How to Make Sanitizer Spray that will kill E-Coli and other Deadly Pathogens:
- QRinse: For Food Contact surfaces, mix 1 Tablespoon -or- 3 teaspoons with 1 Gallon Water. For non-food contact surfaces, you may want it stronger. There should be good instructions on the label.
- Chlorine: for Food Contact surfaces, mix 2 teaspoons Clorox Brand Regular Bleach with 1 Gallon Water. This is a 185 ppm solution. For non-food contact surfaces, you may want it stronger. There should be good instructions on the label.
(It is important to note that Clorox wipes are not always effective in killing pathogens because they do not penetrate pores and cracks in a surface. They are sufficient however on things like doorknobs and light switches etc.)
Cleaning is a two-step process
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Clean with a cleaner that remove oils, proteins and grime.
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Sanitize with a sanitizer that kills pathogens. Not all over the counter disinfectants that claim to kill pathogens do. Make sure yours will.
Keeping Your Home Safe: Tips for Dealing with E-Coli
We all know how challenging it can be to keep our homes clean and our little ones healthy, especially when dealing with illnesses like E-Coli and diarrhea. It is important to remember that E-Coli in your home will not go away on its own, you must take extra steps to kill it. Here are some friendly tips and recommendations to help you navigate through these times and make that stubborn E-Coli in your home disappear:
Understanding E-Coli E-Coli can be picked up from contaminated surfaces or food, so it's crucial to maintain good hygiene practices, especially around children. Make sure everyone washes their hands thoroughly after using the bathroom or changing diapers. This simple step goes a long way in preventing the spread of bacteria.
Sanitizing Hotspots High-traffic areas like kitchens, laundry rooms, bathrooms, and frequently touched surfaces should be sanitized regularly. A simple spray bottle filled with a bleach solution can work wonders in disinfecting kitchen counters, toilet seats, handles, and toys that your kids often touch.
Dealing with Contaminated Items For clothes soiled with diarrhea, using bleach might be necessary to ensure proper sanitation. While it might affect the color, it's important to prioritize cleanliness. For regular dirty clothes, a diluted bleach mix or hot water wash (as long as the temperature reaches 165 F.) can eliminate bacteria.
Wash those Hands The most common way for young children to transmit bacteria to others is through the hands. You can prevent this by encouraging your children to always wash their hands thoroughly after using the bathroom. The importance of washing your hands to prevent the spread of bacteria cannot be stressed enough.
Special Care for Young Children If you have young children, especially those with diarrhea, their bedding should be washed daily. Additionally, during sickness, pacifiers and bottles should be boiled between feedings. It would be a good idea to prevent kids from sharing food or sippy cups or bottles during sickness.
Quarantine and Isolation If your child shows symptoms of E-Coli or has tested positive, it's advised to keep them home until they get a negative test -or- two weeks after diarrhea symptoms and any other symptoms are gone. This precaution helps protect others in the community who may be more vulnerable. It is necessary to refrain from taking your child out before this, as E-Coli can stay inside the body for a period of time after symptoms have ceased and still transmit to others. Quarantine and proper sanitization go hand in hand. It is not enough to just quarantine, you must sanitize your home to remove the bacteria from your home as well to prevent reinfection in your child.
Bathroom and Diaper Hygiene When dealing with diarrhea, it's essential to bathe the affected child separately and sanitize the bathtub afterward with a disinfectant. Only adults or responsible caregivers should handle diarrhea diaper changes, and surfaces like changing tables should be sanitized after each use.
Clean that Washing Machine Pathogens thrive in moist and warm environments. It multiplies fastest in temperatures of 40 to 140 F. The lip/seal of those front load washing machines make the perfect breeding grounds for it, so pay special attention to this area during sanitization so that you can thoroughly remove the pathogens.
General Household Cleanliness In addition to targeted cleaning, maintaining overall household cleanliness is key. Sanitize carpets by getting them steam cleaned, mop hard floors with a bleach water solution daily, sanitize kitchen counters and tables between meals and before prepping food, and periodically clean toys, step stools, and garbage cans to minimize the risk of spreading germs. Using the "sanitize" option on your dishwasher will ensure that E-Coli will never remain on your dishes to recontaminate your food at mealtimes.
Food preparation and storage
- Hand Washing: Always be sure to effectively wash hands with a disinfectant soap and water before and after preparing food. Wash hands after handling raw meat and after picking something up from off the floor. Handwashing must be done for at least 20 seconds for it to be effective.
- Proper Cooking: Cook meat, poultry, and seafood to the recommended internal temperatures. Use a food thermometer to make sure that these foods reach temperatures that kill bacteria. A safe temperature for all meats to kill bacteria is 165°F. Leftovers also need to be heated to at least 165°F (74°C) before eating. Make sure that they are evenly heated to kill any harmful bacteria.
- Safe Food Storage: Store raw meat, poultry, and seafood in separate containers to prevent cross-contamination. Keep your refrigerator at or below 40°F and your freezer at or below 10°F. Store ready-to-eat foods like deli meats and soft cheeses separately from raw foods.
- Inspect Products: When shopping, it would be good to check expiration dates and avoid products that are past their sell-by date.
Additional Tips & Reminders:
- Steam Cleaning Carpets: Steam clean carpets at least once a year to remove deep-seated dirt and bacteria.
- Dishwasher: Set your dishwasher to the sanitize setting to ensure dishes and utensils are thoroughly sanitized.
- Sanitize Doorknobs: Sanitize doorknobs at least once a week to clean it from all the bacteria hands have left behind.
- Disinfectant Laundry Soap: Use laundry soap with disinfectant properties to reduce bacteria in laundry batches.
- Water Jugs: Clean water jugs with soap and water before refilling them to prevent bacterial growth.
- Milk Jugs: Rinse with water and sanitizer before reusing or dispose in outside garbage.
- Milk: Keep milk refrigerated from production to use. Store milk as cold as possible.
- Handwashing: Teach toddlers how to wash hands thoroughly with soap and water.
- Swimming Pools: Pools need to be tested regularly. Reduce bacteria by putting chlorine in the water or installing a saltwater system.
- Food Preparation Area: Clean and sanitize the preparation area before and after handling food, with particular attention to places meat products have been.
- Eating Area: Thoroughly clean and sanitize all eating areas, especially those areas that constantly have kids around, before and after meals.
- Play Area: Regularly clean and sanitize all toys, especially the toys the kids play with daily.
- Sleeping Area: Wash sheets, blankets, and pillowcases regularly, and daily if necessary, to maintain cleanliness.
- Bathroom Area: Clean and sanitize the toilet, bathtub, sink, and floors daily, and immediately after use by a sick child.
- Outside Grounds: Exercise caution with secondary water sources and private well water; have them tested annually for pathogens.
- Farm Animals: Prevent manure from farm animals from entering the home. Always wash and sanitize hands following any contact with farm animals.
Stay Informed and Stay Safe Lastly, staying informed about best practices and updates regarding E-Coli and hygiene is crucial. By taking these proactive steps, we can create a safer environment for our families and prevent the spread of illnesses. Remember, a little extra effort in cleaning and hygiene today can make a big difference in your family's health tomorrow. Stay safe, stay healthy, and enjoy your time together!
Let’s keep our homes happy and healthy!
