Flu, Cold Viruses Live on Surfaces for a While - Bacteria Too
Viruses, germs and bacteria have become an increasing health concern in recent years. Hand sanitizers and disinfectants, on the other hand, have seen a rise in popularity. Did you know though that our indoor surfaces might be the perfect place for viruses and bacteria to hide? In this article, we will take a look at why your indoor surfaces might need more than just disinfectants. Let us get into it!
How long do flu viruses live on surfaces?
To answer this question, we first need to look at which surfaces we are talking about since the flu virus' survival time depends on the type of surface it rests upon. On hard surfaces, like steel and plastic, the flu virus can last from 24 to 48 hours and on soft fabrics, like paper and tissues, the flu can last from 8 to 12 hours. When it comes to skin, it can only live up to about 5 minutes.
So, why does the flu lasts that much longer on surfaces compared to skin?
Well, the answer is quite simple. Your body has an immune system whereas objects do not. The bacteria present on your skin help your body fight hostile viruses, germs or bacteria that come into contact with it. This means that on top of hand sanitizers and disinfectants, you have good bacterias in your body backing you up against nefarious pathogens!
With that said, let us move on to the cold virus.
How long do cold viruses live on surfaces?
The cold virus causes less severe symptoms than the flu, but it can last on surfaces for quite a while. According to research, the cold virus can last for up to 7 days on hard surfaces! However, it is only infectious for about 24 hours, and just like the flu virus, it does not last as long on softer fabric and on skin; although it can last for up to 20 minutes on skin as opposed to 5 minutes for the flu virus.
Now that we have seen how long the common cold and flu viruses can last, it is now time to take a look at bacteria!
How long does bacteria live on surfaces?
In the case of bacteria, life expectancy depends on the type of bacteria. There are many different kinds of bacteria out there, and their life expectancy on surfaces differs a lot which is why we made a short list for you to see how long you can expect them to live.
Salmonella - 1 to 4 hours
Campylobacter - 1 to 4 hours
Norovirus - a few days to a few weeks
C.diff - up to 5 months
E.coli - a few hours to a day
MRSA - weeks
This is not an exhaustive list, but it does give you an idea of how long the average bacteria can last on surfaces.
Now that we have covered the life expectancy of viruses and bacteria on surfaces, what can we do about them? Well, we could just spread some disinfectant on indoor surfaces every now and then, but most disinfectants do not provide protection for long periods of time. Furthermore, if we consider the life expectancy of pathogens on surfaces, it is clear to see that the risk of coming in contact with one is quite high especially with the amount of surfaces that they can come in contact with every day. So, what’s the solution?
Commercial surface cleaning that lasts
As we have mentioned, the problem with disinfectants is that they do not last long enough to fully provide protection against viruses and bacteria. Therefore, the solution is to do some deep house or office cleaning that can last over extended periods of time. Sounds too good to be true or too expensive? Think again! There is an affordable cleaning solution that has made its way into the market in recent years. It is called...
Photocatalysis against viruses and bacteria
At My Breezzz, we have worked with other people in our industry to provide you with a photocatalysis solution. This 100% environmentally friendly, water-based solution destroys 99.999% of pathogens, bacteria, viruses and VOC (volatile organic compounds). Additionally, the air that passes around surfaces coated with this solution becomes purer for up to 12 months! This means that you could go up to a year without needing to disinfect your entire home or office every few days.
What is the cost? Well, that depends on a series of factors. However, if you would like to get an assessment, we would be happy to assist you. So, feel free to contact us and ask us about our surface cleaning solution! (Limited to certain areas)
