A team from Laval University studied the effectiveness of bleach, alcohol and ammonium-based disinfectants. It found that nearly 40% of commercial disinfectants used to clean houses were totally ineffective in eliminating viruses, especially those that cause more than 50% of all foodborne gastroenteritis outbreaks.
Their study was published in the Journal of Food Protection. It found that only bleach-based cleaners destroy the novoviruses that cause gastroenteritis. These viruses are highly contagious and spread easily through contact with a person or through exposure to certain areas, objects and foods that have been infected.
Alcohol and ammonium-based cleaners, which represent over 40% of those found in stores, are 100 times less effective than others.
Julie Jean, professor at the Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences, led the team of researchers. She says their research found that human novoviruses can stick to a stainless steel surface in just ten minutes.
She says, "Once attached, these viruses can survive for weeks and potentially contaminate anyone who touches them. And it’s highly probable that our findings on stainless steel surfaces also apply to other materials."