Remember, your home contains both porous and non-porous surfaces as well as fragile items. It is good to know the right disinfectant to use to avoid damage to your properties.
- The safety of use. This could be our primary consideration when looking out for the best way to disinfect our houses. The primary reason why we undertake house disinfection is to avoid exposure of our family members to pathogens causing diseases. If we are going to use any disinfectant with toxic components or misuse the right disinfectant, it will be no better than not undertaking the process at all. For you to be sure of your safety, check on the EPA list of approved components. Also, follow on the CDC’S guidelines on application methods.
- Guidelines are given on the use of the disinfectant, hard chemical terminologies. Does your disinfectant of choice come with a manual? Is there any training offered? You may acquire a disinfectant but have half-baked information on its use. It is essential to go for disinfectants with clear guidelines of purpose in their manuals. Know how much you need for your house, any extra information to ease the process, if any special protective equipment required, etc.
- The size of your house or building. Apart from helping you to find the most appropriate disinfection method, knowing the size of your house also helps in cutting the cost of disinfection. Look out at how many rooms you have to disinfect and the size of each room. Check out on the capacity a disinfectant is eligible in working well, and decide on the disinfectant you will go for. One person’s best way of disinfection may not match the other person’s best way of disinfection.
Best Disinfection Methods
We have given you various options that will work best according to your needs. There are those chemical disinfectants that are known to kill germs up to 99.9 % but leave toxic residue behind. Furthermore, they cannot be used by a person or in a home having a person with asthmatic conditions or any other allergy issues.
Every method has its benefits and limitations. That is why we have given you the best way to disinfect your house in each category of most used techniques. Read on to know how you will benefit from your best choice of disinfection technique.
1. Natural Method
When it comes to best disinfection methods, some individuals consider the best way they will safely get rid of bacteria and viruses without encountering side-effects from the disinfectant agent. This is especially when you have difficulties finding the medically approved chemical disinfectants.  Every natural method of disinfection is eco-friendly. They are safe for use, leaving no toxic residue behind. But is every natural disinfectant effective on every surface?
Depending on the level of concentration of pathogens on surfaces, you will have to go for various natural disinfectants for various disinfecting tasks. Each of these disinfectants works differently on different surfaces.
For instance, the sodium hydroxide solution will work best on soft surfaces and items as long as you ensure your answer will not discolor your items and surfaces. Vinegar, on the other hand, will work best on hard surfaces like steel and glass surfaces, leaving them sparkling and germs free. If you are interested in a disinfectant that will do the job and leave your space smelling good, consider going for lemon juice, alcohol, or some essential oils like lavender oil.
For best results, most natural disinfectants require you to wet the surfaces and allow for enough contact time ultimately. The best thing with this method is that the disinfectants are readily available and can be used on daily cleaning purposes.
2. Chemical method
When it comes to chemical disinfection, it is always essential to check out for EPA registered disinfectants. The chemical disinfectant manufacturers have to present multiple lab tests results to EPA (The Environmental Protection Agency) to ascertain their legitimacy. There are four components commonly used that you should check out for in a disinfectant;
- Quaternary ammonium compounds
These compounds work best in killing viruses, bacteria, and fungi. They are one of the primary ingredients in most disinfectant wipes and sprays. The odorless, nonirritating, colorless, and deodorizing compounds also have some detergent properties. However, when used with soap, detergents, and acid, it reduces their effectiveness.
This is an alcohol compound that works best at high concentrations. Apart from making disinfectants, they can also be used to make hand sanitizers. They act on micro-organisms by disrupting cellular membranes and solubilizing lipids. They also kill micro-organisms through the denaturation of proteins. Isopropanol is most effective against a broad spectrum of bacteria and lipid-containing viruses. Their drawback is their high evaporation rate, which reduces the contact time. They are also less effective in spore-forming bacteria.
Sodium hypochlorite is majorly used in manufacturing bleach. It has properties responsible for getting rid of bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Chlorine compounds are more active on clean surfaces. Because of the high oxidizing power of most of these compounds, they require to be used almost immediately after preparing them. When stored for long, they lose their concentrations, becoming less effective.
Hydrogen peroxide exists naturally and can be used independently for decontaminating your house. Disinfectant manufacturers have turned to use this compound in industrially producing disinfectants on a large scale. It contains properties responsible for killing bacteria, viruses, spores, and fungi. The mixture produces hydroxyl free radicals that attack the DNA, membrane lipids, and other essential cell components to get rid of pathogens.
3. Non-touch method
There are various non-touch methods for room disinfection. They include ozone method, ultra-violet light, aerosolized hydrogen peroxide, chlorine dioxide, hydrogen peroxide vapor systems, saturated steam systems, high-intensity narrow-spectrum glare, and fogging.
Depending on the availability, these methods can be useful in removing micro-organisms, causing diseases from your house. Since the non-touch techniques are new, and most of them employ modern technology and chemical formulae, they require additional research and expertise to use them. They can also be used to supplement the traditional methods of disinfection. This is because they need less energy. With the right information on the process of disinfecting, non-touch methods are convenient and leave your house safe with no taint or any toxic residues.
Conclusion
In conclusion, adapting the best way of disinfection can be helpful to your family and pets under your roof. The best way of disinfecting your house does not necessarily aim at killing the pathogens causing diseases but also aims at keeping the user and the members of the family safe from harmful components. Consider routinely disinfecting your house to keep your family from exposure to pathogens every day.
