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Anti bacterial sprays. Did you know?

(31 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.

Kim19 Sun 29-Aug-21 16:55:29

Nanna8 as an alternative to bleach try a drop of table salt in a damp cup and massage it around with your fingers. Has worked wonderfully for me for years. Neither stain nor aftertaste remains.

dustyangel Sun 29-Aug-21 16:36:24

Deedaa that sounds like a happy marriage.

JaneJudge Sun 29-Aug-21 16:32:25

I just make up my own spray with a concentrated disinfectant and I knew to leave it for 4 minutes...seems it may not have been worth my while if it has to be left for 5 grin

Deedaa Sun 29-Aug-21 16:27:47

Newatthis you do realise that Bicarb and Vinegar are chemicals?

I heard a bacteriologist saying that he had tried to talk his wife out of using antibacterial sprays because she was killing all the good bacteria. He said he hadn't been able to convince her, but it doesn't matter because she wipes the surfaces as soon as she has sprayed them and he hasn't told her they won't work if she doesn't leave them to dry.

Amberone Sun 29-Aug-21 15:06:48

Washing up liquid and hot water in our house too, although I do use the steam cleaner for tiled floors and sometime the backsplash.

When we had workmen in the house during lock down I got some Dettol spray and used it on door knobs and some other bits at the end of the day.

Shelflife do take care where you are spraying bleach solution in someone else's property - if you get it on carpets it could stain, and some surfaces like gloss paint could be harmed. You could end up with a bill for correcting it. I think you should be fine, but if you're really concerned why not just take some Dettol clothes to wipe down the door handles, taps, etc and give the work surfaces a good wash down with washing up liquid. Open the windows and get some fresh air through - they should have done that anyway.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!).

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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. ?

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?

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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!

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.