The UK population has been informed that bleach is this brilliant chemical that will kill Covid 19 but what else do we know about it?
Firstly, bleach is a disinfectant, not a cleaner. Bleach does a fantastic job of killing germs; it removes tough stains and whitens clothing.
If you wish to use bleach, then you need to clean the surface first with a detergent then let the bleach/water solution contact the surface for at least 5 minutes. Finally, then rinse it off and let it air dry.
Bleach is a mixture of chemicals, but the main ingredient is sodium hypochlorite. This is diluted to approx. 5% approximately pH 11 of Bleach so very alkaline
If you use hot water with bleach, it can render the active ingredients ineffective because sodium hypochlorite breaks down in heat.
Don’t mix it with household chemicals such as vinegar as it can release a toxic gas. Even mixing with ammonia (urine) will produce a toxic product.
As if the above wasn’t bad enough, bleach is a caustic material that can slowly wear down the protective coating of the materials you’re using it on. This is particularly worrying if you’re using it on your grout lines – over time the bleach is breaking the grout down potentially making your grout become more porous, therefore even more susceptible to mould.
Bleach could also strip your paint if you’re using it on your walls. Not ideal if you’re trying to improve the look of your home, not make it worse!
Bleach contacting the skin will cause burns due to it destroying the fatty tissue and oils. This process is known as saponification and is the method to manufacture soap. The slippery feel of bleach on skin is due to saponification of the skin oils and destruction of tissue!
In conclusion, bleach is a brilliant chemical for broad spectrum killing of pathogens and fantastic for a readily available household chemical to kills Covid 19. Bleach must be handled properly and can not be used on all surfaces.
For more details about alternative disinfectants that have been proven effective on Covid 19 and we have available please contact Helpful Home