Disinfecting for COVID-19
What a time to be alive! For me, 2020 will be remembered as the year we all survived the toilet paper shortage. Welcome to the new normal. It took me a minute to feel comfortable when we were first informed we could open our businesses again. I didn’t feel like I knew any more than one of my guests or staff, but had to put on a confident smile (under a mask, of course) and fake it till I made it. Now I feel like I not only know what precautions to take, but also why. I’m no longer faking it and I think our guests can feel the difference in the ease with which I greet them and invite them into our space.
At this point in our coronavirus journey, it’s a given that we wash our hands constantly with soap and water and/or clean with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. We also know to avoid touching our eyes, mouth and noses. But do we know how to properly disinfect the areas or rooms we frequently spend time in?
By now we all know that the virus spreads from person to person through small droplets from the mouth or nose, when a person with COVID-19 coughs, sneezes or speaks. Others can catch COVID-19 by breathing in these droplets or coming into contact with them from surfaces such as tables, doorknobs and handrails and then touching their eyes, nose, or mouth. Of course if we have symptoms, we know to stay home. However, many people experience only mild symptoms, or none at all.
Coronaviruses are enveloped viruses. This means they are one of the easiest viruses to kill with the appropriate disinfectant, when used according to the label directions. What I didn’t know is that many of the household cleaners I see in stores (or don’t see on empty shelves in stores) or in my cleaning cabinet, do NOT meet health Canada’s requirements to kill COVID-19.
Without the use of appropriate disinfectants, The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that the COVID-19 virus can survive for up to 72 hours on plastic and stainless steel, less than 4 hours on copper and less than 24 hours on cardboard.
The Government of Canada updates a list of approved disinfectants, hand sanitizers, information for manufacturers and products accepted under interim measure regularly, and recommend that you check their website often for updates.
I get the importance of cleaning thoroughly and have been a super-freak about it – before and especially since this global pandemic business. But typically salon and spa disinfectants, while doing a great job, are very harsh on our tools, surfaces and skin. A few years ago, we found Micrylium, a local company that specializes in kinder, safer, and faster working products that are 100% biodegradable. I have never been so grateful to have approved and effective disinfectant and sanitizer products that meet Health Canada’s requirements for emerging viral pathogens. If you’re interested in learning more about the Micrylium hard-surface disinfectant products we carry, reach out! We’re pretty passionate about this stuff!
How to find out if the disinfectants you’re using meets Health Canada’s requirements for COVID-19:
- Locate the Drug Identification Number (DIN) on the disinfectant product label
- Look for that number on the Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) list