Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, we’ve all been disinfecting our homes, our workplaces and ourselves more than ever before. Regular use of disinfectants is an important tool in reducing the spread of coronavirus, but that doesn’t meant it can’t have some negative effects as well. In this article, we’ll take a look at the downsides of constant disinfecting and how you can help balance off the pros and cons to achieve a healthier overall environment.
What Are the Problems With Disinfectants?
There are two primary problems people may run into as a result of using disinfectants frequently. First and foremost, many disinfectants are fairly harsh chemicals that can give off odors and fumes. While not everyone will be affected by these gases, people with asthma, COPD or chemical sensitivities may have negative respiratory reactions to them. While the EPA recommends using wipes instead of sprays to reduce inhalation, we all know that wipes are in short supply these days. Even if you don’t have asthma, you could suffer from headaches or sore throats as a result of disinfectant fumes.
The other issue with disinfectants in a bit less obvious. When disinfectants are used, they tend to kill all microorganisms living on a surface, both the harmful ones and the helpful ones. These days, it’s obviously more important to eliminate harmful microorganisms than ever before. However, killing off beneficial bacteria can allow other harmful organisms to establish themselves on surfaces later on. Over time, this can alter the balance of the healthy microbiome around you.
What Can You Do?
When it comes to dealing with chemical fumes, a carbon filter air purifier can be extremely helpful. Carbon filters trap odors and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), preventing them from causing problems in your home. Beyond fumes from bacteria-killing chemicals, these air purifiers can also help to mitigate regular household odors and gases from ordinary cleaning products.
Restoring the balance of the environment, however, is a bit trickier. Fortunately, BetterAir makes a series of surface cleaning probiotic sprays and dispensers that can do exactly that. These probiotics are meant to create a more balanced ecosystem on surfaces throughout your house as they are dispensed. As a result, your home will become a healthier environment. You can even use BetterAir’s sprays on the go, making it easy to see the benefits of probiotics wherever you happen to be.
Does Any of This Mean You Shouldn’t Be Using Disinfectants?
To be clear, none of these points is an argument for not using disinfectants. In fact, using an air purifier and/or probiotics can allow you to tolerate disinfectant usage more easily, meaning you’ll be more likely to keep up with it until the threat of COVID-19 has passed.
Still have questions about how you can use probiotics and carbon filter air purifiers to balance off the pros and cons of using disinfectants while battling COVID-19? We’re here to help! Feel free to contact us with your questions and we’ll be happy to provide you with product recommendations that will suit your needs.