Name: Surface Cleaning and COVID-19: What You Should Know
Brand: webmd.com
SKU: webmd-com-4
Availability: OnlineOnly

critic

Surface Cleaning and COVID-19: What You Should Know

preview

The COVID-19 virus can spread via direct contact, airborne transmission, or through droplets. There have also been a few reported cases potentially spread through surfaces. But the risk of this is very low. The chance of COVID-19 surface transmission is less than 1 in 10,000.While updated guidelines say that surface transmission is unlikely, people are still applying disinfection protocols to sanitize surfaces in homes. Some people refer to the act of overcleaning as “hygiene theater.” This term suggests that certain sanitation practices exist more as a “show” to ease people’s minds instead of being based in science.Studies show that using household soap or detergent products lowers the number of germs on surfaces. This alone reduces the risk of infection. Guidelines now state that the use of disinfectants is unnecessary unless someone in your home is sick or someone who is positive for COVID-19 has been in your house within the last 24 hours.It’s unlikely to catch COVID-19 from a surface, but the risk still exists. Lab studies have found that the virus may last on different materials for varying amounts of time. We don’t know if these findings always apply in the real world, but we can use them as a guideline.Metal Examples: doorknobs, jewelry, silverware 5-9 daysWood Examples: furniture, decking 4 daysPlastics Examples: milk containers and detergent bottles, subway and bus seats, elevator buttons 2 to 3 daysStainless steel Examples: refrigerators, pots and pans, sinks, some water bottles 2 to 3 daysCardboard Examples: shipping boxes 24 hoursCopper Examples: pennies, teakettles, cookware 4 hoursAluminum Examples: soda cans, tinfoil, water bottles 2 to 8 hours Glass Examples: drinking glasses, measuring cups, mirrors, windows Up to 5 daysCeramics Examples: dishes, pottery, mugs 5 daysPaper Examples: mail, newspaper The length of time varies. Some live for only a few minutes on paper, while others live for up to 5 days. Food Examples: takeout, produce doesn't seem to spread through food. Coronavirus hasn't been found in drinking water. If it does get into the water supply, your local water treatment plant filters and disinfects the water, which should kill any germs.Fabrics Examples: clothes, linens There’s not much research about how long the virus lives on fabric, but it’s probably not as long as on hard surfaces.ShoesOne study tested the shoe soles of medical staff in a Chinese hospital intensive care unit (ICU) and found that half were positive for nucleic acids from the virus. But it’s not clear whether these pieces of the virus cause infection. The hospital’s general ward, which had people with milder cases, was less contaminated than the ICU. and There’s no research on exactly how long the virus can live on your skin or hair. Rhinoviruses, which cause , survive for hours. That’s why it’s important to wash or disinfect your hands, which are most likely to come into contact with contaminated surfaces.It’s a good idea to regularly clean your home to protect you and your family from viruses like COVID-19.There are also ways that you can reduce the likelihood of surfaces becoming contaminated by COVID-19:If you live with someone who has COVID-19 or have had a guest with a positive case in your home within 24 hours, disinfect your house in addition to regular cleaning. This will kill any leftover germs and lower the chance of the virus spreading.If you’re unable to keep a separate bedroom or bathroom from the person with COVID-19, make sure they clean and disinfect shared spaces after each use. If the sick person is unable to clean, wear a mask and use gloves to clean and disinfect their area only when needed. Make sure to open windows or doors, and use fans, heating, ventilation, and air condition to get proper air circulation. Once the person is no longer sick, it’s important to cleanse the area they stayed in. Wear a mask when you clean and disinfect. Wait as long as possible before you do this. If you’re able to wait 24 hours before you clean their area, you only need to cleanse that space, not disinfect it.If you wait 3 days after the person in your household was sick, no extra cleaning (besides routine cleanup) is necessary.

The COVID-19 virus can spread via direct contact, airborne transmission, or through droplets. There have also been a few reported cases potentially spread through surfaces. But the risk of this is very low. The chance of COVID-19 surface transmission is less than 1 in 10,000.While updated guidelines say that surface transmission is unlikely, people are still applying disinfection protocols to sanitize surfaces in homes. Some people refer to the act of overcleaning as “hygiene theater.” This term suggests that certain sanitation practices exist more as a “show” to ease people’s minds instead...

Surface Cleaning and COVID-19: What You Should Know

No article scores yet.

CRITIC REVIEWS

PUBLIC REVIEWS