Covid-19: can steam cleaners and mops manage to kill the coronavirus?

    Covid-19: can steam cleaners and mops manage to kill the coronavirus?

    Can steam cleaners kill the virus that causes COVID-19? Steam sterilization is very effective in hospitals

    He is about to end up run over, his mother saves him

    Can steam cleaners kill the virus that causes COVID-19? Steam sterilization is very effective in hospitals, but it is not known if it is also effective in the home.





    Using high temperatures and steam is an ecological and effective solution for cleaning the house and it is questionable whether it also works to get rid of the coronavirus. But is the steam from brooms and common cleaners really enough to eliminate the virus responsible for the pandemic? At the moment there is no research that can prove this and even if brooms and steam cleaners promise to eliminate 99% of viruses and bacteria, it is neither said nor scientifically proven that they are also effective against the coronavirus.

    Many have asked the question to Cindy Prins, an epidemiologist at the University of Florida that many people often hesitate to use bleach or other harsh cleaners around the house, and some of her friends have reached out to her to discuss their concerns. regarding home cleaning and disinfection during this period.

    According to Dr Prins, the type of steam sterilization we use at home probably does not guarantee the same results obtained from specific machinery used in hospitals.

    The true steam treatment used in hospital and medical settings is a powerful one sterilization which allows to eliminate the materials from the pathogens. Machines called autoclaves they direct both steam and intense pressure on any medical equipment. We talk about high pressure of saturated steam at 121 ° C for about 15-20 minutes depending on the size of the load and the content. In this case, the heat and high pressure break the protective outer parts of viruses and microbes, effectively eliminating them.

    Right now, Researchers still don't know if home cleaners can mimic autoclaves and kill SARS-CoV-2.



    "As far as I know, the experiment has not been done or published," says Prins.

    Furthermore, what makes these hospital sterilization devices effective is that they operate within strict and specific parameters. The high temperatures of the steam, applied for a certain period of time and pressure, ensure real sterilization. Even if home devices had the ability to reach similar temperatures for long periods of time, it's unclear how to use them to make sure the coronavirus is cleared from, for example, floors. How long should you keep the steam in place?

    Fortunately, it appears that SARS-CoV-2 is not difficult to inactivate, as its thin outer membrane is easily destroyed by soap and many of the disinfectants on the market. That is why we are recommended to wash our hands often with soap and water.

    According to Dr. Prinsi, home steam cleaners could be useful for some sort of di preliminary cleaning because they can remove dirt and stains from a surface, so when you continue cleaning with a disinfectant you are targeting any viruses that would otherwise have remained out of reach under the dirt.

    In any case, we are waiting for tests and studies that uniquely answer the question since brooms and steam cleaners are a great way to limit the use of detergents and pollutants.

    If steam were really enough to clean the domestic surfaces even from the coronavirus we could use it, eliminating products that are harmful to the environment.


    Sources of reference: Discover Magazine


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