Everything You Need To Know About Disinfectants

The Mayor of Surabaya, Tri Rismaharini, promotes the Trisakti Disinfectant Room (Source: Special)

JAKARTA - The world is currently fighting an invisible enemy, namely the new corona virus. One way to avoid the virus is to always maintain cleanliness. In addition to washing hands, we also need to clean objects around us and those at home using disinfectants. So, how do you use a disinfectant that is correct and safe?

Before knowing how to use the correct disinfectant, it's good to know what a disinfectant is. Basically, according to many health agencies such as the Indonesian Ministry of Health, the United States CDC Outbreak Control Institute, and the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), disinfectants are fluids that kill germs (bacteria and viruses) which contain at least 70 percent or 0.5 ethanol. percent sodium hypochlorite as contained in bleach.

In Indonesia alone, there are many disinfectant products on the market that can be used. For example, lysol, Destan, or radalon. However, by looking at the ingredients described earlier, we can also make our own disinfectants.

There are two ways, first by using 70 percent ethanol solution or using bleach containing sodium hypochlorite.

Ethanol or 70 percent ethyl alcohol, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) is very effective against the influenza virus. Because alcohol is flammable, its use as a disinfectant must be limited. In addition, the use of alcohol disinfectants in the room must be well ventilated.

How to make a disinfectant with ethanol is usually to put the liquid directly into the spray. After that, 70 percent ethanol liquid is sprayed on the surface of the object to be disinfected.

Photo illustration (Michael Tavrionov / Pixabay)

Apart from alcohol, the liquid that can be used for disinfecting is bleach. As is known, the active ingredient sodium hypochlorite is effective in killing bacteria, fungi and viruses, including the influenza virus.

Bleach works well as a low-cost disinfectant. However, the dangers of using it are more dangerous than ethanol. Because it can irritate mucous membranes, skin, and airways. "The use of bleach that is not properly can reduce its effectiveness for disinfection and can injure users," wrote the NCBI page.

To make a disinfectant from bleach, it is necessary to mix it with water. The dose is about five tablespoons of bleach, mixed with one gallon of water or 4.5 liters of water.

Then, what should be disinfected? To stop the spread of the corona virus, currently people are urged to carry out social distancing or keep their activities at a distance. Therefore, what we can do besides keeping our distance is to disinfect the houses and objects that come into contact with us.

In the use of disinfectants at home, referring to the Guidelines for the Prevention and Control of Coronavirus Disease (2020) compiled by the Ministry of Health, which must be cleaned frequently and then disinfected, namely frequently touched surfaces such as tables, chairs, bed frames and other bedroom furniture.

Then the disinfectant also needs to be sprayed in the bathroom area. At least according to the guidelines, disinfectant is done once a day.

The right and safe way

Referring to the United States Disease Control (CDC) website, the first step before spraying disinfectant is to equip yourself with disposable gloves, and if necessary with glasses. In addition, if you are disinfecting indoors, you must ensure that the air ventilation is good.

The reason is, as previously written, disinfectant fluids can irritate the skin, mucous membranes and respiratory tract. After the body is equipped with protective equipment, then we start spraying disinfectant liquid on the objects and parts of the house that we want to clean.

To spray these objects it is also necessary to pay attention to whether the object is clean or not. Because if it looks dirty, it is better if the object is cleaned first using ordinary soap or detergent. Only then was it sprayed with disinfectant.

Meanwhile, what needs to be considered after spraying is making sure that the object is not quickly wiped. Environmentalists from Northwestern University in the United States, Erica Hartmann said, this is often overlooked.

In fact, according to Hartmann, after the object has been sprayed with disinfectant, wait ten minutes and then wipe it off. Then the safe way to spray disinfectant liquid is not to overdo it.

The reason is, Hartmann said that the liquid can cause irritation to the skin, eyes and lungs. Lastly, don't just mix disinfectant fluids with liquids that are deemed to be able to kill other germs because it won't even be effective at killing germs.

For myself

During social distancing, we definitely need to leave the house every now and then, for example, to buy staple food, or work. After finishing outside activities and returning home, it is advisable to sterilize the body first. At least by washing your hands.

In fact, there is no specific advice for disinfecting clothes after traveling outside the house. But there is nothing wrong if we want to spray disinfectant on the shoes, jackets and hats that we use while leaving the house.

However, when referring to the Ministry of Health or CDC, it is better if the clothes we have used are washed as usual using detergents.