Many hospitals are turning to the one disinfectant that reliably fights antibiotic-resistant superbugs. You might have heard of the miracle cleaner: bleach. Plain old bleach. Bleach is one of just a few chemicals that kill spores of Clostridium difficile, a virulent bug that causes severe diarrhea and nausea.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, about 75,000 patients died in the U.S. due to infections caught in hospitals. In the home, bleach has had a place for years since it is relatively inexpensive, reliable, and effective. According to the World Health Organization, a bleach/water solution can kill bacterial like strep, staph, salmonella, and the super bacteria MRSA. Bleach can kill cold and flu viruses, and others like rubella, herpes simplex type 2, and hepatitis A. While cleaning removes debris from surfaces, disinfecting with bleach removes bacteria and viruses from surfaces.
For non-food surfaces, you can mix up your solution of regular bleach and water for disinfecting. Uses a half cup of bleach to every gallon of water. First, wash and dry the surface with detergent and then apply the bleach solution. Let it stand for about 5 minutes for thorough disinfecting.
For food surfaces and utensils, wash and dry first, then soak in a solution of 2 teaspoons bleach to a gallon of water. Soak for 2 minutes then drain, rinse and air dry. According to WebMD, you might not be able to prevent family members from getting sick with the flu, just by bleach disinfectant. This is mainly because the flu virus doesn’t survive long on surfaces. The flu virus tends to move from person to person through the air and on hands.
If there is a flu patient in your house, the best strategy: Wash your hands for 30 seconds; Cover your mouth with a handkerchief or tissue when you sneeze or cough; and get a flu vaccine.
STORE IN A SAFE AREA AWAY FROM KIDS AND TODDLERS!