As everyone has become more diligent with disinfecting their home during the coronavirus pandemic, it’s probably routine for most to spraying down all surfaces and wiping off walls every day.
And while this is important to disinfecting, as it kills viruses and bacteria to keep you safe, there are some common oversights people make when sanitizing that could be putting their health at jeopardy in other ways.
One common mistake? Using a spray bottle.
Though convenient and popular, using one can set you or those around you up to accidentally ingest the same chemicals that are made to keep you safe from bacteria or the coronavirus.
“Disinfectants that are sprayed—whether from a squirt bottle or pressurized can—become aerosolized,” says dermatologist Brooke Jackson, MD. “This means that anything which is spritzed or sprayed creates droplets that can be inhaled and cause irritation of the lungs and nasal passages.”
This is exacerbated in areas in the home with poor ventilation especially, such as a bathroom or small basement. Inhaling too much of these chemicals for too long can put you at risk of a myriad of ailments, from everything from asthma to cancer.
Instead, you can still use those preferred disinfectants without the risk of breathing in those toxins.
“Try opening the spray bottle and pouring the disinfectant right onto a sponge or cloth,” says Jackson. If you absolutely can’t avoid using a disinfectant in a spray bottle or pressurized can—especially in an area with terrible ventilation—consider putting on a mask for the duration of your clean up. You can also open up your windows or doors to get more fresh air in your home, or run ceiling and floor fans to keep that air circulating and chemical-free.
Photo Credit: Iurii Stepanov/Shutterstock.com; VIKTORIUS-73/Shutterstock.com
