It is always important to practice hygiene and ensure that the environment that we are staying in is hygienic. However, in case of a disease outbreak and global pandemic such as COVID-19, it becomes even more important to take extra measures to make sure that your surroundings are clean and sterile.

COVID-19 usually spreads through invisible respiratory droplets in the air left behind when an infected person coughs or sneezes. These droplets can be inhaled by people in the nearby areas or land on surfaces such as desks, chairs, tables, and other objects, contaminating them, thus infecting people when they touch them.

According to reports, the COVID-19 virus can survive in the air for up to 3 hours and up to 2 – 3 days on surfaces such as steel and plastic. And this is why it is important to ensure that common surfaces are cleaned and disinfected often to ensure that the virus does not persist.

It is no secret that that with the spread of COVID-19, there has been a surge in the consumption of cleaning and personal hygiene products such as sanitizers and surface disinfectants. And we may have come across several articles, social media posts, and messages informing us to frequently wash our hands, along with wearing masks and maintaining social distancing in order to prevent the spread of the virus. Apart from these, what are the other measures one can take to prevent exposure to the COVID-19 virus?

Studies and reports show that household disinfectants such as soaps, cleaning solutions, and even bleach can deactivate the COVID-19 virus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regular cleaning and sterilization of frequently touched and used surfaces such as tables, chairs, work desks, doorknobs, toilet seats, countertops, electronic equipment, and more. This is where a multi-surface disinfectant spray comes in handy.

How do disinfectant liquids and sprays help prevent the COVID-19 spread?

According to experts, coronaviruses are some of the easiest viruses to kill, as they are enveloped viruses. This means that the virus is encased in a protective fat layer on the outside. The disinfectant spray works by tearing apart the outer protective layer, also known as the envelope. This, in turn, deactivates the virus and makes it non-infectious, as compared to other viruses that have a much more robust outer shell.

Disinfectants made of quaternary ammonium compounds such as ones used in hospitals and food-service organizations, and the ones made of ethanol, used in surface sanitizer sprays and disinfectants, attack the protein and lipid structures and swiftly break down the virus’s essential components.

How often should disinfectants be used?

Cleaning and disinfecting some of the most commonly used surfaces and objects can reduce the risk of contracting the virus. Though disinfection is mostly recommended when someone at home is sick or infected, it is safer to disinfect certain surfaces often to stay safe.

Use disinfectant liquids and sprays to clean the house, especially high-touch surfaces such as doorknobs, handles, light switches, and countertops, after you have had visitors at home. In case of an infection, disinfect your home immediately, as disinfectants deactivate any remaining germs on surfaces to reduce the spread.

Also ensure that you disinfect common surfaces used by you after coming back from outside, as you may have been exposed to the virus, and disinfecting will help ensure that the virus does not linger on any surface.

Where to use multi-surface disinfectant sprays?

In case you are traveling during the pandemic, it is always safe to carry a multi-surface disinfectant spray along with other hygiene products such as hand sanitizers. With offices and workspaces opening up, the risk of infection is also increased. Hence, it is safer to carry a disinfectant spray to use on your desk, laptops, and other high-touch surfaces to keep yourself and others safe from infection.

Several hygiene brands have come up with disinfectant spray bottles that are handy and can be easily carried while commuting. You can use it to disinfect the bags that you are carrying, door handles, your seat, and other spaces. A multi-surface disinfectant spray can also be used on toilet seats, where germs and microbes would be abundantly present.

Though disinfecting and sanitizing frequently are great measures to prevent the spread of the virus, it is also important to minimize commute and maintain social distancing practices until the threat of the pandemic is eliminated, because, prevention is better than cure!