You’re Using Disinfectants Wrong. Here’s What You Actually Need to Do.

Sure, you’ve got a product that says “kills germs” under your sink, but will it really destroy the new coronavirus on surfaces? Turns out that if you’re using a disinfectant like a regular cleaner, you might not actually be disinfecting at all. To make sure you’re destroying 99.9% of viruses and bacteria, doing these three things is critical.

And one quick note on EPA registration numbers: make sure to look for “EPA Reg No.” as there can sometimes be another EPA number on there as well. Then, enter the first two sections of the number into List N to find the product. (If you enter the third part, the search won’t work properly.) Some products only list the first two parts. Yeah, it’s confusing.

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Credits:
Executive Producers:
George Zaidan
Hilary Hudson

Producers:
Andrew Sobey
Elaine Seward

Writer/Host:
George Zaidan
Samantha Jones, PhD

Scientific consultants:

Environmental Protection Agency
Palli Thordarson, PhD
Brianne Raccor, PhD
Michelle Boucher, PhD

Sources:

CDC practical guidelines on how to clean/disinfect your home

The Law

How do we know the products on list N will kill SARS-CoV-2

EPA regulations

EPA summary

Sterilex interpretation of EPA guidelines

C&EN

EPA List N

CDC influenza guidelines

Don’t mix household cleaners

C&EN how do we know disinfectants kill coronavirus

[ACSReactions]

Make sure you’re using the right disinfectant. You should use a different one for your counters than you use on your couch. You can find out what to use on EPA’s List N by searching “Surface Types” and selecting the porous (couch) or non-porous (counter) options.

[buildtherobots]

Re: not letting the product sit long enough to be effective --
People are too spoiled by using Kaboom which changes color when it's done working. Also the commercials where they spray it on and wipe off immediately give people the impression that is the proper way to use household chemicals. It never fails to impress me how few people read the labels on products they use externally as well what they ingest. I used to work as a housekeeper on weekends when I was in high school and people would ask me where I learned how to do that and how I knew what chemicals to use etc. I felt bad that the big "secret" was reading the instructions on the label and common sense.

[martinalahmann]

In the summary procedure, the pre cleaning step got missing. Also, it would have been good to show how much disinfectant you actually need. The pump sprayer is possibly not the most convenient method, especially if the surface you want to disinfect is large.

[omg_look_behind_you]

You're saying I shouldn't inject disinfectants? My dead daughter could've benefitted from this.

[Ceelvain]

Before leaving my student room I tried to clean it. And I accidentally mixed a product containing bleach (to remove soap residue) with another containing acid (to remove calcium carbonate). I remembered my chemistry too late, when the Cl2 started to irritiate my eyes and air ways. I rinced it off and evacuated the room.
So yeah, don't mix things. Especially nothing containing bleach.

[dhindaravrel]

Use soap and water. Don't use disinfectant if you can wash. The disinfectant itself is bad for your health, and soap and water deals with all that you need to do away with. The only exception is if you cannot clean somewhere.

[AdityaMehendale]

As much as I like Dr. Jones' presentation style, Mr. Producer isn't half bad either :)

[hectorh.micheos.]

Well I enjoyed the video and the second host, tyvm.

[Pnner]

Real question is: why desinfect kitchen counter top at home?

Just keep it clean. Oh I'm pretty sure nobody has gotten corona via home kitchen

[AnotherGradus]

Again with the animators... what did they do, or, _not do?_

[Insertia_Nameia]

The begging g of thos video reminds me of my KFC training videos way back when: "You can't disinfect a dirty surface."

[desiredditor]

The virus cells are killed by removing its oily protective coating, just not diluting those alcohol based sanitizers and yes using it for a long time is needed just use the achohol based cleaners

[fiftyfat]

Thanks for the video !
Come on people, they obviously cannot make animated video, is it so awful to see a human face once in a while ?

[_damage]

I like to spread disinfectant with a damp sponge or cloth so I don't have to spray so much 😊

[chicagorhtours]

Mostly good.

I wouldn't get paranoid about home disinfectant.

Bleach mixed with hot water (get % from experts) is perfect safe and yes it does work if given the time.

[Noneblue]

Wow I’ve been doing this all wrong . I use one cleaner for all places

[captainclapsalot]

U don’t need to do all this don’t worry so much you’ll be okay live your life people have been around for a very long time yall we’ll be fine 4:51

[MsOka]

2 cups of water 2 tsp of bleach. Wait 6 minutes and voila.

[sharonsloan]

In out kitchen at work it's wipe first with hot soapy water to remove dirt, spray with sanitiser, let that sit 30 seconds (will say on bottle), , scrub, wipe again with a clean cloth (hot soapy water). That tackles e-coli, etc.

[Unknowlogy]

Basically using alcohol 70% is way more efficient and effective 😊