People cannot get enough antibacterial wipes now because they are reassessing their cleaning programs. Even those of us who are not too afraid of bacteria may scrub every surface in our home. But… should we? Of course, keeping it clean is important, but if you make these mistakes when using antibacterial wipes, you may ruin your cleaning process.
Using one wipe on several different things seems less wasteful, let alone easier. For example, use only one or two wet wipes to clean the entire kitchen. But there are several reasons why you should not do this. “One wipe should be used in each area,” said Kathy Turley, Marketing Director of Home Clean Heroes. “You don’t want to use the same wipes to clean the toilet handle and then use it on the front door handle.” It seems obvious to consider this example, but it applies to all situations. Using the same rag on multiple surfaces may spread bacteria and dirt from one space to another. Not to mention, a single antibacterial wipe may not have enough power to effectively clean multiple different surfaces.
We know that labels are boring. But reading the label on the antibacterial wipes can help you get the most out of it. The label says “how long the product must remain on the surface to inactivate all bugs”, which you may never have thought of, explains dental and medical OSHA and infection control coach and speaker Karen Daw. She said that in many cases, the surface should be kept moist for at least three to four minutes to kill the bacteria on the surface, which is stated on the label.
In addition, the label on the wipe can actually show which types of microorganisms it is effective against. Don’t assume that every type of wipes can kill everything. After all, it is an antibacterial wipe, which means it can kill bacteria-not necessarily viruses. “Don’t think that antibacterial wipes are also effective against viruses,” Daw said. “The label will clearly list the time required to inactivate a specific error.” If you are specifically looking for household products that can kill the coronavirus, we have a list.
This error is especially common in 2020, because people have been short of toilet paper and resorted to other things-such as wet wipes. You can of course use wet wipes, but throw them away instead of flushing them into the toilet. Yes, if the package says “Flushable”, you can even throw away the wipes. And, although we just said that reading tags is important, this is part of the tags you can and should ignore. “Wet wipes are thicker than toilet paper, do not break down easily, and may get stuck in the pipes and cause potential blockage – or worse, overflow!” Terry explained. Learn more about which toilet paper substitutes will and will not clog your toilet.
Antibacterial wipes should not be used on all items. Although cleaning electronic products is important, using antibacterial wipes on them can actually cause damage. “While wipes can usually be used safely on your keyboard, they can only be used on the back or non-glass parts of the phone,” Terry explained. “The chemicals in the wipes can destroy the coating on the screen that should prevent fingerprint marks.” On the contrary, here is the best disinfectant for cleaning mobile phones.
Yes, mistakes can be made when storing it, not just using it, which is frustrating. Specifically, make sure to close the package to prevent the wipes from being exposed to the air. “Most of the time, they use alcohol as a disinfection method,” said Dr. Nidhi Ghildayal, a researcher who focuses on infectious diseases. “If you leave them open, the alcohol will dry out and your wipes will become useless.” Likewise, don’t use a dry cloth on the surface; if it dries out, it will lose most of its cleaning power. And will be invalid.
Antibacterial wipes can damage wooden surfaces; there are no two theories. “Any type of wooden floor or furniture you own should not be cleaned with antibacterial wipes,” explains Jamie Bacharach, a licensed health coach. This is because porous wood can absorb the liquid in the wet wipes and damage the wet wipes. “These wipes may leave stains. Unless otherwise stated, they are usually not designed for wood.” Surprise-another reason to read the label! Wood is actually one of several items that you should not use antibacterial wipes.
This may sound strange at first, because cleaning is its entire purpose. But if you use it in a very dirty space, you may end up pushing dirt around. Removal of dirt from the surface should be a different process than disinfecting with wet wipes. “Dirty surfaces can make disinfection more difficult,” Daw explained. “So you may need to wipe the surface with a wet wipe (or just soap and water), and then use another wipe to disinfect the surface.” This makes more sense when you understand the difference between cleaning, disinfection, and disinfection .
You may not think that antibacterial wipes have a shelf life-and Ghildayal points out, in fact, sometimes they don’t. “You may not find the expiration date on the wipes,” he told RD.com, “but you should generally not use them within two years of purchase at most.” Without an expiration date, how do you know when to stop using it? Ghildayal suggested: “If they have a weaker smell than usual when they are reopened for use, they may be too old to be used.” Of course, this may not be a problem now, because most people will definitely not let them get wet. The towel is left unused, but it’s amazing to know that it has an expiration date, which is still good.
Remember, cleaning products should not be ingested, especially children! Therefore, please avoid using it in pet food bowls or children’s toys (especially baby toys, you know they will be put in your mouth!). “Antibacterial wipes carry chemicals, and these chemicals… will stay on the surfaces they touch,” Bacharach explained. “Any objects that pets (or children!) may put in their mouths or lick should be cleaned with water-based non-chemical solutions to ensure safety.” Check out these safe methods for cleaning children’s toys.
This seems obvious, but it is still worth mentioning. Antibacterial wipes help quickly disinfect the surface. It does not provide “deep cleaning” or cleaning specific surfaces that require a certain cleaning product. “They are not enough to be the only cleaner for kitchen and bathroom surfaces,” points out Jon Gibbons of Smart Vacuums. “Antibacterial wipes are great for rapid wear and tear, but they won’t make the kitchen or bathroom shimmer under the surface.” Next, find out which methods you should use without bleaching.
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Post time: Aug-29-2021