As a consequence of the appearance of COVID-19, our lives took a radical turn that has turned many of us upside down. In the blink of an eye, your office closed, and you started working from home; your lifestyle changed, coffee shops, gyms, cinemas, theaters, bars, and restaurants also closed; regular meetings with family and friends were no longer safe, and the only “safe” way to meet was through video conferencing.
Realistically, many believe that this virus is here to stay, and therefore, we must learn to live with them and maybe even get used to the idea that at some point, perhaps, we may become infected. But getting used to the picture does not imply lowering our guard; it is necessary to adopt hygiene and care habits that become permanent, one of them is the disinfection of surfaces.
Frequent cleaning and disinfection of surfaces and common areas with disinfecting wipes and other cleaning products help eliminate pathogenic microbial agents and reduce the risk of transmission of diseases such as respiratory viruses.
The disinfection process should also include the bedrooms, bedside tables, doorknobs, bedsteads or beds, and other furniture daily with a disinfectant, disinfecting wipes, or a commercial chlorine bleach whose concentration should be 5%-6%.
For this purpose, dilute 1 cup of bleach and 9 cups of water. The bleach solutionmay damage certain surfaces and may be disinfected with a 70% alcohol solution.
Floor cleaning is recommended using a mixture of soap solutions or common or specially formulated detergents with water. Mopping is done with a scrubbing stick and cloth. After cleaning, the floor should be rinsed with water or mopped.
After the cleaning stage, the disinfection stage follows rigorously, using the action of 5% bleach water, freshly prepared. This lavender is achieved by dissolving ½ liter of concentrated bleach in 10 liters of water. Mop the surfaces with this 5% bleach and let it act for at least 10 minutes so that it exerts its disinfectant power.
Cleaning of bathrooms, especially fixtures such as toilets, toilets, urinals, and sinks, including tiled floors and walls, should be carried out in an aqueous medium by scrubbing and expelling dirt with detergent or soap solutions as explained for tiled floors and walls. After the expulsion of the organic matter, aluminum oxide powders with or without chlorine can be used.
The disinfection procedure is sealed by the action of diluted bleach water, alone, without additives, leaving it to act for at least 10 minutes. The concentrations of bleach water for baths can be between 5% and 10%, depending on the contamination degree. Bathroom surfaces, such as faucets, flush buttons or levers, door handles, toilet bowls, etc., require cleaning and disinfection at least once a day and whenever they are dirty. When using bleach, it is advisable to wear rubber gloves since bleach is a very corrosive product that can cause skin irritation.
It is not recommended to mix with other products. If combined with detergent, it loses its disinfectant power. When mixed with acidic substances such as vinegar, it is toxic. Please do not use it in closed environments, as it could be irritating to mucous membranes.
Do not use hot water; the bactericidal action of bleach decreases with increasing temperature.
Please do not use it on metallic surfaces or containers: sodium hypochlorite, known as bleach, can be corrosive to metals. It should be kept in its original container, well covered, and away from heat to ensure its effectiveness, out of reach of children.
