When you spray bleach solution on a doorknob, how long does it take to disinfect? I recall from an online class that you should leave the spray on for at least five minutes before you wipe it down. Is that correct?
It would be helpful if you could do an article or maybe provide a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-approved link that would give specific and accurate info on exactly how to properly disinfect a doorknob or any surface. Is there any other way to disinfect a doorknob or other surface besides using bleach?
You are correct that a bleach solution of 4 teaspoons per quart should be left on the doorknob or tap handle for five minutes. That is adequate for disinfection. The CDC offers its guidance on a page called Cleaning and Disinfection for Households.
The head of scientific research for Homeland Security, William Bryan, described tests conducted at the National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center. The diluted-bleach solution kills the coronavirus in five minutes. Isopropyl alcohol (70%) kills it in about 30 seconds.
I was prescribed Voltaren Gel for arthritis in my feet. Although I didn’t expect much, I got pain relief within minutes.
Unfortunately, my co-pay was too high. I found out that Voltaren Gel was available over the counter in Canada, so I had a friend get me several tubes. Why isn’t it available OTC in the U.S.?
Voltaren Gel (1% diclofenac) was first approved as a topical prescription anti-inflammatory agent in 2007. In other countries, this product has been available without prescription for many years.
In February, the Food and Drug Administration approved Voltaren Arthritis Pain as an OTC product. It should become available any day now. The maker is charging $12.99 for a tube of 1.76 ounces.
There are some caveats, however. Some people are so sensitive to digestive irritation from diclofenac and other NSAIDs that they complain of severe abdominal pain when they use the gel. Others may experience skin rash. You can learn much more about the pros and cons of topical NSAIDs and nondrug approaches in our eGuide to Alternatives for Arthritis. It is available in the Health eGuides section at peoplespharmacy .com.
I had such a terrible allergy attack that I couldn’t get my head off my desk to drive myself home. It was 1987, and I was very reluctant to take any medication. My boss gave me a pill she said was safe because it was plant-based. It was quercetin.
When she checked on me after 20 minutes, my headache was gone! My energy returned, and I was able to go on with my day.
I took 500 mg every day for three months that summer. I never had another attack.
Unfortunately, quercetin doesn’t help everyone. But it worked for me. The bonus is that there are no side effects, so I didn’t feel sleepy or groggy like I used to with allergy medicine.
Quercetin is a fascinating compound found in foods such as onions, broccoli, berries, grapes, apples and tea. It has potent antioxidant activity and prevents the release of histamine from mast cells (Molecules, May 2016). One test tube study found that it is more effective than cromolyn (NasalCrom) at inhibiting histamine release from mast cells (PLOS One, March 28, 2012).
Many of our readers report that NasalCrom can be helpful for allergy symptoms. It’s nice to know that quercetin might be as helpful.
There are only a few clinical trials of quercetin for allergy relief. Japanese scientists have compared a quercetin metabolite, isoquercitrin, and placebo for red itchy eyes due to allergies (Allergology International, September 2009). Another study of the same compound also found it helpful against allergy to Japanese cedar pollen (International Archives of Allergy and Immunology, March 17, 2009). We are pleased to hear quercetin worked so well for you.