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Anti bacterial sprays. Did you know?

(30 Posts)
Bluebellwould Sat 28-Aug-21 21:26:52

My DIL is a senior nurse and told me ages ago that antibacterial sprays had to be left on a surface to be effective. Tonight I see in small letters at bottom of advert that contact has to be for five minutes, even though the advert shows a person spraying and wiping immediately. Does anyone leave it on for 5 minutes and let it dry on the surface or am I just an idiot that’s been spraying and wiping.

Hetty58 Sat 28-Aug-21 21:30:22

It's true that they take time to work. I find them unnecessary, too, as clean surfaces don't harbour bacteria. If still in doubt, having cleaned with detergent, rinsed and dried, I'd use a bleach solution.

Tizliz Sat 28-Aug-21 21:30:26

Dettol products work straight away, but the supermarket own brands don’t and yet they have them at the front of the store for wiping your trolley with. You would think they knew about their own products. I always read labels.

Amberone Sat 28-Aug-21 21:35:15

Yes it has to be left for 5 minutes. Same with bleach. I don't use either though. Something I wasn't aware of though until recently is that bleach becomes ineffective a year after being made. I used to think bleach lasted forever.

Another thing a lot of people apparently didn't know was that hand sanitiser needs to be left to dry on hands before using hand creme. I remember reading about people mixing the sanitiser with their hand cream.

elfies Sat 28-Aug-21 21:44:32

Surely antibacterial sprays and wipes don't work, we're fighting a virus .
Incidentally does anyone know a good source of anti viral sprays and wipes please.

Amberone Sat 28-Aug-21 21:47:02

Actually the product should tell you how to long to leave it - different products will be different times, depending on what they are made of.

Tizliz my Dettol spray needs 10 minutes to air dry. It also needs surfaces to be cleaned first so that it can reach the bacteria.

Hetty58 Sat 28-Aug-21 21:50:28

A bleach solution or alcohol will kill viruses - whereas antibacterials may only kill bacteria. Physical cleaning (e.g. the wiping) should remove most hazards if done properly (but it never is).

Beware relying on products that claim to kill 'coronavirus' as they may have only been tested on the common cold!

absent Sun 29-Aug-21 00:36:50

If you are a pet owner, check that any antibacterial sprays are safe. Dettol, for example, should never be used anywhere where there are cats and/or dogs.

Tizliz Sun 29-Aug-21 07:45:35

Amberone

Actually the product should tell you how to long to leave it - different products will be different times, depending on what they are made of.

Tizliz my Dettol spray needs 10 minutes to air dry. It also needs surfaces to be cleaned first so that it can reach the bacteria.

I shall go and have another read, I was looking on the detox surface cleaner. Thanks

BlueBelle Sun 29-Aug-21 08:18:26

I don’t use any sprays I wash down with warm water and washing up liquid (properly or improperly) still here to tell the tale

MerylStreep Sun 29-Aug-21 08:28:42

I’m just amazed that grown women believe this advertising shite.

Liz46 Sun 29-Aug-21 08:31:02

I noticed in our local pub that they spray the tables and leave a cloth on them and then come back later to wipe them. I know why now!

Zoflora is said to kill covid.

annodomini Sun 29-Aug-21 09:19:32

As for the virus lurking on surfaces: tests were done on surfaces in hand rails in several busy railway stations and no traces of Covid were found. Regular cleaning had been carried out, but even so, it's highly likely that if the virus had been present, some trace of it would have been found.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-58052378

Shelflife Sun 29-Aug-21 09:30:10

We have booked a lodge for a fortnights holiday - self catering. First break since the pandemic began. We have been assured the place will have been sanitized according to Covid regulations. I intend to take a bleach solution in Spray bottles to use on surfaces , door handles , loo flush etc. We have been so very careful and fortunately avoided the virus. I am a bit anxious about going!! Do GNs think a bleach solution , sprayed and left 10 minutes will be sufficient?

nanna8 Sun 29-Aug-21 09:34:12

I love putting bleach in my teacups to get rid of stains, works a treat. Doesn’t taste nice, though. ?

Septimia Sun 29-Aug-21 09:40:16

'Virusend' supposedly developed for/by the British Army is supposed to work in 1 minute. I bought it online.

Bluebellwould Sun 29-Aug-21 10:16:48

My post wasn’t aimed at using the sprays for defeating corona at all. I have two cats who walk everywhere and I have been spraying and wiping thinking that was good enough. I was surprised to find out that you had to spray and leave.

DiscoDancer1975 Sun 29-Aug-21 10:23:37

No, have to admit I didn’t know this, but makes sense if you think about it.

Never usually watch adverts, but yes, they can be misleading. I remember one years ago, showing someone using disinfectant wipes, wiping the toilet, and discarding the wipe straight into the toilet. A few years....and blocked drains later....I discovered it said on the packet, do not put down toilet!

Goes to show, it’s probably harder to catch covid from surfaces than first thought.

Jaxjacky Sun 29-Aug-21 10:37:55

BlueBelle I’m the same, rarely use a spray, hot water and w up liquid.
Shelflife Covid doesn’t survive on surfaces, but it’ll be clean!

25Avalon Sun 29-Aug-21 10:55:39

I use a product called Virusend (available online), a multi surface disinfectant spray which kills coronavirus in one minute. It was developed in conjunction with The British Army. You leave it to dry or wipe off after 60 seconds. For food preparation surfaces you need to wipe off. I have mentioned it on here previously.

GagaJo Sun 29-Aug-21 11:04:42

Bluebellwould

My post wasn’t aimed at using the sprays for defeating corona at all. I have two cats who walk everywhere and I have been spraying and wiping thinking that was good enough. I was surprised to find out that you had to spray and leave.

The problem with nearly all of these sprays is that they are poisonous for animals. The surface needs to be dry again before it is safe for them.

We bleach our kitchen floor, or disinfect it, because the cat trays are in there. But we make sure it's dry before allowing them in. Neither of them seems to go on the countertop though. Not sure why. ALL my other cats used to (without permission, of course!).

Nonogran Sun 29-Aug-21 11:27:48

I’m another who wipes down very thoroughly with water laced with washing up liquid during food prep & afterwards. For a while I fell into the trap of these antibacterial fancy sprays but it’s actually just clever marketing based on insecurities.
I only buy bleach for occasional use & cheap disinfectant for the bathroom. Saved a fortune & never get ill with food poisoning or similar. It’s all a con!!
Stop buying the single use plastic sprays! Do the earth a favour.

MerylStreep Sun 29-Aug-21 11:55:43

Nonogran
Here Here ?? Added to that it’s costing more and more at the water treatment works ? But never mind as long as supermarkets, Lakeland, Amazon and the like are making a profit ( out of fools) that’s ok.

henetha Sun 29-Aug-21 12:00:35

Yes, especially if you've been dealing with raw chicken, etc.
I spray the chopping board with bleach spray and leave it for 20 minutes or so.

Newatthis Sun 29-Aug-21 12:55:14

I am trying to eliminate chemical based products from my home and replacing with more natural ones. I found this recipe for an all purposes surface cleaner:
3 tablespoons bi carb, 3 tablespoons white or cider vinegar, 3 tablespoons of an organic dishwasher soap. Put in a spray bottle and fill with water. Shake before using and it cleans everything, including the bathroom. You don't have to use much. Add some lemon juice as well for a fresher smell.