Blog Post

Do You Know the Right Way to Disinfect Your Space?

Dayita Singh • Dec 10, 2020

While the importance of disinfecting is general knowledge, a surprising amount of people do not
disinfect their spaces correctly.

The COVID-19 pandemic has made the general public more conscientious of sanitizing and

disinfecting procedures than ever before. Schools, restaurants, and businesses cover their walls

with signs reminding you to wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water.

Organizations have new plans in place for routine cleaning of their facilities and emergency

plans for shutdowns and deep cleanings if an employee tests positive. Disinfectant wipes and

household cleaners disappear from the supermarket shelves as quickly as they are stocked as

people strive to eliminate bacteria and viruses from their homes.


While the importance of disinfecting is general knowledge, a surprising amount of people do not

disinfect their spaces correctly.


Timing is Everything


When most people disinfect, they spray the area with the cleaning agent and then immediately

wipe it down with a cloth or paper towel. Used this way, the cleaning agent will likely reduce the

viral load on the surface, but it is not killing everything claimed on the label.


The instructions on the disinfectant’s label specify the amount of time the disinfectant must sit in

order to kill the advertised number of microorganisms, and it’s longer than you might expect.

Most cleaners must sit on the surface anywhere from 30 seconds to up to ten minutes before

they are fully effective.


Contact times are determined by the dilution of the disinfectant and its laboratory-tested mode

of killing its advertised viruses and bacteria. In addition, the instructions may also set different time

limits for sanitizing versus disinfecting.


Sanitizing v. Disinfecting


Lysol Disinfecting Wipes, which are EPA approved to kill SARS-CoV-2, direct the user to keep

the surface wet for ten seconds in order to sanitize. If the goal is to disinfect, the surface must

remain wet for four minutes (1). What is the difference between sanitizing and disinfecting?


While sanitizing reduces the bacteria on a surface, disinfecting kills and removes

microorganisms and is meant to stop the spread of diseases and viruses (2).


Lysol Disinfecting Wipes only kill harmful bacteria and viruses such as Influenza A Virus H1N1,

E. coli, and Human Coronavirus when you follow the procedures for disinfection. Since that is

likely the goal, it is important for any personnel in charge of cleaning a facility to follow the

specific directions on the cleaning agent’s label.


Disinfecting Best Practices


Whether you are disinfecting your home or your laboratory’s cleanroom, the goal should always

be safety and effectiveness. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends these

six steps for disinfecting your space (3):


1. Use products that are EPA-approved.

2. Read and follow the directions on the label for your specific disinfecting goals.

3. Pre-clean surfaces with soap and water before disinfecting.

4. Pay close attention to the contact time recommended for that cleaning agent. Remember

     that there are different contact times for sanitizing v. disinfecting.

5. Protect yourself from harsh chemicals by wearing gloves and washing your hands

     immediately after disinfecting.

6. Store cleaning supplies appropriately.


Certified Testing Labs Can Help


The health and safety of your personnel are too important to leave to chance. A reliable,

third-party laboratory like Sure-BioChem Laboratories can assist you with validating your

cleaning processes and products. We offer microbiological effectiveness testing and ATP

surface analysis to assess the cleanliness of your surfaces and the efficacy of your cleaning

protocols.


Resources:

1. https://www.lysol.com/disinfecting-wipes/disinfecting-wipes/

2. https://www.epa.gov/coronavirus/whats-difference-between-products-disinfect-sa

nitize-and-clean-surfaces

3. https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2020-04/documents/disinfectants-onepager.pdf



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