Staying Healthy in Summer: Disinfecting Your Home
As temperatures rise and humidity increases, bacteria multiply faster. To keep germs at bay, cleaning alone isn't enough; it's best to give your home a thorough disinfection.
In summer, with light clothing, children might get scrapes and bumps. Guests walk around barefoot in your slippers, use your dishes... All these situations, combined with the hot weather that encourages bacteria and viruses to thrive, can be quite concerning. It's best to turn to disinfectants, but do you know the correct way to use them?
When a child gets a scrape or bump: Iodophor is the best disinfectant
Recently, a TV commercial has been frequently aired: a little boy suddenly falls while running, scraping his knee. His mother then mixes a disinfectant with water to wipe the wound—
Can you use a disinfectant when a child gets a scrape or bump? Experts believe that diluted disinfectants can be used to treat minor wounds for their anti-inflammatory effects. However, disinfectants are categorized into two types: "disinfection" (消) and "medicinal" (药) products. For treating wounds or disinfecting skin, you should use a product with the "medicinal" classification; "disinfection" products are for preventative use and have no therapeutic effects. It's important to note that some disinfectants can irritate the skin. In fact, iodophor or alcohol is perfectly capable of handling minor injuries, and is more convenient and simple to use. However, alcohol is volatile, its concentration can easily change, and it's not suitable for long-term storage.
Additionally, many fast-acting hand disinfectant products, such as disinfectant wipes, are also very suitable for children.
Disinfecting clothes: Don't mix laundry detergent and disinfectant
Some people, for the sake of convenience, often mix laundry detergent and disinfectant, thinking it's a two-in-one solution. In reality, this can lead to clothes not being properly cleaned and bacteria not being effectively killed.
You should know that laundry detergents have different components—anionic, cationic, or non-ionic—and the same goes for disinfectants. Consumers often overlook the ingredients when choosing cleaning products. When different types of detergents and disinfectants are used together, they can easily neutralize each other, weakening their respective effectiveness.
Therefore, washing and disinfecting should be done in two separate steps. Generally, you wash first, then disinfect, unless you are specifically disinfecting the clothes of an infectious disease patient, in which case you should disinfect first, then clean. The amount used should also be strictly according to the instructions; never just guess by adding a spoonful or two. Constant low-level stimulation can cause bacteria to develop stronger resistance. So, either don't use disinfectant, or use it with the proper amount and contact time, and ensure it is thoroughly rinsed away. For a disinfectant to be effective, soaking is necessary. Some spray-type disinfectant products that simply spray the surface of clothes without soaking have little actual disinfecting effect.
Furthermore, if you're worried about athlete's foot after a guest has worn your slippers, you can soak them in diluted 84 disinfectant, then rinse them clean.
Disinfecting tableware: 3 minutes in the microwave
Disinfecting tableware generally doesn't require chemical disinfectants, as many physical methods can achieve the goal. For example, boiling tableware in boiling water for 5 to 10 minutes, or placing a cleaned, damp dishcloth and bowls and chopsticks (except metal ones) in the microwave on medium power for 3-5 minutes can effectively disinfect and sterilize. Therefore, after guests have visited, you can feel safe by putting their used tableware in the microwave for a few minutes.
However, for items that cannot be microwaved or boiled in water, such as cutting boards, you can use a disinfectant from time to time. A cutting board is a "hotspot" for bacteria; it should be wiped clean after each use, stored in a ventilated place, and kept dry. It's best to disinfect it regularly. Plastic cutting boards are suitable for disinfectant use, but wooden cutting boards can easily trap disinfectant in their crevices if not rinsed thoroughly, causing secondary pollution. However, the disinfectant sold in supermarkets works very well for disinfecting dishcloths.
Disinfecting the bathroom: 84 disinfectant
This is a breeding ground for all kinds of bacteria, especially the toilet, sink, and drain. It's best to soak them in 84 disinfectant.
Using disinfectant: Simple mixing ratios for home use
When disinfecting at home, in addition to choosing products with a disinfection hygiene license or approval from the Ministry of Health, you must strictly follow the mixing ratios on the instructions. A disinfectant is not more effective just because it's stronger.
If you don't have a measuring tool at home, you can estimate like this: one cup of water is about 250 ml, one basin of water is about 5000 ml, and one spoonful of disinfectant is equivalent to about 10 grams of solid powder or 10 ml of liquid. For example, to prepare 5000 ml of 0.5% peracetic acid, add 2 spoonfuls of the original peracetic acid solution to one basin of water.
The mixing ratios and usage of bleaching water, peracetic acid, Lysol, 84 disinfectant, and other disinfectants must be strictly followed according to the instructions.
Finally, a reminder: Don't overdo home disinfection. If you use too much disinfectant, its fumes can linger in the house and cause another type of pollution.
Air disinfection: Vinegar steaming
Boiling an appropriate amount of vinegar in a pot with air circulation can effectively eliminate mold. This is especially important for rooms that lack sunlight for long periods or are on the shady side of the house; you should often steam them with vinegar.
Floors and furniture: Disinfect your rags and mops
Floors and furniture are usually cleaned with rags or mops. Rags and mops need to be frequently soaked in a chlorine-containing disinfectant, preferably disinfected both before and after use.
Careful Tips
Protect yourself during disinfection
When using disinfectant products, it's best to wear protective gloves to prevent skin allergies or poisoning. Generally, as long as you follow the instructions, using one type of disinfectant is sufficient. Do not mix different disinfectants, as this can easily lead to chlorine gas poisoning.
Don't miss "dead spots" during disinfection
When disinfecting your home, don't overlook hygiene "dead spots" like the toilet and drains.
Toilet disinfection: First, scrub the toilet clean with a brush, then wash it again with disinfectant, and finally flush with clean water. Drain disinfection: Pour disinfectant down the floor drain into the sewer pipe. This disinfects the water seal in the floor drain. After 5 minutes, rinse with clean water.
Don't overuse disinfectant products
Generally, an ordinary family does not need to use disinfectant products frequently. Maintaining good living habits and a clean environment is most important. In daily life, repeatedly rinsing with water can remove most germs, and using laundry detergent or dishwashing detergent can remove 80-90% of bacteria. Moreover, maintaining good ventilation in your home is always the simplest and most effective disinfection method. Therefore, don't overuse disinfectant products. However, in specific situations, such as in summer when injuries are common, when you have guests, or when someone in the house is ill, especially with an infectious or skin disease, special attention to disinfection is necessary.