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Using Bleach to Disinfect, Clean and Prevent
Illness
By Kate Miller-Wilson
You
probably already have one of the best household disinfectants in your laundry cabinet.
Using
bleach to disinfect, clean, and prevent illness is all about understanding how
much to use and where and when to use it.
When
used properly, bleach can kill coronavirus, flu, cold, and even norovirus.
Disinfecting With a Bleach Cleaner
The World
Health Organization (WHO) specifically recommends using bleach
to disinfect in pandemic situations and during the outbreak of illnesses like
influenza or coronavirus.
Only
use chlorine bleach for disinfecting; non-chlorine bleach is not effective.
Additionally,
the WHO notes that how you prepare the bleach solution is extremely important.
Your
bleach solution must have a proper concentration of bleach for it to kill
germs. Too little bleach means it will be ineffective, while too much can harm
people and damage surfaces.
Supplies for Bleach Disinfectant
Gather
the following supplies to make a bleach disinfectant recommended by the WHO:
· Rubber gloves
· Apron
· Goggles
· Bucket or container
that holds at least 12.5 cups
· Spoon or stirring rod
· Cold water
· Bleach (strength 5%
sodium hypochlorite)
· Cup measure
· Tablespoon
How to Make a Bleach Solution
1.
Put on the apron,
gloves, and safety goggle to protect your skin and clothing. Work in a
well-ventilated place, such as a garage or near an open window.
2.
Measure out 12.25
cups of cold water and pour it into the container. Use only cold water because
hot water decomposes the active ingredient in the bleach and makes it
ineffective as a disinfectant.
3.
Carefully add two
tablespoons of bleach to the cold water. Stir gently to mix.
Bleach Cleaners You Can Purchase
According
to the WHO, any bleach cleaner needs to have at least 0.05% available chlorine
to work as a disinfectant.
Many
products will include the amount of chlorine on the label. Clorox Clean Up Cleaner + Bleach and Lysol Power White & Shine Multipurpose Cleaner With
Bleach.
How to Use Bleach to Disinfect
Bleach
doesn't work immediately, and it's not ideal for all surfaces. Keep these
guidelines in mind when you use a bleach cleaner.
Clean Before Disinfecting With Bleach
Always
clean before disinfecting. The WHO reports that organic materials such as food,
bodily fluids, and dirt can quickly deactivate bleach and render it totally
ineffective as a disinfectant.
Wipe
down hard surfaces first. Rinse off organic material on fabrics or other items.
Keep Bleach on the Surface Long Enough
Many
people assume bleach works instantly to disinfect against germs and kill mold, but this is not true. So how long
does bleach take to disinfect? This depends on the type of surface:
· Smooth, non-porous
surfaces - For smooth items like
countertops, floors, bathtubs, and sinks, you need to leave the
bleach solution on the surface for at least 10 minutes.
· Porous surfaces - Leave a bleach solution on porous surfaces like
concrete or fabric for at least 30 minutes.
· Small objects - If you are soaking small objects like toys or eating
utensils, leave them in the bleach solution for at least 30 minutes.
Keep Bleach Safety in Mind
Bleach
is a highly corrosive material that can damage people and surfaces if not used
properly. These tips can help:
· Never mix bleach with
other cleaning products. This can weaken the disinfecting ability of bleach and
create a toxic gas.
· Don't expose
concentrated bleach to sunlight. It will react with the sunlight and create a
toxic gas.
· Do not use bleach on
skin or hair, since it can cause burns.
· Never get bleach in
the eyes. Flush with water and call poison control if an accident occurs.
· Keep bleach cleaners
out of the reach of children and pets.
· Bleach can weaken and
discolor fabrics and corrode metals, so be aware of this when using it.
Storing Bleach and Bleach Solutions
The
WHO stresses the importance of proper storage of bleach and bleach cleaners:
· Once you've mixed up
a bleach cleaning solution, it is good for only 24 hours. After this time,
discard it and make a new one.
· Never store
concentrated bleach in direct sunlight. It reacts with the sun and loses
potency, as well as creating a dangerous gas.
· Keep diluted bleach
out of sunlight as well, since it can quickly lose effectiveness as a
disinfectant when exposed to the sun.
· Do not store
concentrated bleach for long periods of time, as it will lose effectiveness.
Only buy what you need.
You Can Kill Germs
In
outbreaks, pandemics, and other times of illness, it helps to know you can
create a bleach solution to protect yourself and your family from germs.
You
can use bleach in the dirtiest places in your home, as well as in
areas that just need to be disinfected.
Knowing
how and when to use bleach can mean a reduction in illness and infection in
your home.
Kate Miller-Wilson is a freelance writer specializing in a range of
subjects, including photography, cars, crafts, autism, pregnancy, antiques,
genealogy, and more. Kate has written and edited for LoveToKnow since 2009 and
loves the great variety of articles and slideshows on the various channels of
LoveToKnow.
Experienced Freelance Writer
Kate has a B.A. in English
from Western Michigan University and has written hundreds of articles for
publication in online and print media. She's also adept at self-publishing,
having successfully crowd-funded a book
on Kickstarter than will be released in the coming months. Before
becoming a freelance writer, Kate worked for several years as a technical
writer and software test script writer for the pharmaceutical and medical
device industries.
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