What Temperature Eradicates Coronavirus (COVID-19)?
In the ongoing battle against COVID-19, keeping surfaces clean is crucial. Here's a guide on how to effectively disinfect surfaces, based on recent studies and recommendations.
A homemade bleach solution, consisting of one-third cup of household bleach in one gallon of room temperature water, can be used to disinfect some surfaces. However, for temperatures lower than 65°C (149°F), a longer exposure time is required, such as 20 minutes at temperatures between 50 and 55°C (122 to 131°F).
High temperatures can kill coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2. A study in The Lancet Microbe found that SARS-CoV-2 was killed after 5 minutes at 70°C (158°F), and another study in Applied Physics Letters predicted that it would be killed after an average of 2.5 minutes at the same temperature. Increasing the temperature by 10°C (18°F) may be beneficial to ensure all coronavirus particles are killed, such as heating the virus to 75°C (167°F) for at least 3 minutes.
However, using high temperatures isn't the most effective or safest way to kill SARS-CoV-2 on surfaces. Wiping down household surfaces with hot water is not effective in killing the virus. Unheated soapy water is enough to kill the virus.
When it comes to disinfecting high-touch surfaces like doorknobs, toilets, sinks, light switches, countertops, appliance handles, electronics, and frequently touched items, focus on these areas. For electronics, check manufacturer's instructions before disinfecting. If no instructions are available, use 70 percent ethanol.
Carefully following label instructions when using disinfectants is important. Using an EPA-registered disinfectant can effectively kill SARS-CoV-2. The recommended temperature to eliminate the SARS-CoV-2 virus on household textiles is to wash bed linen and towels at 60 °C with machine washing for at least 30 minutes, while clothing should be washed at a minimum of 40 °C.
Washing potentially contaminated fabrics, including cloth face coverings, with warm water, detergent or bleach-based products, and high heat in the dryer can effectively eliminate SARS-CoV-2 on fabrics.
Remember to plan to wear gloves while disinfecting and wash your hands thoroughly afterwards. Boiling tap water to use for cleaning purposes can potentially cause burns or scalds and may damage some types of surfaces.
The likelihood of getting COVID-19 from food that you cook yourself or from a restaurant is very low. Spending extended time in the sun, using hot air from a hand dryer or hair dryer, or soaking up the sun to prevent COVID-19 isn't effective.
Lastly, it's important to note that the new coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, causes COVID-19. By following these guidelines, you can help reduce the spread of the virus and keep yourself and others safe.
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