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Compiled by Zakiyah Ebrahim
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Health24
05 Oct 2020, 04:45
- Using disinfectants and wipes to kill the SARS-CoV-2 vSurface irus is very important during the Covid-19 pandemic.
- However, disinfectant wipes and sprays do not always produce the best results.
- Wipes can be more effective than sprays because some sprays do not contain the proper amount of alcohol.
Since the Covid-19 pandemic hit the coasts of South Africa earlier this year, retail stores have done everything they can to combat the spread of the virus.
In addition to the usual disinfectant wipes for carts, most stores have a clerk at store entrances to spray cart handles with disinfectant liquid, often contained in an unlabeled bottle.
However, some disinfectants may not contain the correct levels of alcohol to effectively kill the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Rhodes University tested disinfectants at an Eastern Cape boarding school, where more than 200 employees and students tested positive for the virus this year, and found they contained only 57.6% alcohol, less than the minimum required alcohol content, News24 reported.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), alcohol-based disinfectants must contain at least 60% alcohol to effectively kill the virus.
Spraying the cart handles is not a guarantee
According to Bernard Reeksting, a chemical scientist and former director of the CSIR Center for Polymer Technology, even if an aerosol kills SARS-CoV-2, it may not necessarily be the most effective way to disinfect surfaces.
“Spraying the handle of a car with a disinfectant only acts as a wash, since its distribution is wide and somewhat erratic, which means that much of its effect will be wasted in the atmosphere.
“Therefore, a spray does not offer a guarantee that the sanitizer will be distributed evenly, as it will likely only land in the direction of the spray,” he explains.
In fact, some studies have shown that disinfectant wipes produce better results on public surfaces compared to aerosol disinfectants.
Also keep in mind that some products that claim to disinfect surfaces only kill bacteria, not viruses, so it is best to read product labels carefully. It is also a good idea to see how long to clean the surface. Different products are tested under different conditions and have different recommendations.
Haley Oliver, a microbiologist and associate professor of food science at Purdue University, told the New York Times If, for example, a product suggests you use it for four minutes, the total cleaning and drying time should be four minutes.
Why are wet wipes the best option?
Reeksting explains that the wipes mechanically clean dirt from a surface and reach areas where bacteria and viruses can get trapped.
“The wipe acts as a reservoir to retain the liquid, allowing it to be evenly distributed over the surface being cleaned and then actively and mechanically removing pathogens from the surface and bringing them into close contact with the wipe liquid.”
So what is the best way to remove all pathogens from surfaces?
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the CDC, washing your hands with soap and running water is still the best method. This is due to the nature of soap molecules. When suspended in water, viruses separate and destroy, according to an article by Global hand washing.
However, when soap and running water are not convenient, disinfecting wipes are the recommended second best option because they physically remove dirt and microorganisms from the surface of cart handles. Infection Protection Products Marketing Director Annette Devenish recommends a second cleaning as this will ensure even better disinfection.
