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The demands for poison control have increased. Are you using detergents safely?

The COVID-19 pandemic paranoia can cause many Americans to clean their homes far beyond a typical spring cleaning . According to a report by the Centers for Control and Prevention (CDC), calls related to cleaning and disinfectant exposure rose by 20% in the first quarter of 2020.

"We are dealing with a pandemic, but that doesn't mean it does things it probably wouldn't if it weren't for the situation." You would n't normally wash your products in Lysol or use bleach to clean an orange, "said Bruce Anderson , toxicologist and director of the Maryland Poison Center at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy.

Dr. Georges Benjamin , managing director of the American Public Health Association, agrees. If you bring COVID-19 home, it's probably because someone was infected outside, he said. However, COVID-19 is unlikely to hang on your clothes, food packaging, or bags. In general, leave shoes outside, change clothes, wash your hands regularly and vigorously (for at least 20 seconds), clean food packaging as well as phones and electronic devices regularly with disinfectant wipes (for CDC electronic devices ). You recommend the use of cloths or Sprays with at least 70 percent alcohol , washing handbags and carpets, and good ventilation should be enough to prevent the virus from entering your home, these experts say.

Outside the human body, viruses tend to weaken or die easily. "The virus is a piece of genetic material that is surrounded by a kind of fat membrane," said Dr. Benjamin. "And that's important because it means that if you just destroy the fat membrane and expose the genetic material, it can destroy your ability to infect it."

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In most cases, soapy water is enough to remove COVID-19 from hands and hard surfaces, and disinfectants should only be used as a precaution after washing with soapy water. or if soap and water are not available. However, the virus can enter your home. If you live with an infected person, you should properly disinfect the house to protect yourself and your family members. The experts recommend this.

Keep disinfectants out of the reach of children.

Anderson explains that one of the main reasons why poison centers get more calls is because more children are exposed to hand cleaners and disinfectants than usual. He said that people not only buy more detergents than normal, but leave them in places where children can easily get them. He said this was probably due to the fact that fear of COVID-19 causes people to have hand sanitizers and disinfectants on hand. He said parents should keep these products out of the reach of children (the higher the better) and even lock them up if possible.

Understand the difference between cleaning, disinfection and disinfection.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cleaning, disinfection and disinfection are defined as follows:

• Cleaning: Remove dirt and grime from surfaces that can transmit viruses and bacteria (usually with soapy water).

• Disinfection: Use of chemicals to destroy germs that can remain on surfaces (does not necessarily include cleaning).

• Disinfection - Reduce the number of germs that could be hiding on surfaces, either by cleaning, disinfecting, or both.

Disinfection: Clean first, disinfect later

When we wash a surface with soapy water, we remove the virus and break down its fat membrane at the same time, Benjamin said. Usually this is enough to remove or destroy it. To play safely, you must also disinfect the surfaces after cleaning with a range of products recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency . Cleaning is important before disinfection, as germs can hide in dirt and grime.

Which cleaning agents are safe?

Almost all disinfectants pose at least some health risks if swallowed, inhaled or applied to the skin, especially if they contain potentially harmful substances such as ammonia, bleach and ethanol. Be sure to read the product labels to ensure that you are using safe products for the purposes for which you plan to use them. If you are not sure whether a product is safe or effective against COVID-19, you can look it up in the list of products registered by the EPA for use against SARS-COV-2 .

Never mix detergents.

Certain disinfectants such as bleach and hydrogen peroxide pose a higher health risk than others and may not be required to kill germs. These cleaners and other not should never be mixed , according to Anderson. For example, mixing bleach with detergents, especially ammonia and vinegar products, is extremely toxic.

bleaching

Bleach is a common disinfectant that is extremely effective, but also extremely caustic. Bleach should always be diluted with water before use. According to the CDC , the bleach must be diluted by mixing 5 tablespoons (1/3 cup) of bleach per gallon of water or 4 teaspoons of bleach per liter of water. When working with chlorine, open the windows and keep the rooms well ventilated. Wear gloves, a mask and eye protection.

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Lysol and Clorox products

According to Benjamin, Lysol and Clorox are generally good brands if you are looking for a disinfectant that is low in caustic but is effective in killing germs. In contrast to bleaching products, many Lysol products can be used to disinfect textiles. Note that there are many different types of these products, and all have different uses, and some may be more effective in killing germs than others, so be sure to read labels and check the list of disinfectants registered in the EPA to ensure , Buy disinfectants that do exactly what you need. Be sure to check the expiration dates of the products before using them.

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Cloths

There are different types of wipes to clean and kill germs. Read the label carefully when purchasing. While some disinfectant wipes are designed for hands, others are designed for surfaces. Surface wipes can be harmful to the skin, while surface wipes can be less effective. So be sure to read the label, Benjamin said. Wear gloves and wash your hands after using cloths on surfaces, she advised. Check the label to make sure the cleaning product contains enough disinfectant to kill germs and follow the instructions to make sure you use it properly .

How often should I clean my house?

If you don't live with an infected person, you probably won't need to clean your home more than usual, Benjamin said. However, if you live with an infected person, you will want to clean and disinfect the common spaces and "sensitive" areas of your home (doorknobs, toilet, grab handles, etc.) daily using a disinfectant registered by the " EPA. Wear Products You wear gloves when you regularly clean and wash the infected person's clothes and blankets, and you should immediately wash the dishes of an infected person, Benjamin said, and then disinfect the sinks.

Cleaning tips

What can you do if you've been overexposed to a detergent?

If you are concerned that you or someone else has a cleanser, call the poison immediately at 800-222-1222.

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