How to Kill Germs with Bleach in a Few Easy Steps

There is one powerful disinfectant that can be found in nearly every household, and that is bleach. It is usually preserved for the toilet or for cases when serious sterilization is needed, and not usually used to clean ‘regular’ surfaces. However, with the outbreak of the coronavirus, many people are looking to take extra safety measures to keep their homes as germ-free as possible. This is where bleach comes in. 

Is it actually effective? The short answer is yes. Studies confirm that bleach can indeed kill bacteria, fungi, and viruses, such as influenza, streptococcus, and salmonella. This is because the sodium hypochlorite found in bleach oxidizes or burns the protective membranes of bacteria and the protein shell of viruses, thus leaving them vulnerable to destruction. Influenza is known to survive 24-48 hours on inanimate surfaces, while COVID-19 can live on them for 72 hours or even days depending on the surface. Bleach radically reduces the chances of that happening. 

Still, before you resort to bleach, there some important precautions you should be aware of!

Instructions for Using Bleach to Disinfect Surfaces

What is Bleach Safe For? 

• Most kitchen counters
• Bathroom sinks
• Door handles

Do NOT use it on wooden floors or painted surfaces! Always wear gloves when working with bleach.

How to Kill Germs with Bleach According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
1. Mix one cup of bleach and five gallons of water in a bucket. For a smaller dose, use 4 teaspoons of bleach with one quart of water.
2. Scrub the surface using a stiff brush and the solution.
3. Let it air dry for at least 10 minutes. This is important, as it assures proper disinfection.

Using Bleach to Sanitize Fabric:
1. For a normal-sized load of laundry, add ¾ cup of bleach to the wash cycle. In case of a large or heavily soiled load, add 1 ¼ cups.
2. Dry on high heat.
3. Note! This is to be used mainly on whites, as bleach can ruin and fade colored fabrics. 

Important Warning -  bleach may release toxic fumes. The CDC recommends seeking medical help immediately if you feel one of the following after using bleach:

• Blurred vision
• Headaches

Difficulty breathing.

 

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.     

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Mixing These Cleaning Liquids Creates Toxic Fumes

Being a bit of a germaphobe these days is natural, if not necessary, but when we're so focused on cleaning and disinfecting all the surfaces in our home from the coronavirus with whatever supplies we have on hand, we might forget that not all chemicals mix well. In fact, mixing many household cleaners can end in the worst way possible - with toxic fumes and corrosive chemicals being spread throughout your home. Don't get us wrong, thorough cleaning is VERY important, but be careful with the mixtures we list in this article, as they can be incredibly dangerous and damaging to both your home and your health.

How Do I Know Which Chemicals Are Safe to Mix?

First things first, if you ever find yourself in a situation where you end up inhaling toxic fumes, getting some of them on your skin, or accidentally spreading cleaning chemicals in your eyes, mouth or nose, and you're experiencing difficulty breathing, pain, lightheadedness, a rash - seek medical help.

In addition, it's always safer to keep the windows open while cleaning with chemicals to air out the house, and it's also advisable to wear protective gloves while working with chemicals, even if you think it's something benign like a window cleaning solution. 

When it comes to working with different cleaning products, it's always better to stick to one on a specific surface or to wait for the chemical to dry completely before using a different cleaning solution. Layering products right on top of each other usually won't make your home cleaner anyway. On the contrary, it can make surfaces, like countertops, furniture, and tables, sticky, therefore it's ill-advised.

However, mixing certain household chemicals is especially dangerous, as all the products you use to clean your home are chemicals, after all, and mixing those can result in unexpected and often toxic chemical reactions. You should be particularly careful with the following 7 combinations, many of which include common disinfectants and cleaners like bleach, rubbing alcohol, and even vinegar:

1. Mixing Toilet Cleaner and Bleach

Although each toilet cleaning product has a different formula (depending on the brand), most of these products contain various types of alcohols and acids, which don't mix well with bleach. They can result in toxic fumes, which can be extremely dangerous to humans and animals alike. Thus, stick to one or the other, and never mix the two.

2. Mixing Ammonia and Bleach

While most people don't casually keep ammonia in the cleaning cabinet these days, that doesn't mean you don't have products that contain the chemical in your home. In fact, it's very common, and a multitude of common cleaners, such as glass cleaners, bathroom cleaners, multi-surface cleaners, furniture polish, and stainless steel cleaners contain it. 

The problem is that ammonia and bleach mixed create chlorine gas - an incredibly toxic substance. Even in small concentrations, it can cause eye and skin irritation, but if you happen to inhale more of it, it can lead to permanent lung damage and can even be deadly. So, make sure you're not using any products that contain ammonia with bleach, ever.

3. Mixing Different Drain Cleaners

Drain cleaners are very highly concentrated, as their job is to get through all that gunk clogging up the drain, but like many other products, the active ingredients one brand uses will not necessarily be the same with those featured in another brand's drain cleaner. This is a problem, as many of these contain bleach, which is very reactive with other cleaning agents, as you already know. For your own safety, don't use two different types of drain cleaners together or immediately one after another. Better safe than sorry.

4. Mixing Rubbing Alcohol and Bleach

Rubbing alcohol and bleach are probably the two ingredients we hear the most of lately, as both can destroy the virus we're trying to protect ourselves from. And while the two are effective when used separately, mixing the two together is extremely dangerous. 

When mixed, bleach and rubbing alcohol form two compounds - chloroform and chloroacetone, both extremely toxic and hazardous. Chloroform is a chemical that had been used to knock people unconscious in the past when inhaled, but it is now considered a carcinogen. The other one - chloroacetone - is essentially a type of tear gas. Neither of these chemicals is something you'd like to experience, trust us.

product that doesn't contain bleach but is advertised to whiten or remove stains, such as Lysol, OxiClean, as well as many detergents, tile cleaners, etc. 

When the two ingredients are combined, they yield peracetic acid - a corrosive ingredient that will eat through and break down any surface it touches, including the skin. Hence, be careful even with natural alternatives to cleaning, as many contain either vinegar or hydrogen peroxide.

7. Mixing Vinegar and Baking Soda

While the fizzy substance created when you mix baking soda and vinegar - the natural cleaning staples - is not toxic, but you have to be careful with this mixture nevertheless. This is because the reaction of the two chemicals releases carbon dioxide in great quantities, and if you happen to mix the two in a closed container, it may cause an explosion. Thus, always mix these two in a bowl, to avoid damaging your home or suffering an injury.

 

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.     

https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations  
https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes    
https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement