Keep Your House Clean

When you wipe your counters with a disinfecting wipe (and follow instructions!), you can count on that product delivering on its "99.9%" promise. But if a sick person comes along even a second after your surface air-dries, any fresh germs they leave behind are there to stay. A recently-disinfected surface only stays germ-free until the moment it's touched again (by hands or fluids or airborne particles).

If you want a long-lasting defense against germs at home, it's important to limit contact and disinfect your frequently-touched surfaces on a routine basis when someone at home is sick. Microban 24, is a new line designed to continuously introduce sanitization against bacteria to a treated surface for up to 24 hours

The difference between sanitizing and disinfecting comes down to semantics. Both sanitizing and disinfecting aim to reduce the amount of contamination present on a surface by killing germs, but disinfecting-by definition-kills more germs than sanitizing. Product manufacturers and agencies like the EPA use the word "sanitizing" to refer to a solution or device that reduces the amount of germs on a surface by 99.9 percent or more-a level that's considered safe by public health standards. They use the word "disinfecting" for chemical products that are designed to "kill virtually everything" on a surface.

Sanitizing can also be done without chemicals, by an appliance like a dishwasher or a steam cleaner, which bring contaminated surfaces into contact with extreme heat (at least 170 degrees) to kill bacteria and other germs. Steam cleaning is especially useful for removing germs from porous surfaces, like carpets and upholstery, which can't be effectively disinfected with a chemical product.

If you absolutely need to remove every last bit of contamination in a space, you'll need a good disinfectant spray to get the job done. "A quality disinfectant spray should remove 100 percent of the microscopic organisms on your surfaces. While it may not be that helpful in the stain-removing department, it will effectively stop the spread of diseases and viruses-like colds and flus-wherever you use it.

The reality is that bacteria are complex organisms, and the vast majority of people don't understand the intricate mechanisms that power them, which leads to them underestimating just how easily they can be reintroduced and quickly multiply on an unprotected surface.

Disinfectants can be a trusty weapon against pathogens, but using them too often can cause germs to become resistant. According to an EPA fact sheet, studies have found that the use of some disinfectant products is creating microbes that can mutate into forms that are resistant to particular disinfectants or that become superbugs.

Instead of a disinfecting free-for-all, Scott recommends a more intuitive approach called targeted hygiene. Basically, instead of bleaching every area of your house all the time, focus on the high-contact areas (places people touch often), especially when someone is sick and touching things.

"Only use disinfectants when you need them, and only on the surfaces that have the highest risk for transmitting. "Targeted hygiene, which focuses on the high-contact areas, resolves the issue of using disinfectants too