COVID-19 may seem to be going away, but that depends on how well we continue following safety guidelines. Plus, there are variants on the horizon that may bring the pandemic back into full swing. Instead of getting lax, let’s stay on top of virus safety. The railing experts here at Pro Weld want to remind you that sanitizing railings properly is a really important part of fighting off the virus. So, here are 3 different ways to sanitize glass railings that will kill any COVID-19 that’s found its way onto their surfaces.
70% Alcohol Cleaner
While most people have come to understand that alcohol “kills germs,” what many people don’t realize is that “germs” and viruses aren’t necessarily as similar as you think they are. While viruses technically fall into the category of “germ,” most of the germs people are familiar with are actually just bacteria.
Because a virus is a special kind of germ, they don’t necessarily die from contact with alcohol. In the case of COVID-19, an alcohol-based cleaner needs to be at least 70% alcohol in order to kill it. This kind of alcohol is easy to find at most stores these days. Putting some into a spray bottle and using it with paper towels to wipe down the surfaces of glass railings will put a stop to any COVID-19 that’s taken up residence there.
When you sanitize glass railings, be sure to give equal attention to any metal bars that are attached to your glass railings. While kids may put their hands all over the glass, the adults are focusing their grip on the bar provided for stability.
Soap and Water
People are largely obsessed with alcoholic cleaners because they see them as “more effective.” However, just because alcohol is touted for killing germs doesn’t mean it’s the most effective way to kill COVID-19. Its strong smell may seem like an indication of its strength but, in fact, soap and water is the best way to kill this virus.
The good news is, any soap will work. Many folks think they have to use antibacterial soap. However, as we mentioned, a virus isn’t a bacteria. The two are two completely different germ types. Therefore, antibacterial soap is no more effective than a regular one. Let’s look at the reason why soap kills COVID-19.
A virus – COVID-19 in this case – has a fatty coating around it. This protects it in much the same way our skin does us. The soap molecules in any kind of soap disrupt that fatty layer, stripping the virus of its protective coating. That makes it completely nonfunctioning.
Therefore, using a soapy washcloth to wash down and sanitize glass railings is the safest way to do things. No need to worry about percentages, if you’ve sprayed enough alcohol onto the surface, and so on. Just an old fashioned rag with some soap and water on it is enough to do the trick.
Buying Glass Railings
Glass railings are some of the easiest to clean, as they’re non-porous and largely flat. That means minimal creases and crevices where virus could hide from your cleaning attempts. If you’re due for a railing update in your business, consider replacing your existing railings with glass ones. Give us a call if you have questions about ordering.
