If there’s anything the pandemic has taught us, it’s that cleanliness is key to fighting viruses and disease. Besides protecting us from the virus, clean, disinfected surfaces give us peace of mind. In fact, according to a survey done in America in 2021, the average amount of money consumers spend each month on cleaning supplies has increased by 12% from 2019.
This is why DIY disinfection is becoming more prevalent as cleaning and disinfecting products often run out of stock or simply as a way for many to save cost.
However, the question remains whether is it safe to disinfect your home, office, etc. by yourself? What are the effects of disinfection on pregnant women and children? How do antiseptics help prevent the spread of infectious diseases? Let’s find out!
Why is it dangerous to DIY disinfection?
Many of us, either facing a scarcity of commercial cleaning products or acting in the belief that homemade products are better, will usually turn to DIY alternatives made from household ingredients such as vinegar and baking soda.
These ingredients are generally safe to use on their own, but prolonged exposure by skin contact or breathing of the vapours can be hazardous to our health. Mixing these ingredients or different chemicals can create new toxic chemicals.
For instance, bleach should only be used on its own without mixing with other chemicals such as ammonia. When bleach is combined with ammonia, it can produce toxic chlorine gases.
The use of chemical disinfectants without reading the instructions on the labels can also bring serious health risks if not used properly. Some of the hazards include:
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Eye and skin irritation
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Liver damage
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Respiratory conditions
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Central nervous system effects
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Cardiac reaction
What are the effects on pregnant women and children?
DIY disinfection may be cost-savvy but as we discussed above, it is best left to the professionals, especially when it involves chemical disinfectants. More so if you are pregnant or have young children at home.
Chemical disinfectants are typically used in workplaces such as healthcare facilities and beauty salons to kill bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites on equipment that cannot be sterilised using high heat. Bear in mind that chemical disinfectants are not the same as most common household disinfectants.
That said, prolonged exposure to chemical disinfectants during your pregnancy can increase your chances of having a miscarriage or pre-term birth. Meanwhile, children should not come into contact with any type of disinfectant, including disinfecting wipes as they can harm your children’s health if used or stored incorrectly.
After all, every disinfectant comes with a label that says “Keep Out of Reach of Children”, which implies the degree of hazard to children.
Instead of disinfecting your home, office, etc. by yourself, best to have professionals like PestBusters do the job. You also get to reduce the hazards of handling chemical disinfectants at home. Continue reading to learn how they use antiseptics to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.
How do antiseptics help to prevent the spread of infectious diseases?
Antiseptics and disinfectants share a similar function and that is to kill microorganisms, but there’s a difference between the two. The former is applied to the body while disinfectants are applied to non-living surfaces.
They both contain chemical agents that are sometimes called biocides. One example would be hydrogen peroxide. However, antiseptics usually contain lower concentrations of biocides than disinfectants.
To prevent the spread of infectious diseases, professionals like PestBusters will use a specialised EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) registered disinfectant formulation to destroy whatever microorganisms that are present in your home so that you can live better.
This disinfectant will suspend the microbes in the air to kill them and minimise their population in the area. Before usage, the disinfectant will be converted into very fine vapour by the designed equipment using a water-based carrier.
To better witness the effects of a professional disinfection service for your home or workplace, a swab test can be carried out before and after the treatment to determine the efficacy of using antiseptics.
Why is it better to have professionals handle the job?
They have the know-how and experience in handling different types of situations that require their disinfection service. After all, they are trained professionals.
At PestBusters, we offer a range of pest control services including anti-microbial treatment to prevent the spread of infectious diseases in your space. Our microbial control plan begins with preliminary inspections of the affected area to identify potential breeding areas.
After gaining sufficient information on the breeding areas, we formulate a strategy to customise the disinfection service. Don’t wait too long to contact us as you may prolong the chance of spreading diseases in and around your space. Contact us at (+65) 6288 2828 or 24-hour response line (+65) 9180 9990 today for a disinfection service here in Singapore!