Everything You Need to Know Before Using Handheld UV Light

Today, I will be talking about handheld UV light and how to use it.

The COVID-19 outbreak is a personal tragedy for all. Everyone is holed up in their homes as it brings a lot of uncertainty. This pandemic got everyone to think about cleanliness and hygiene more than ever.

We are told to wash our hands frequently to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Not only this, but we are also told to maintain social distance and clean everything we touch daily. You can clean faucet, steering wheels, doorknobs, tables, chairs, etc. using water and soap.

But what about other objects like a laptop, mobile phone, upholstery, bed sheets, and more? It is impossible to do clean such items on a daily basis.

To protect ourselves from this infectious disease, you can use UV sterilizer. UV Sterilizer will make it extremely easy and hassle-free to clean objects within a minute. Using it is simple and convenient. For instance, you can sterilize your laptop while watching a video or sterilize your mobile phone when watching Netflix.

Experts have been using UV light to kill bacteria and viruses for more than 100 years. This process of killing germs is referred to as ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI). After the outbreak of COVID-19, UVC robots have been used to kill bacteria in hospitals. In addition, banks use UV light for cleaning bills.

Wondering how does a UV sterilizer kills the bacteria and viruses? In order to understand sterilization, you must first know some things about viruses and bacteria. Just like us, bacteria have DNA while some viruses have RNA. Either way, these are crucial for the survival of bacteria and viruses.

DNA and RNA are complex molecules that you can break down using radiation. It is known as the photolytic process. With ultraviolet light, RNA or DNA gets disrupted leaving the virus and bacteria inert. This makes them harmless.

Unfortunately, not all UV lights are effective at sterilization. For a UV light to be effective, short wavelengths are crucial. UV light must have a wavelength of 280 nanometers (nm) or below. Such UV lights are known as UVC; it is the most powerful UV light.

The UV light having a wavelength shorter than 100 nm is considered extreme UV. Since such devices are dangerous, you will need special licensing to get them. This means you will be unable to find it in the market.

An important thing to keep in mind is that you will require different wavelengths to kill different types of bacteria. When it comes to rating, UV sterilizers are focusing on E Coli. This type of bacteria is commonly found in every house.

When it comes to UV light strength, it is measured in milliwatts per square centimeter (mW/cm²). The duration of UV light to sterilize depends on various factors like watts, time, and distance.

According to a study, the UV light was able to kill 99% bacteria at 15.54 mW/cm² (15,540 microwatts) from a 1-inch distance within 5 seconds. In another study, 55W bulb was used and it successfully eliminated 99.9% bacteria and viruses from a 16-inch distance in 24 seconds.

Portable UV light with 40 to 45W is capable of killing 99.9995% E Coli bacteria within 90 seconds from a 1-inch distance.

The handheld UV light can be used almost everywhere and on everything. UV sterilization is an excellent infection control strategy that can be used for any situation. You use UV light to disinfect your workspace, making it germ-free and safe to work.

Also, UV light is useful for disinfecting water surfaces. It will enable you to safely work in specialized spaces. Mostly, UV light is used in the construction and renovation industry and hospitals. This will help in preventing the pathogens from spreading.

Furthermore, UV sterilization will help maintain the highest standard of cleaning for places that are hard to reach. These cleaning standards cannot be followed by manual cleaning. Since it is a great technique to disinfect, UV sterilization is vital for hospitals.

UV sterilization is also helpful for disinfecting the air in isolated spaces. UV light will disinfect the air, which will improve the quality of the air. It can be used for disinfecting tools and equipment. This is the best way solution for disinfecting as it is not a wet solution.

Besides this, you can use portable UV light at home as well. Even though you clean the house regularly, it does not completely protect against viruses and bacteria. If your house is sparkling clean, some organisms are left behind in small areas and corners. This is where a UV light will come in handy.

UV light will make sure all the nooks and small areas are disinfected fully. There will be no harmful chemicals used in your home, making UV light a great option. It is perfect for having an additional layer of safety.

There are plenty of benefits of using handheld UV light. I have listed some of the benefits.

1.UV Light Can Be Moved Around Easily

One of the benefits of using handheld UV light is that it can be moved around the area easily.

2.UV Light is Effective for Disinfecting

Portable UV light is capable of disinfecting a space effectively. This is because it can kill almost all types of viruses and bacteria. Unlike other disinfectants, it can even destroy spores and mold. Many disinfectants will leave the environment damp where fungi can survive. UV light is a dry disinfecting technique that will get rid of mold and prevent fungi growth.

3.It is Non-Toxic

Another benefit of UV light is that it is non-toxic. Most cleaning products include harmful and harsh chemicals that can be dangerous for your family, pets, objects, and environment. UV lights are environmentally friendly as they do not contain any chemicals since it is a physical process.

4.Bacteria Cannot Build Immunity

For those who don’t, some bacteria are antibiotic-resistant. This means the bacteria develop immunity to some antimicrobial agents and disinfectants. It proves to be a crucial problem in the medical industry.

Don’t worry, UV light is the best disinfectant to which bacteria will not be immune. This is because UV light uses a physical method to kill the bacteria.

5.Safe for Everyone

UV light is a safe method for disinfecting a wide variety of surfaces if used properly. Exposure to UV rays can lead to sunburn and other skin problems but it is safe to use when used it according to the instructions.

The product must only be used when there is no one in the room. Since it does not have any harmful chemicals, it is better than most disinfecting and sanitizing products.

An important thing to keep in mind when using UV light is that it can damage your skin. UVC light can lead to severe sunburns and might even increase the risk of cancer. That is why you must take precautionary measures when using UV light.

It is advised to protect your eyes from UV light as it can damage them, eventually, leading to blindness. It is recommended not to use it directly on your skin. If you have UV light at home, make sure it is out of reach of children. You must never allow them to play with it.

Moreover, UV radiation can damage materials like rubber and plastic as well. It can damage the coatings or paintings of countertops, furniture, and electronics. Though UV rays can pose a threat to the damage materials, UVC light when used at a normal frequency cannot cause any such damage.

The cheap UV lights can emit ozone that will damage our environment. Ozone is the primary element in smog, which can cause itchy eyes and is harmful to the respiratory tract. Luckily, high-quality UVC lights are not as dangerous as they are coated to limit the emittance of ozone.

With technological advancement, UVC lights are being upgraded for not posing any threat to individuals.

Handheld UV light is an amazing and simple way to get rid of bacteria and viruses. It is capable of disinfecting all types of surfaces effectively. This is the reason why it is widely used in hospitals. During COVID-19, it is advised to use UV light in your home to keep your family safe.