The COVID-19 coronavirus has only existed for a few months, so scientists have not fully studied its features. But every day the information is updated and replenished.
We now know that it can live on surfaces for up to nine days and survive in the air for several hours. We now know that viral particles are transmitted by airborne droplets and through touch.
An infected person can easily spread virus particles by coughing, touching other people, or leaving the virus on surfaces.
Undoubtedly, hand washing after being in public is key to reducing the spread of COVID-19. But what should we do in our homes to reduce the chances of infection?
Two recent studies looked at how long coronaviruses survive on different surfaces. The study looked at a number of different viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. And it turns out that survival times vary depending on the type of surface.
The virus survives longest on stainless steel and plastic – up to nine days. In short, one day on paper and cardboard.
So, how good are household chemicals for killing SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus? There is some good news in the list below.
Soap and water.
Soap and water are your first line of defense – they won't kill the virus, but they will remove it from surfaces. The detergent in the soap will lift the virus from the surface and then wash it off with water.
So, you remove the virus, but you don't kill it. Of course, when you come from the store or from the street, you need to wash your hands and wash your groceries as usual.
Bleach.
The active ingredient in bleach, sodium hypochlorite, is very effective in killing the virus. Apply and let the bleach sit for 10-15 minutes, then wipe the surface with a clean cloth.
Bleach works by breaking down the protein and so-called ribonucleic acid (RNA) of the virus, the substance that creates more viral particles when you become infected. Be sure to use bleach as directed.
Surgical alcohol.
Ethanol has been proven to kill coronaviruses in just 30 seconds. Like bleach, alcohol breaks down the protein and RNA that make up the virus.
Dampen the cloth with surgical alcohol and wipe the surfaces. The alcohol will evaporate and you won't need any additional processing.
Germicidal wipes.
The active ingredient in bactericidal wipes that acts as an antiseptic is usually benzalkonium chloride. Wipes work by physically removing germs under the pressure you apply when using them, and then the germs remain on the tissue.
They also leave an antiseptic layer on the surface that kills germs. An antiseptic works well on bacteria, but doesn't seem to work against the spread of the human coronavirus.
Antiseptics work by breaking down the fats in the pathogen's cells, but SARS-CoV-2 is not high in fat. There is still no evidence that antiseptics can kill human coronaviruses.
Hand disinfectants.
The main ingredient in hand sanitizers that kill SARS-CoV-2 is ethanol, alcohol. But its concentration in the disinfectant is very important – it must exceed 70 percent, otherwise it will not effectively kill the virus.
Another thing you can also do is make sure that you ventilate the areas where you regularly spend time. The infected person will produce thousands of tiny droplets that contain the virus every time they cough.
The SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus can survive in the air for up to three hours. Thus, by opening the window, you can remove and disperse the droplets and reduce the amount of virus in the air – which will reduce the risk of infection for others.
We live in uncertain times, but it is encouraging that we have weapons that we can use to fight COVID-19 in our homes.
Bottom line: Keep washing your hands, use 70 percent hand sanitizer, do a wet mop with bleach, and open a window to let in the spring air.
Lena Tsirik, Associate Professor, Department of Environmental Engineering, UCL.
This article was published by The Conversation.
Sources: Photo: (CDC / Unsplash)
