How to Kill Virus Germs Tips
Prevent Swine Flu

Handwashing is the single most important thing that you can do to kill virus germs and prevent getting the flu. And, make sure that you know how to wash your hands and when to wash your hands . When you have the hands issue under control in your family, it's time to turn your attention to the surfaces in your home.

What Kills Flu Virus?

Photo courtesy of Ernesto Andrade

Influenza virus germs can remain viable on hard surfaces (counters, doorknobs, desks, telephones, books, children's toys, toilets, etc.) for 2-8 hours.

The best way to avoid getting infected is to kill virus germs. There are several ways to kill influenza viruses:

• Heat - Flu virus an be killed with heat. This needs to be in the range of 167-212 degrees F or 75-100 degrees C. If you have a steamer (on TV for quite a while), you can use the steam to kill flu viruses in your bathroom or kitchen areas.

• Chlorine - Common household bleach kills virus germs. When I worked in a hospital setting, bleach was used to disinfect surfaces that were contaminated by AIDs patients' body fluids. The US government's site, PandemicFlu.gov recommends using 1 tablespoon of bleach to a quart (4 cups) of water to sanitize surfaces. Wear gloves, because bleach can be hard on your hands.
  
  

  

  Photo courtesy of Vox Efx
  
  

• Hydrogen peroxide - Use full strength to cleanse surfaces.

• Soaps and detergents - soaps work best in the 98-130 degrees F range. Antibacterial soaps have ingredients that kill bacteria and some viruses.

• Sanitizer cloths - These are disposable disinfectant sheets. Use them to clean items used by more than one person—like refrigerator door handles, microwaves, telephones, computers, remote controls and hand held games.

• Alcohol based hand cleaners - These will work on respiratory viruses, but they must be used properly in order to do so. Rub your hands together until they are completely dry. If you have visible soil on your hands, wash them with soap and water, as the alcohol cleaner will not get them clean.

How to Do Laundry

Here are some other laundry tips for avoiding swine flu or other influenza:

• Use your regular cycles and laundry detergents, but always wash in warm or hot water.

• Wash your hands immediately after loading the washer with dirty clothing and bed linens.

• If you have sneezed or coughed into your hands, wash your hands before handling clean linens from the washer or dryer—to prevent re-infecting the clean laundry. It's a good idea to clean your hands before touching clean laundry, anyway.

• Tumble dry your clothing on the hot cycle in your clothes dryer, or air dry the clothing in the sun. Sunshine helps to disinfect your laundry.
  
  

  Cleaning a Sick Person's Dishes

  You don't have to wash dishes after a sick person separately. However, make sure that you do wash the dishes and utensils before someone else uses them.

  Many hand washing detergents have antibacterial ingredients in them. If you use a dishwasher, the final part of the cycle will disinfect your dishes. Don't skip the heat cycle at the end!

  If you kill virus germs in your home, you will have a much better chance of avoiding becoming infected with swine flu, avian flu or seasonal flu , for that matter. Most steps listed above are routine, with just a little extra effort. It will be well worth the effort you make to do these things to protect your family from the flu.

  
  
  
  

  More on Influenza Prevention

  Return to Flu Prevention

  Flu Prevention for In Home Care for Patients

  Home Hygiene

  Raw Pork

  Social Distancing

  Infection Control

  Swine Flu in Children

  Pandemic Flu Guide HOME - from How to Kill Virus Germs
  
  
  

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