The U.S. has seen a slow surge of norovirus, the country’s leading cause of foodborne illness, with the Center of Disease Control advising caution and higher levels of cleanliness. However, norovirus can defeat most household cleaners, according to a National Institute of Food and Agriculture report.
“While convenient, the majority of disinfectant wipes on the market are not completely effective at killing norovirus,” NIFA said. “This is also true for the majority of alcohol-based hand sanitizers, which should not be used instead of washing hands.”
According to a CDC statement, “the number of reported norovirus outbreaks have exceeded the numbers that we’ve seen recently and in the years before the pandemic.
Norovirus, unlike many viruses Americans have grown accustomed to protecting against, “can live on surfaces for a long time,” Sanjay Gupta reported to CNN.
Norovirus can also survive at temperatures all the way up to 145 degrees Fahrenheit.
With this information, norovirus can feel like an undefeatable superbug. Certain cleaning methods, however, can ensure your home is clean from norovirus before or after someone is infected.
What types of cleaning products disinfect from norovirus?
Many of the cleaning products that purport to work on any virus or bacteria often miss norovirus.
That is because of its tough protein protectant coat, which is harder to penetrate, Gupta told CNN. The flu virus, and other similar viruses, have a fatty outer layer.
“They may say they are 99% effective, but norovirus is often in that .1%,” Gupta told CNN.
Products with bleach are generally a safe bet for norovirus. If you don’t feel comfortable using bleach on countertops, any disinfectant with hydrogen peroxide will also work.
How should you clean when someone has norovirus?
When someone has norovirus, it is important to first clean any vomit or stool from surfaces before you clean anything else, according to NIFA. Solutions using bleach can become less potent when exposed to this organic matter.
Mix together a solution with ¾ of a cup of bleach per gallon of water, Sanjay Gupta recommended to CNN.
Next, apply the solution to hard surfaces and let it sit for five minutes before wiping off.
If norovirus has been exposed to a carpeted surface of your home, it is important to realize that norovirus can survive high levels of heat.
Sanjay Gupta told CNN that to disinfect a carpet from norovirus, people should use a steam cleaner for at least 5 minutes, at 175 degrees or higher.
NIFA also recommends throwing out any food that may have been contaminated by the virus or was touched by a sick person. Any soiled laundry should be washed in hot water, with detergent, at the longest cycle length possible.
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