Can Lysol Disinfectant kill Norovirus? Norovirus also called the “winter vomiting bug” is a very contagious virus that causes vomiting and diarrhea. Anyone can get infected and sick with norovirus because it spreads easily.
With all said convenience, do you simply want to know if Lysol disinfectant can eliminate a virus like Norovirus completely? Then, you will need to know what the particular disinfectant is all about and its effects on Norovirus.
Lysol disinfecting wipes and Clorox claim to kill 99.9% of viruses and bacteria, but that doesn’t include Noroviruses. Norovirus is resistant to many common disinfectants. However, the CDC recommends using bleach to kill it, including chlorine bleach or hydrogen peroxide.
Here is an article that gives you all the vital information on Norovirus, tips to help prevent the spread of Norovirus in your home, and the best way to eliminate norovirus.
Things You Didn’t Know About Norovirus
Norovirus is a nasty bug but usually flies under the public health radar. Here are five things that may surprise you;
1. It mutates as real influenza does
While they are completely different viruses, norovirus and influenza are both RNA viruses, meaning they use RNA instead of DNA to replicate.
That makes them both highly mutation-prone, which in turn makes it hard for the human immune system to defend against them. That’s why you can get sick from norovirus year after year.
2. It’s hard to kill
Norovirus is enclosed by a structure known as a capsid.
Alcohol cannot get through it, which is why alcohol-based hand sanitizers do not kill norovirus. Health departments often require restaurants to use bleach to clean countertops and kitchen surfaces.
3. You can spread it after you get better
Just like influenza, norovirus is still being produced in your body after you get over symptoms. So, people can spread it after they’ve returned to work. It is better safe to always wash your hands carefully after recovering from a bout of norovirus because it spreads easily.
4. One person can infect hundreds
Because it spreads even after people feel better, patients can and do go back out into the world while they are still infectious. Combine a sticky, hard-to-kill virus with invisible spread by people who don’t feel sick, and it makes a recipe for exponential spread.
5. Several vaccines are in the works
While norovirus is nowhere near the killer that influenza is, several teams of researchers are nonetheless working on vaccines to prevent it. Globally, norovirus kills 200,000 people a year.
It is difficult in part because the virus mutates, and in part because the virus lives in the gut and it’s hard to make vaccines that work there. Drug maker Takeda has a vaccine that’s being tested in people now.
How to Prevent The Spread of Norovirus
Here are some simple tips to prevent Norovirus from spreading through your home.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water.
- After using the toilet or changing diapers.
- Before eating, preparing, or handling food.
- Clean food thoroughly- especially fruits and vegetables before eating them.
- Do not prepare food for yourself or others if you are sick.
- Clean and disinfect contaminated surfaces (such as kitchen countertops or bathroom sinks) by doing the following.
- Use ½ cup of Bleach in 1 gallon of water.
- Thoroughly wet the surface with the bleach solution and allow it to remain on the surface for 5 minutes
- Rinse with clean water and air dry.
- Wash clothes thoroughly
- Immediately remove and wash clothes or linens that may be contaminated with vomit or stool (feces).
What Disinfectant Kills Norovirus?
Experts advise the use of household (5-25 tablespoons of household bleach per gallon of water) or products made with chlorine bleach solution with a concentration or other disinfectant registered as effective against norovirus by the Environmental Protection Agency(EPA).
Here are suggested products that can help disinfect or eliminate Norovirus from your home or living area.
1. Clorox Clean-up Cleaner Spray with Bleach
This is a budget-friendly and effective pack of 2 products, that is great for killing common household bacteria, viruses, bacteria, tough stains, and grease in 30 seconds. This is a 32-fluid-ounce spray with a 4.7 out of 5 stars rating and great reviews on the website.
It has an easy spray applicator and is best to spritz it generously on affected areas, surfaces, living areas, rooms, and kitchen parts.
2. Comet Disinfecting Cleaner with Bleach
This product is highly recommended as it is registered and suggested by EPA for killing and disinfecting your home against bacteria, and viruses including Norovirus, tough stains, and infections. This product comes in a case of 8 and is highly advisable to be used to disinfect every inch of your home, especially with the bleach solution concentration this product has.
3. Lysol All Purpose Cleaner with Bleach
Although Lysol disinfectant cleaner products are not registered for killing infections such as Norovirus, the suggested product above can help disinfect and keep your home, kitchen, and office area free from harmful bacteria, infections, viruses, and tough germs.
With this product, you get the assurance that it is capable of keeping your home safely free from all harmful infections whilst possessing a strong amount of bleach solution concentration.
4. Clorox Healthcare Hydrogen Peroxide Cleaner Disinfectant Spray
This product is suggested for disinfecting your home because of its strong hydrogen peroxide concentration, which is suggested for combating strong infections, bacteria, germs, and tough stains. This is a great disinfecting and sanitizing product and can be used in all healthcare settings.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you clean your house after Norovirus?
Experts suggest the effective cleaning of all surfaces, living area, and corners of the home after being infected by Norovirus. It is advisable to disinfect the area using bleach-based household cleaner or products with hydrogen peroxide concentration.
What besides bleach kills Norovirus?
Hot water and soap can be effective and helpful in disinfecting and eliminating signs of Norovirus in your home, office area, or surfaces around your home.
How long do Norovirus germs live on fabric?
Viruses such as Norovirus can live on soft surfaces and fabrics for up to 12 days. Hence, it is advisable to wash contaminated clothing immediately and this should be done separately from non-contaminated clothing.
How long after Norovirus are you contagious?
How long are people contagious? People infected with norovirus are contagious from the moment they begin feeling ill to at least 3 days after recovery. Some people may be contagious for as long as 2 weeks after recovery.
Conclusion
With all the aforementioned, I hope that this information was helpful, and answered all your questions regarding Norovirus and its safety measures.
We have helped highlight useful information and tips we believe are helpful for your knowledge about Norovirus and how to disinfect and sanitize your home against this infection.
Furthermore, we have suggested products that we believe can help disinfect and sanitize your home against harmful germs, bacteria, infections, and tough stains. Hopefully, we were able to answer most of your questions regarding this topic.