When cleaning before the end of the year, be careful not to use the wrong disinfectant, which may cause a "big accident"!

Expert of this article: Chu Yuhao, PhD of Beijing University of Chemical Technology, engineer of Sinopec Beijing Research Institute of Chemical Industry

The New Year is approaching, and if I’m not mistaken, have you started cleaning your home?

Wiping dust, cleaning range hoods, cleaning refrigerators... cleaning every corner of the house naturally requires various disinfectants.

But did you know that using the wrong disinfectant during the year-end cleaning may cause a "major accident"?

Can different disinfectants be mixed? What are the precautions for using household disinfectants? Those who cleaned before the New Year should take a look.

Precautions for household disinfectants

The most common household disinfectants on the market include 75% alcohol, 84 disinfectant and toilet cleaner.

Of course, these three types are also the most likely to cause household "accidents". Below we will introduce the precautions for their use one by one.

75% alcohol

Alcohol is a volatile and flammable substance. Excessive alcohol vapor concentration in a confined space can easily cause fire and explosion. Therefore, be sure to maintain air circulation when using alcohol for disinfection.

At the same time, remember not to get close to open flames and electric sparks during the disinfection process to avoid burning. If alcohol accidentally gets into your eyes, rinse them with clean water for 5-10 minutes and seek medical attention immediately.

Due to the volatility and flammability of alcohol, remember not to store large amounts of alcohol at home to avoid danger. Small quantities of alcohol should be stored in a cool place away from direct sunlight.

84 Disinfectant

Sodium hypochlorite, the main ingredient of 84 disinfectant, is a strong oxidant.

When using 84 disinfectant, be sure to wear protective gloves and masks to avoid direct contact with the skin. If it accidentally gets into the eyes, do not rub it. Immediately rinse with plenty of water for 15 minutes and seek medical attention immediately.

Since sodium hypochlorite is highly irritating, be sure to maintain ventilation when using it to prevent it from causing greater irritation to the human body.

Sodium hypochlorite is easily decomposed at high temperatures, resulting in a decrease in the sterilization and disinfection effect. Therefore, disinfection using 84 needs to be carried out at room temperature to avoid high temperatures.

In addition, it is important to note that the effective chlorine content in commercially available 84 disinfectants is generally 5%-10%, and excessively high concentrations of 84 disinfectants not only reduce the bactericidal and disinfection effects, but also pollute the environment.

Therefore, when choosing a disinfectant, the higher the concentration, the better. It should be diluted reasonably according to the instructions when using it.

Toilet Cleaner

The main ingredient of toilet cleaner is highly corrosive hydrochloric acid. When using it, you also need to wear protective gloves and a mask to avoid direct contact with the skin. If it accidentally gets into the eyes, you need to immediately rinse with clean water for 15-20 minutes and seek medical attention.

Acidic toilet cleaners should not be mixed with alkaline cleaning agents such as laundry detergent and soap to avoid becoming ineffective.

Since hydrochloric acid can easily form the irritating volatile gas hydrogen chloride (HCl), it is best to maintain air circulation when using toilet cleaner, and remind family members not to stay in the cleaning environment for a long time.

Can different disinfectants be mixed?

Toilet cleaner and 84 disinfectant must not be mixed

This is because, when mixed, hydrochloric acid, the main ingredient of toilet cleaner, and sodium hypochlorite, the main ingredient of 84 disinfectant, will undergo a chemical reaction to produce chlorine gas.

Chlorine is a toxic gas with a pungent odor. It can irritate the human respiratory tract. When the chlorine concentration in a confined space is too high, it can cause chlorine poisoning and even be life-threatening.

84 Disinfectant cannot be mixed with alcohol

For the new coronavirus, influenza virus, etc., alcohol and 84 disinfectant are both effective disinfection methods. So will mixing the two double the disinfection effect?

The answer is no.

Alcohol (ethanol) is a good reducing agent, while sodium hypochlorite in 84 is a strong oxidizing agent, and a redox reaction will occur when the two meet. Although no toxic chlorine gas is produced, ethanol will be oxidized into acetaldehyde, while consuming sodium hypochlorite.

Therefore, the disinfection and sterilization capabilities of both will be weakened after mixing. When the 84 disinfectant is excessive, acetaldehyde may be further oxidized and even toxic organic chlorides may be formed.

If you want to improve the effect of sterilization and disinfection, you must not blindly stack and mix disinfectants. You can achieve the goal by using the same disinfectant in appropriate amounts for multiple disinfections.

How to classify and disinfect different items at home?

The most important thing to complete the disinfection work safely and smoothly is to choose the right disinfectant and the reasonable dosage.

All kinds of door handles, countertops, etc.

Surfaces that we frequently touch in daily life, such as tables, chair seats, door handles, etc., can be disinfected with 75% alcohol. Alcohol evaporates quickly and is non-toxic, so it is convenient and safe to use it for disinfection.

When disinfecting, just wipe with an appropriate amount of alcohol. Avoid pouring or spraying in large quantities to avoid waste and fire hazards.

Floor, tile surface

Diluted 84 disinfectant can be used to disinfect the ground and brick surfaces. The usual dilution ratio is 2 ml of 84 with 500 ml of water or 5 ml of 84 with 500 ml of water. Please refer to the instructions for specific preparation.

Since 84 disinfectant is highly irritating, ventilation must be maintained during disinfection. Do not pour the disinfectant directly on the ground. Instead, pour a small amount and spread it evenly with a mop. Clean it again with clean water after disinfection.

Different types of fabrics

Do not use 84 disinfectant to disinfect clothing, sheets and other fabrics. 84 disinfectant contains sodium hypochlorite, which has bleaching properties and will cause irreversible damage to the dyes in the clothing.

It is recommended to choose some broad-spectrum antibacterial products (special clothing disinfectants) for clothing disinfection.

Toilets, utility rooms, etc.

Toilet cleaner is the most suitable choice for cleaning the toilet.

It should be noted that due to the strong acidity of toilet cleaner, it is not suitable for use on some non-ceramic surfaces, such as marble surfaces, metal surfaces, etc., so as to avoid causing corrosion.

There are many objects piled up in the utility room, and the types of objects are relatively complex. When disinfecting and cleaning, it is recommended to take out the debris first, disinfect the surface of the objects with 75% alcohol; then, after cleaning the dust and garbage on the ground, disinfect the ground with diluted 84 disinfectant. After disinfection, let it stand for 1-2 hours before stacking the objects back.

In summary, different disinfectants need to comply with corresponding usage specifications and use them safely. At the same time, for health and safety, do not mix some disinfectants.

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