Soap and water are enough to wash away viral particles. Using disinfectant sprays to ward off COVID-19 is unnecessary and likely bad for our health.

Bleach expires after about a year, but it starts degrading after six months. If you use Clorox, you can find the expiration date on your bleach by searching for a two-line code on the bottle above the label. You should store bleach at room temperature and in a dark place […]

The best natural disinfectants include alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, hot water, and some essential oils. Evidence suggests that in some cases, many of these natural disinfectants can be as effective at killing germs as chemical cleaners like bleach. Here’s what the research says about natural disinfectants and how to use […]

Evidence suggests that ultraviolet light can destroy the coronavirus, making it a promising disinfectant. But the kind of UV light that destroys viruses is also dangerous to humans. Columbia scientists recently discovered a way to harness the pathogen-killing power of UV light without damaging our eyes or skin. Visit Business […]

The EPA has approved two household disinfectant sprays proven to kill the coronavirus on household surfaces. While the CDC recommends the general public use EPA-approved disinfectants, Lysol Disinfectant Spray and Lysol Disinfectant Max Cover Mist are the first to be proven to kill the coronavirus in a lab. The sprays […]

Copper metal has antimicrobial properties and can kill germs through direct contact. The metal has been used to coat high-touch surfaces like door handles, surfaces in hospitals, and even personal items such as masks. However, copper isn’t a cure-all, and it takes time and direct contact to destroy contaminants, so […]

Windex Original Glass Cleaner is not a disinfectant and it will not kill germs. But there are some Windex products that do kill germs, like Windex Disinfectant Multi-Surface Cleaner. To keep glass germ-free, use a disinfectant first and then wipe it down with Windex Original Glass Cleaner. This article was […]

While you may be routinely doing laundry and wiping down countertops, germs also collect in a variety of odd nooks around the house. When cleaning, a good rule of thumb is to wipe down all high-touch objects around the house and always read the instructions on the label of your […]

The dryer will not kill all germs since many dryers don’t get hot enough. You should always wash your clothes with detergent before putting them in the dryer. Some other things you can do to keep your clothes germ-free are avoiding contaminated surfaces and hang-drying your clothing on a sunny […]

You can make your own hand sanitizer at home with isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) and either aloe vera gel or glycerin. Hand sanitizer needs to contain at least 60% alcohol to kill germs, and by following our recipe below, you should be able to make an effective sanitizer that can […]

Companies that cleaned everything from crime scenes to chemical spills to radioactive waste are being called in to disinfect hotspot areas from coronavirus. These workers go to businesses and homes where confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been documented, in some cases leading to death, putting themselves at risk of being […]

Baby wipes do not kill a significant number of germs because they are meant to be gentle on a baby’s bottom. Household wipes contain disinfecting ingredients like sodium hypochlorite, but baby wipes are water-based and contain no active germ-killing ingredients. The best way to keep germ-free when changing your baby […]

Tractors drove across Zahara de los Atunes – a beach on the southern coast of Spain – spraying a bleach solution to disinfect it of the coronavirus. The move was met with public outcry, namely from local environmentalists who said it caused “brutal” damage to the ecosystem of Zahara de […]

Germs are in us, on us, and all around us. They come in four types: bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa. Many germs are harmless to humans, but some can cause disease and death. These harmful pathogens can be hard to eradicate once inside the body. But you can protect yourself […]

Direct sunlight could kill the coronavirus in minutes, the Department of Homeland Security suggested on Thursday. President Trump surmised that sunlight could be used on the human body – a claim that one epidemiologist called “exceedingly dangerous.” Experts say that sunlight won’t protect you from COVID-19, and exposing yourself to […]

At a press conference on Thursday night, US President Donald Trump pondered aloud whether shining “very powerful light” inside the human body or injecting “disinfectant” could kill off the coronavirus. Doctors and the makers of disinfectants soundly decried the remarks and told people not to ingest such products, like bleach, […]

Maryland said its coronavirus hotline has received over 100 calls from people inquiring about President Trump’s recent musings about ingesting disinfectant as a treatment for COVID-19. In Thursday evening’s White House coronavirus task-force briefing, Trump suggested without evidence that both UV lights and disinfectants directly injected into the body could […]