Antibacterial wipes will not kill the virus!

[Bottletopsx]

I am seeing many people on here saying that they are wiping down shopping, door handles etc with anti bac wipes. This is a waste of time against covid 19 as the wipes will only kill bacteria not a virus.

You should be using soap and water or bleach to wipe down with and soap and water to wash your hands.

I’ve switched to a bleach solution just to be sure. I wipe down shopping and surfaces with that, and wash my hands thoroughly with a bar of soap.

I believe that Dettol have now removed this off the label but it does say kills corona virus could be why so many people think so

Everybody seems to be acting as if the new virus has killed all the old diseases off.

I read in the Times recently that bleach (either thin or thick, it doesn't matter) - diluted 1 to 10 with water kills the virus. I have made up a solution and use it to wipe down handles, remotes etc. and surfaces every day, also wipe anything that comes into house such as deliveries or post.

My wipes are anti viral. Also I bought handwash that is hospital grade that kills viruses.

I've known people to be washing their hands with diluted bleach...

Good article in the guardian a few days back about why soap is best. As a pp said, the virus is held together by a fatty outer layer. Soap destroys this and the virus falls to pieces quickly. I read somewhere else that it’s not too important what type of soap as they will all break down fats- it’s their main job.

TryingtobeBold I hope nobody took my post about diluted bleach to mean for handwashing - it is for hard surfaces. As others have said above, washing with ordinary soap and water is what is needed for hands.

My Dettox wipes kill most viruses too. Says on packet.

Can’t really take soap and water about with me to clean trolleys etc.

Don't need to kill the virus, just remove it. Wiping with most things will do (obviously dispose of / wash wiping object responsibly).

The ones I have say anti bacterial wipes but they have disinfectant in.

Would the disinfectant kill viruses?

I sometimes use fairy liquid and a bit of bleach in hot water. I assume one doesn’t inhibit the effects of the other, or does it?

@HyacynthBucket

No no. Not your post.
I genuinely know people washing their hands and all surfaces with diluted bleach..

As a pp said, the virus is held together by a fatty outer layer. Soap destroys this and the virus falls to pieces quickly.

And the Coronavirus has a particularly fragile fatty envelope, so soap is very effective at destroying it.

I took antibacterial wipes out today and a can of spray dettol. Trolley was sprayed with dettol including handle then rubbed over with the wipes.

The overuse of anti-bac is honestly terrifying. This pandemic will seem like a walk in the part when anti-biotic resistant bacteria become the norm in the next 20-30 years.

Clinell wipes kill pretty much everything. That's why hospitals use them. And most Dettol branded stuff kills Coronaviruses too, as has been said.

Soap and water is the best for people, agreed. But it's less effective for light switches, for example. You'd need a lot of soap and very little water to work as well as a good quality wipe.

Can’t really take soap and water about with me to clean trolleys etc

No, we can’t. That’s why alcohol based hand sanitizer is the next best option and a lot more portable

The overuse of anti-bac is honestly terrifying.

Yeah, it makes me flinch when people have it as handwash in normal times. Soap works as well and carries no long term risks. But these aren't normal times.

No, we can’t. That’s why alcohol based hand sanitizer is the next best option and a lot more portable

If you can locate any to buy, sure.

Yeah but I can’t get alcohol hand sanitizer!!!!! Ffs!

Was most impressed with Aldi using anti vac/bac wipes on every trolley put back.

*Can’t really take soap and water about with me to clean trolleys etc

No, we can’t. That’s why alcohol based hand sanitizer is the next best option and a lot more portable*

And where can we currently buy that as I've not seen it in weeks. Perhaps you know somewhere i dont?

Mine kill viruses too and I'm assuming Zoflora or the like mixed to triple strength will kill most things.