The only way to make sure your disinfectant works

At this point, we know very well the importance of good disinfection to keep COVID-19 away. This not only works for our home or our clothes, but it is also necessary to wash our hands to avoid contagions. This is because, even if we do it unconsciously, we touch our faces continuously, and the infection can travel from our hands to the mucosa (eyes, mouth, nose).

Although it is always better to use soap and water (remember to wash your hands for at least 20 seconds and rub the most forgotten areas, such as under the nails or between the fingers), hand sanitizer is a good option if you don't have a sink nearby. The important thing is that it contains at least a mixture of 70% alcohol, and you can do it yourself, for this you only need: aloe vera, a dosed bottle, lavender and tea tree oil and 99% isoprolyptic alcohol. Here we teach you how to do it.

While some disinfectants kill viruses and bacteria in 30 seconds, others can take up to 20 times longer

But you do not only use a hand sanitizer, you also decide to pass it on the screen of your mobile phone, your keys (important sources of virus presence), or even your clothes, as long as you are not literally cooking it when you arrive from the street and all the furniture in your house. But does your disinfectant really work? It's a doubt that can run through your mind And, for this, the best solution is to look at the back of the bottle.

While some disinfectants kill viruses and bacteria in 30 secondsOthers may take up to 20 times longer. Conclusion? If you clean the surfaces too fast, it's really no use, because doing it so quickly could cause the (hypothetical) virus to be everywhere, from the doorknobs to the kitchen table.

Spraying the disinfectant and cleaning it immediately is a fairly classic mistake that we have all made, as explained in 'Best Life' Jennifer Walden, the chief operating officer of WikiLawn Lawn Care: "Doing so may trap some bacteria on the surfaceBut everything on a deeper level will remain. This is why it is so important to read the label and know how long you have to wait. Most chemical disinfectants take about 10 minutes to activate, approximately. "

Most chemical disinfectants take about 10 minutes to activate, which is why it is so important to read the label first.

In the United States, for example, the Environmental protection agency The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently listed all products that meet the criteria for use against COVID-19, and more than 60 of a total of 116 needed up to 10 minutes to do the dirty work. So be sure to look at the back of the bottle first, and then clean up.

Recommendations if someone is sick

If any of the people you live with has fallen ill, remember that the Ministry of Health recommends that you stay in your room, that it be ventilated and if possible with the door closed. You should also avoid distances less than two meters with the people you live with, no visits and have a hand hygiene product and a dustbin inside the room. It would also be a good idea to have a personal bathroom, if possible.

In case you have doubts about the difference between cleaning and disinfectingThe first refers only to the use of soap and water to remove dirt and most germs. Disinfection, on the other hand, refers to the use of cleaning solutions that contain ingredients that kill bacteria and other germs, and these should be used throughout the house, taking special care in bathrooms (clean it with disposable cloths and bleach) and kitchen ( Also, use the dishwasher whenever you can and, if you don't have it, scrub with hot water).