Using antibacterial wipes to kill bacteria
Do you want to keep your home clean and put a stop to the spread of bacteria and viruses? Antibacterial wipes are a convenient and safe way to protect your family and your home!
While disinfectant sprays and bleach can be helpful, antibacterial wipes, or bacteria wipes, have some advantages. They’re gentle on surfaces and skin, making them safer to have in your home and around your kids. They’re also safe to use in hospitals, daycares, and more. Keep reading to learn more about the helpfulness of bacteria wipes and how to use them!
How Do Antibacterial Wipes Work?
You’re probably wondering, “how do wipes kill bacteria?” Uniwipe antibacterial wipes are durable, cloth-based wipes soaked in an antibacterial and virucidal solution. When the wipes come in contact with a surface, the solution is activated and kills bacteria and viruses, including tough germs like COVID-19 and influenza.
Our wipes are tough on germs, but they’re gentle on your skin and surfaces throughout your home. Not only can you clean surfaces such as countertops, doorknobs, and other areas that are prone to germs, but you can use our specially-formulated Hand & Surface wipes to clean your hands.
Using Antibacterial Wipes to Effectively Kill Bacteria
● Clean prior to disinfecting – Now you know the answer to “how do wipes kill bacteria?” but did you know that you should clean surfaces prior to disinfecting for best results? Even if it isn’t visible, dirt and grime creates the perfect conditions for germs to continue breeding and multiplying. In order to disinfect a surface properly, most wipes require you to get rid of dust and debris first: first use one wipe to clean off the surface, and then use another wipe to disinfect it. Our Midi-Wipe and Clothwipe ranges are have 2-in-1 technology, meaning they clean and disinfect in one action! It’s best to use an antibacterial wipe for both steps of the cleaning process, as using rags and disinfectant spray can actually cause germs to spread. When you clean up every trace of dirt before disinfecting, you can be confident that there are no germs lurking on your clean surfaces.
● Don’t overuse the same wipe – Many people don’t realize that using the same wipe across multiple surfaces can actually do more harm than good. You may think it’s okay to use the same wipe across multiple surfaces if the wipe isn’t coated in dirt or grime and is still damp with the disinfectant solution. However, if you continue to use the same wipe over several different surfaces, you can actually spread bacteria or viruses across each of these spaces. Once used, wipes become dirty. Even though the wipes are made to kill bacteria, there may still be time for germs to spread before they are actually killed. In order to properly disinfect a space, you need to change wipes after cleaning each area. This way, you don’t risk cross-contamination and won’t have to worry about whether or not your surfaces are being properly disinfected.
● Store your wipes correctly – To keep antibacterial wipes working their very best, it’s important that you store them correctly. Antibacterial wipes are a compact, easy-to-carry disinfectant that you can bring with you wherever you go. However, if you are not correctly sealing the wipes by closing the lid on the packaging after every use, your wipes can dry out partially or completely. Once the wipes dry out, there is very little disinfectant solution left on the cloth, making it much less useful for killing germs. Antibacterial wipes that have dried out are no longer effective at disinfecting surfaces because once the solution has evaporated, they are little more than a piece of dry cloth. Wipes need to remain moist and saturated with the antibacterial and virucidal solution in order to be effective. So, be sure to close the lid completely after every use and store them in a secure place.
● Use the right wipe – Using the right wipe is important for safe disinfection. Not every antibacterial wipe works entirely the same. Some antibacterial wipes are only efficient for killing bacteria and will not properly combat existing viruses, or vice versa. Some wipes are not as effective at killing bacteria. Other wipes may be helpful for killing both bacteria and viruses, but will not be safe for skin. Repeated use of some antibacterial wipes can result in permanent residue, damaged surfaces, or even uncomfortable skin problems, such as redness or rashes. And, some wipes aren’t food safe for use in kitchens and catering settings. So be sure to choose the right wipes for your needs. For example, Uniwipe Hand & Surface is safe for any surface and is even safe for hands! Our Catering wipes are made for food preparation areas, and our Clinical wipes are designed to disinfect clinical settings.
● Leave to naturally air dry – drying the surface after wiping can be tempting if you’re in hurry to use the surface again, however it should be left to air dry naturally in order to be most effective. The cleaning agents in wipes are designed to kill germs in a certain period of time, which can range from 30 seconds to 5 minutes or more – this contact time should be stated on the product packaging. The chemical needs to stay in contact with the surface for the full contact time in order to be effective – drying the surface before this contact time is up could mean the wipes don’t have enough time to act and are therefore unable to kill the germs on the surface. That’s why it’s always best to allow the cleaning agents to naturally air dry, so you can be sure that the surface is clean and safe.
