Bleach disinfection - when, how, why

Household bleach can be an effective way to prevent germs, including the new coronavirus (it is one of the three disinfectants currently recommended by the World Health Organization, along with alcohol and others, the product is registered as a disinfectant).

But you should make sure that you follow the instructions of the specialists for proper disinfection, such as diluting the bleach in the correct proportions and do not forget to mix the solution immediately before use.

Dilution is actually the most important step for effective disinfection. Bleach is more effective at killing germs when diluted than when used directly (but never, ever mix bleach with anything other than water!).

If you are disinfecting a hard, non-porous surface, such as door handles or faucets, to protect yourself from coronavirus, WHO recommends using this diluted bleach solution: mix 5 tablespoons (cups) of bleach per gallon of water or, if you need a smaller amount of solution to treat a smaller area, 4 teaspoons of bleach per liter of water. Other WHO recommendations for the safe use of bleach include ensuring a contact time of at least one minute and adequate ventilation during and after use.

Do not pour the bleaching solution into the sprayer! If you dilute bleach in a conventional spray bottle, it can react with the metal parts of the spray tip and cause rust, which can further reduce the effectiveness of the detergent.

Since bleach in dilute form is more unstable, which leads to a decrease in its effectiveness, it is recommended to mix the bleach solution immediately before each application. Diluted bleach can decompose under the influence of temperature, light or pollution, which leads to the decomposition of the active ingredient. Therefore, if you want to use bleach for disinfection, you need to clean the surface with a freshly prepared solution.

Even concentrated bleach can be used for a limited time. Usually, after opening the container with bleach, it should be used for three months and discarded due to its inability to neutralize potential biological hazards.

Every time you open a bottle of bleach, the first thing you need to do is mark the opening date on the bottle. playojo.bingo