If, like me, you're struggling to find an antiseptic or antiviral spray or wipe in the supermarket, you might find something suitable under your kitchen sink!
Most cleaning products contain surfactants (basically soaps or detergents), but many also contain biocides, which means they are active against bacteria, fungi and viruses. The two ingredients to look for on the labels are Benzalkonium chloride or Benzisothiazolinone; products containing these ingredients will disinfect as well as clean.
There has been a lot of talk about whether antibacterial products work with viruses but, if they contain one of the above ingredients, then they presumably will. Obviously, you can also use bleach-based products, as these will oxidise any organism.
Hope that saves you a frustrating trip to the supermarket!
Written by
Superzob
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I've not bought bleach for years, but I did get a bottle of thick bleach as the virus was starting.
I was wondering about the dilutions of bleach to water ratio do you know? If diluted in water for a spray bottle for instance. Can over dilution render the spray bleach solution ineffective?
Also when using a fine spray will need to wear a mask, awful to breath that in.
I believe the ratio to dilute bleach with 1 part bleach to 9 parts water to use in a spray bottle to give effective spray for using on surfaces such as kitchen worktops. Beware fumes though as bleach is a major lung irritant for me and will, I suspect, be for many.
Hot soapy water can be just as effective to keep kitchen surfaces clean.
I was thinking of using it on communal door handles and perhaps round the letter box Will have to wear a mask I think. I did stop using it because of the lungs and for the environment.
Can't claim to be an expert on this but, fortunately, I've found a bottle of Domestos bleach spray under the sink! This contains 0.5% sodium hypochlorite (main constituent of bleach), so it's very dilute. Bleach from a bottle contains about 3-6% (most of it's water - you wonder sometimes what you're paying for!), and the dilution instructions suggest one part bleach to 4 of water for wiping surfaces - that would give about 1% concentration of bleach.
So, on that basis, I would dilute your thick bleach 10 times to get a concentration similar to that in my spray bottle; it makes sense that a spray should be more dilute than a wipe because of the possibility of getting it on you, but can't really comment on individual precautions, other than to say that my spray has the usual warnings about avoiding skin and eye contact.
Sorry, wrote this just before CDPO replied - at least our advice is consistent!
I have got a bottle of bleach,I don’t know if I dare use it.
I havegot scarring to my lungs,have been advised to avoid using bleach.
I have been using soapy water with a couple of drops of vinegar in it to wipe my kitchen surfaces.i don’t know if it is ac effective,but I love the smell,sometimes I put a squirt of lemon in as well
good morning as a former cleaner here is my take on bleach IT KILLS EVERYTHING SIMPLE AS THAT but you wouldn't want to breath it it. here is a very simple anti bac cleaner for every one. 3 cups of water (a standard mug will do) half a cup of white vinegar and 10/15 drops of essential oil (teatree or lemon). good luck every one and stay safe.x
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Will have to wear a mask I think. I did stop using it because of the lungs and for the environment.
Cleaning products
What household cleaning products do you use?
Bleach-alternative COVID-19 surface disinfectants may pollute indoor air.
COPD Ready-Meal
