Anybody know if Starsan is effective against corona? I assume Iodophor will kill it. I need something I can use on surfaces at the office.
I found a link to this article in the homebrewing subreddit. Short answer is, no starsan is not effective against covid-19.
No, it’s just not making claims that it works against “Emerging Viral Pathogens AND Human Coronavirus”.
The best thing against this virus is soap or detergent - it’s a ball of fat so you want to degrease it. Even quite mild acid (like vinegar diluted in hot water) has an effect against viruses like flu. Since Starsan has both detergent and acid it should work OK - but isn’t as cheap as just simple washing up liquid.
Ok, I’ll agree with that. However, proper testing is important to understand its effectiveness against this virus.
You’re completely right to be cautious, but there’s little evidence to say that this one is different to other coronaviruses like its close relative SARS - soap or detergent is best but even ordinary malt vinegar (5%-ish of acetic acid) will work reasonably well against viruses, even when diluted 1:10 in hot water - see
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0008987&type=printable
A squirt of washing-up liquid in it will make vinegar even more effective.
It’s also worth emphasising that the first line of defence is just keeping surfaces clean, which in itself will remove 99% of viruses - “disinfectants” should be about knocking out 99% of what’s left after cleaning. Part of the problem with skin, which is why you get this 20-second suggestion, is that viruses a)stick quite well to it and b) they get caught in the wrinkles, which is obviously more of a problem when you’re older. Botox will make your hands easier to sanitise!
From what I have read, you need at lease a solution that has 60% alcohol to destroy the virus. Use a spray bottle with ethyl or isopropyl rubbing alcoho to sanitize your hands after washing with soap and water.
I ordered a bottle of QA from Craftmeister.
Soap will destroy these viruses. The outer layer is lipids, soap dissolves that just like fat or grease, and the virus falls apart. The 20 seconds washing time is enough contact time.
Other types of viruses have an outer protein layer, so soap is not effective. Rhinovirus falls into that category, for example.
This was an interesting reminder of the antimicrobial properties of copper, maybe we’ll see a big resurgence in copper cookware, countertops, etc?
I would add that colliodal copper and silver would kill it as well as oregano oil mixed into water.
I have been wearing a suit of copper for months and so far no coronavirus.