5
votes
Accepted
If I microwave an infected piece of, let's say, cloth, for a minute or two, would it become disinfected?
You should read the whole article:
Things You Should Never Microwave
...
- Clothing and other large fabric items
The problem with microwaves is that they are not heating any item put inside them ...
- 154
4
votes
If I microwave an infected piece of, let's say, cloth, for a minute or two, would it become disinfected?
To add to Philipp Leitl's good and cautionary answer:
Microwave ovens work by causing polar molecules in the food being cooked, e.g. water and fats, to rotate, according to:
Why does microwave heat ...
- 151
4
votes
Does bleach have to be diluted to be more effective to kill virus?
The text does not say that more diluted bleach is more effective at killing viruses (or bacteria, or yeast, for that matter).
I'm quoting:
...A tenfold dilution of bleach, which subsequently mixed ...
- 141
3
votes
How to sterilize the human intestine using a safe method?
It isn't possible to completely sterilize the gut of a living person. Repeat: not possible under any circumstance in a living person.
You can dramatically decrease the number of organisms by using ...
- 10.1k
3
votes
Accepted
How to disinfect your laundry
A scholarly report discusses the matter
Some years ago, a scholarly report was published. The report's "Appendix A" discusses, among other things, how to clean your laundry if there's a risk ...
3
votes
COVID-19, disinfecting bike-share bikes (or rental bikes), and safely using them
This answer was written on Mar. 25; things can change quickly. By the time you read this answer, it may or may not still be correct.
Summary
Bike sharing is probably safe and healthy, as long ...
3
votes
Accepted
Properly disinfecting fruits and vegetables from COVID-19
In this pandemic it is important to take precautions at each and every step. Fruits and vegetables should be properly cleaned.
We don't know of fruit/vegetables vendors, who might be infected with ...
- 1,045
3
votes
Does bleach have to be diluted to be more effective to kill virus?
Household bleach is usually at 5% concentration of sodium hypochlorite. Data from disinfection of other coronaviruses indicates that dilutions of 1:100 are still effective. Higher concentrations of ...
- 13.3k
2
votes
Accepted
What is the rationale behind spraying disinfectent on the street, or inside buildings against Corvid-19
I don't know but they're likely spraying bleach to kill virus on surfaces. Studies show the virus can persist for days on stainless steel etc, but we don't have good data how much of any of this can ...
- 13.3k
2
votes
Accepted
Examples of infected disinfectants?
Outbreaks and pseudo-outbreaks related to contaminated germicides have most commonly been reported with contaminated antiseptics. Outbreaks from contaminated high-level disinfectants have rarely, if ...
- 14.3k
2
votes
Accepted
Can soap and water be used to kill covid19 on household surfaces?
I can't find the CDC page you allude to, but I suppose you've read something like this:
Cleaning, accomplished with soap–or detergent–and water, refers to the physical removal of dirt and grime, and ...
2
votes
Accepted
Can I use a strong alcoholic drink (40 % of ethanol) to disinfect frequently touched surfaces against COVID-19?
40% alcohol is probably too dilute for disinfection. According to the CDC, minimum concentrations for sanitization with alcohol are 60% for ethanol or 70% for isopropanol (https://www.cdc.gov/...
- 46
2
votes
Is open air spraying of disinfectant irritating the respiratory system and therefore increasing risk of infection such as COVID-19?
The risk of infection is from inhalation of viral particles, or, from those particles landing on mucosal surfaces including the eyes, or being transferred there by ones hands.
I am not aware of any ...
- 13.3k
1
vote
If COVID-19 isn't spread through even food, why is it recommended to disinfect common objects?
It is recommended to do so, because if you sneeze, cough or get any other germs on your hands, it would touch any object - book, pencil, fabric, metal - really, anything. Even if you don't have the ...
- 11
1
vote
Accepted
COVID-19 disinfection with ultraviolet
From {1}:
[The SARS-CoV-2 virus virus] will be killed by UV, estimated survival in direct sunlight is 10% after 2–3h exposure
90% of flu virus dies after 6h sunlight at spring equinox (3/21) at Bay ...
- 10.3k
1
vote
Savlon & Dettol as surface disinfectant from COVID-19
The EPA has a database that you can search for tested effectiveness against SARS-CoV-2 virus. You need to find the EPA registration number of the product you have and check it against their database.
...
- 13.3k
1
vote
How quickly would boiling water kill coronavirus?
The accepted knowledge is that boiling water for 1 minute kills viruses. However, that is not necessary for SARS-CoV-2. Any food you eat is going to be cooked for longer than a minute, and packaging ...
- 13.3k
1
vote
COVID-19, disinfecting bike-share bikes (or rental bikes), and safely using them
The latest data suggests virus can be recovered from surfaces at 17 days
I suggest spraying everything with a bleach solution which has also been recommended by the CDC. That should disable the ...
- 13.3k
1
vote
Why aren't we sterilizing N95 masks?
Some hospitals are sanitizing (not sterilizing) their N95 respirators (not masks) already.
Coronavirus Update: Massive N95 Mask Sterilizing Machines Now Running on Long Island
Doylestown Hospital ...
- 400
1
vote
Why aren't we sterilizing N95 masks?
Dr. Peter Tsai, the INVENTOR of the filtration fabric in the N95 mask. N95 masks are made of polypropylene material and are designed to tightly fit over your face with little leakage around the edge ...
- 13.3k
1
vote
Why aren't we sterilizing N95 masks?
Some hospitals are experimenting with using UV light to decontaminate respirator masks that are to be reused:
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/20/health/coronavirus-masks-reuse.html
EDIT
To follow ...
1
vote
Accepted
Can methylated alcohol be used as disinfectant during Corona crisis
Since methanol had been added the resulting solution is toxic. Furthermore methanol can be absorbed through the skin making it dangerous to use methylated spirits.
https://www.biodiesel.org/docs/...
- 13.3k
1
vote
Accepted
Grapefruit-seed extract for disinfection?
In summary, there is no reliable evidence to say that grapefruit-seed extract has any disinfection efficacy. It was found out that some commercial products have been adulterated with artificial ...
- 15.9k
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible