Disinfecting your kitchen before you start cooking again is one of the best ways to prevent cross-contamination and foodborne illness after a natural disaster. Disinfectants are substances that destroy microorganisms (such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi) on surfaces so they can’t recontaminate your food. And while bleach is the most well-known disinfectant, there are other options available that may be safer for you or your family. One of these options is using dish soap to clean and disinfect surfaces in your home. You might be wondering if it will also kill salmonella? The short answer is “yes”—dish soap does kill salmonella. But you should use it with caution after a natural disaster because it may also make salmonella more dangerous if the water becomes contaminated again.
What Is Salmonella?
Salmonella is a type of bacteria that can cause food poisoning. It is commonly found in raw poultry, eggs, and dairy products, so people in high-risk groups—including children, the elderly, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems—should avoid eating foods that might contain salmonella. Salmonella infections can cause diarrhea, abdominal cramping, and fever. Symptoms usually last about a week, but salmonella food poisoning can be fatal in rare cases. It is essential that you practice proper food safety procedures to prevent contracting this illness. Salmonella is often found on raw meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products. It can also be found in natural water sources such as rivers, lakes, and ponds, even in places that do not have reported cases of salmonella contamination. Salmonella can be easily transferred to other areas, food, and kitchen surfaces through direct and indirect contact. The bacteria can survive for long periods of time on surfaces, including kitchen utensils and dishes, so it is important to disinfect contaminated surfaces to prevent salmonella from spreading.
Why Disinfect After Natural Disasters?
Disasters create ideal conditions for bacteria to breed and spread. After a hurricane, wildfire, or other natural disaster, many people will return to their homes to start cleaning. However, it’s not always easy to tell if your home is still contaminated with harmful bacteria and pathogens from the disaster. Certain bacteria, such as salmonella, can live on the walls, floors, and surfaces of your home for weeks. Bacteria that can live for long periods of time without being exposed to the elements include E. coli, salmonella, and staphylococcus aureus. If you don’t disinfect your home after a natural disaster, you risk contracting a foodborne illness from the bacteria that is still present in your home. The only way to be absolutely certain that your home is free of bacteria is to use disinfectants. In addition to destroying bacteria and other harmful pathogens, disinfectants also kill spores, which are bacterial cells that can lie dormant for long periods of time.
How Does Dish Soap Kill Bacteria?
One of the most common ways to kill bacteria is by exposing the cells to excessive heat. In the case of dish soap, this is done by mixing dish soap with warm water. The dish soap contains surfactants, which are foaming agents that break down bacteria by disrupting the cell wall. There are also chemicals in dish soap that can kill bacteria, such as sodium hydroxide. The combination of heat and chemicals in dish soap effectively kills bacteria found on surfaces that can be cleaned with soap and water. Dish soap is made to be very effective at cleaning dishes, which is why it is also used to clean kitchen surfaces after a natural disaster. The foaming effect of dish soap helps to dislodge dirt, grime, and bacteria from surfaces, making it easier to wipe them away with a sponge or rag. Additionally, dish soap also has antimicrobial properties, which means it can kill bacteria.
Should You Use Dish Soap to Disinfect?
Dish soap is an excellent product, but you should be careful when you use it to clean and disinfect surfaces. Dish soap can remove organic matter, like bacteria, from surfaces, but it can also change the pH of the surface. Once the organic matter is gone, the surface will re-acidify, which can be dangerous if the water becomes contaminated again. For example, if you spray a surface with a sanitizing solution, it will kill all microorganisms in the area. However, if the water droplets travel to another surface, it can create conditions that are conducive to bacterial growth. To prevent this from happening, it’s important to thoroughly rinse the sanitizing solution off the surface so that no droplets are left behind. This will lower the pH of the surface and make it less conducive to bacterial growth. Be sure to use a cleaning product that is labelled as a disinfectant. If the product is labelled only as a sanitizer, it will kill bacteria but not spores.
Other Ways to Disinfect After a Natural Disaster
Using dish soap to clean and disinfect your home is a good first step towards removing bacteria and other pathogens, but it’s not your only option. There are other disinfectants you can use, such as bleach, hydrogen peroxide, and vinegar.
- Bleach is a disinfectant that kills a wide range of bacteria and viruses. Bleach is a very effective disinfectant, but it is also harmful to humans, so it should only be used in areas that are not frequently touched or in items that will not be used.
- Hydrogen peroxide is a disinfectant that kills bacteria and viruses, but it has a shorter shelf life than bleach, so it should be used more frequently.
- Vinegar is a disinfectant that kills bacteria and viruses but is less effective against spores than bleach or hydrogen peroxide.
Final Words
Dish soap is an excellent tool to clean and disinfect surfaces in your home after a natural disaster. It is important to thoroughly rinse the surfaces to avoid a rise in bacteria. You can also use other disinfectants, such as bleach or hydrogen peroxide, to clean and disinfect your home after a natural disaster.