Is bleach used for cleaning floors and how correctly?
The cleanliness of indoor floors must be maintained by regular cleaning, which includes mopping.
In order to not only clean the surface from dirt, but also disinfect it, household chemicals are used.
One of the popular and fairly cheap drugs is bleach. We'll tell you how to use bleach for cleaning floors in this article.
Content
Can I wash with chlorine?
Bleach is used for disinfection and cleansing. To ensure the safe use of this substance, it is important to take precautions, as the drug is dangerous and toxic.
For floor treatment the substance is used in diluted form. Application is possible only with strict adherence to all safety rules.
This method of cleaning floor coverings is not suitable in all cases. Due to aggressive effects, discoloration and other damage to materials sensitive to caustic chemicals are possible. This cleaning method is best suited for processing tiles.
Chlorine solution is also used in medical institutions. The use of bleach to maintain surface hygiene is recommended by WHO during the coronavirus epidemic.
You can buy bleach in the household chemicals departments of hypermarkets and hardware stores. Also the drug can be purchased in online stores and pharmacies.
In addition to the dry form of release, the modern product market offers many cleaning products containing chlorine, which are suitable for household use. They have a less pronounced specific odor, but remain highly effective.
These drugs include products from a number of brands:
- Chistin;
- Sanfor;
- Tiret;
- Ace;
- Domestos;
- Whiteness and other means.
In addition to bleach itself, chlorine-containing household chemical products can be used to wash and disinfect floors.
Scope of application
The use of bleach in everyday life is associated with the need to solve the problem of cleaning and disinfecting surfaces.
Among the areas of application bleach and chlorine-containing preparations are as follows:
The drug is used for:
- treating greenhouses against fungus,
- disinfection of swimming pools,
- disinfection of animal cages, carriers and trays,
- for disinfection of public toilets, etc.
Instructions for use
The use of bleach for disinfection can have different effects. It depends on the concentration of the composition and the duration of exposure to the surface to be treated.
Breeding
Pure bleach is not used to treat flooring. A ready-to-use solution is obtained by diluting.
The percentage of concentration of the solution is determined by the scope of application. For example, a 5% solution is used to disinfect instruments in sanitary facilities, and 0.25% is suitable for hand disinfection. For treating floors in apartments, a 0.5% solution can be selected.
Preparation of a solution from a tablet (compressed) form:
- Pour 10 liters of water into a large bucket.
- Add 3 or 4 tablets of bleach.
- Stir.
- Leave to dissolve completely.
If the product is available in powder form, then the solution should be prepared as follows:
- 30 grams of bleach are diluted in 1 liter of water;
- stand for several minutes for better dissolution.
The resulting solution should not be shaken. Do not use metal containers for storage containers, since the chlorine solution reacts.
Cleaning algorithm
Floor cleaning procedure should include the following steps:
- Clear the floor of unnecessary objects that may interfere with the treatment.
- Remove pets and children from the premises.
- Use personal protective equipment - a respirator and rubber gloves.
- Prepare the solution.
- Prepare rags for cleaning.
- Organize good ventilation in the room.
- Remove trash from the floor.
- Wash floors, paying attention to corners and hard-to-reach areas.
- Open the windows to ventilate the room.
After this time, assess the condition of the coating. If there is no negative effect, continue treating the entire floor with bleach.
What to do with the smell of the drug if it does not disappear?
How long will the smell last in a room that has been wet cleaned with chlorine? depends on the following factors:
- Solution concentration.
- Surface area.
- Type of surface (ability of the coating to absorb odors).
- Quality of ventilation organization.
To avoid harm to health, use chlorine must be performed in accordance with a number of rules:
- the concentration should not be exceeded when preparing the solution;
- cleaning must be carried out with good ventilation;
- after cleaning, organize ventilation.
Such “odor absorbers” as:
- Activated carbon;
- raw rice;
- baking soda;
- salt.
The listed substances can be poured into open containers and placed indoors. You can use one of the listed products, or several at once.
Precautionary measures
Bleach in any form is a dangerous substance that should be used very carefully, ensuring that all rules are followed at every stage.
Frequent washing
The frequency of disinfection work using bleach depends on the purpose of the room in which the cleaning is carried out. In public areas, the frequency of cleaning floors is 2 times a day in corridors, in the doctor's office - once a day.
In most cases, washing the floor with a disinfectant in a residential area too often is not justified, since this increases the amount of evaporation and increases the concentration of chlorine in the air. The best option is once a week.An exception is the room in which there is an infectious patient.
Possibility of poisoning
If you violate the rules for using bleach, there is a risk of poisoning with the drug. The danger comes from contact of the substance with exposed areas of the body, eyes and mucous membranes. Even vapors of chlorine-containing compounds can lead to poisoning if inhaled.
This may appear:
- shortness of breath;
- redness of the eyes;
- burning and discomfort in the eyes;
- cough;
- difficulty breathing;
- sore throat.
Accidental ingestion of even a small amount of the drug can lead to a burn to the digestive organs and oral cavity. In all these cases, it is necessary to consult a doctor.
Storage conditions
Bleach is available in various forms - solutions, tablets and powder. Storage rules are always indicated by the manufacturer on the packaging. Such a product must be kept in a closed container, away from heating devices, and out of the reach of children. The expiration date of the product is indicated on the packaging.
Recommendations and rules of use
Rules for using bleach at home include the following points:
- Do not use chlorine and other cleaning agents in the same solution, as their combination may cause an unexpected reaction.
- All work with hazardous substances must be carried out with good ventilation.
- The use of personal protective equipment is mandatory.
- During storage, chlorine should not be adjacent to food products, clothing, or hygiene products.
- The container with chlorine must be securely closed to eliminate the possibility of evaporation of the product and the entry of foreign substances into the container.
Bleach should not be used by children under 18 years of age, people with allergies, or pregnant or lactating women.
Video on the topic of the article
This video will tell you why Turkish women wash everything with bleach:
Conclusion
The use of bleach allows you to hygienically clean the floor surface - eliminate pathogens and remove dirt.
When used correctly this inexpensive product can help solve the issue of disinfection in premises, which require careful processing.