Disinfecting of areas such as the bathroom and kitchen is a vital step in your cleaning process to keep your home hygienic and clean. In some scenarios soap and water is just not going to do the trick when it comes to disinfecting your surfaces. Bleach products are a safe option for disinfecting purposes as well as other options that include disinfectant wipes or antibacterial spray for instance.
Why Is It Essential To Use Disinfectants?
Regular soap and water are not suitable for areas that need to be kept free from bacteria and germs that can result in causing illness. Bacteria such as e-coli and influenza can spread precipitously and can multiply to millions if a single trace of bacteria is present. Disinfectants can effectively eliminate nearly all traces of bacteria, leaving behind only a trivial amount which is not hazardous to our health.
Which Areas Require Disinfecting?
Areas like your kitchens and bathrooms have the highest risk of contamination. Handles and work surfaces, especially refrigerator handles are high-risk areas of containing germs. The E-coli bacterium can be present in foods such as raw meat; salmonella poisoning can be contracted from raw eggs and chicken and listeria from soft cheeses. Unwanted bacterium particles can get stuck to your hands and transfer to door handles or the flush of the toilet which in return can spread to other members touching those items. Warm or steamy bathrooms are a perfect breeding ground for viruses like rhinovirus, flu, and rotavirus that can result in vomiting, muscle aches and cold symptoms. Handles, toilet flushes, and other areas can’t be washed with hot soapy water in the basin, making disinfectant wipes or antibacterial spray an excellent choice.
Microbial Testing on Disinfectants
Disinfectants which are available on the market has already undergone efficacy testing against reference organisms through standard methods which are usually indicated on the back of the container. However, products which have been tested by Cleanrooms have been verified by making use of specific insular organisms from in-house environmental examining during disinfectant efficacy testing. You can read more about cleanroom testing here. This superior testing method was also performed on a range of materials and surfaces expected to undergo disinfection, i.e., latex, glass, stainless steel, PVC, silicone, etc. Once validated, these tests are not required to be recapped unless the composition of disinfectants has changed, or new in-house organisms were isolated during environmental observing.
How Often Is It Necessary To Make Use Of Disinfectants?
Disinfecting your surfaces should be done at regular intervals as part of your weekly cleaning process.
In Your Kitchen
- The handles of your cupboards and refrigerators must be washed once every week.
- Disinfectants should be used on work surfaces after every food preparation and hands should be washed with antibacterial soap after you’ve worked with eggs or raw meat.
In Your Bathroom
- Make sure you are getting into the habit of using antibacterial wipes or disinfectant spray on the door handle or toilet flash at least once a week, as these areas are particularly prone to contamination.