During this coronavirus outbreak, you must keep your grocery bags cleaned and properly sterilized so that there are minimal chances of spreading germs. Cleaning and disinfecting your grocery bags not only lead to the prevention of spreading germs and microbes but also helps in decreased food contamination.
Custom Earth Promos is one such company that has achieved specialization in manufacturing custom reusable grocery bags and other products that can be recycled. This company is based in the USA and offers the best quality products and services.
How to Maintain Reusable Grocery Bags?
- Cleaning
Elimination of any visible particle like dust or food debris is referred to as cleaning. It can be done manually by soap or detergent and water. Cleaning does not essentially kill germs, but eliminates them from the surface.
- Sterilization
Sterilization includes the process of killing microorganisms (whether in vegetative form or spore form) from the surface or medium completely. Example – autoclaving
- Disinfection
Disinfection is the process of destroying the pathogenic microbes with the help of certain chemicals like Chlorine and chlorine compounds, Alcohol, Formaldehyde, Hydrogen peroxide, Glutaraldehyde, Lodophors, Peracetic acid, Ortho-phthalaldehyde (OPA), etc.
Disinfection kills only vegetative forms and not spores. Example – pasteurization
Ways to clean recyclable and reusable grocery bags
- Nylon Reusable Grocery Bags
- Either wash by hand or in the washing machine
- Wash in warm soapy water and preferably air dry
- Avoid drying the nylon reusable grocery bags in the dryer, the high amount of heat generated by dryer may cause the material to melt and become disfigured
- Insulated Reusable Grocery Bags
- Insulated reusable grocery bags require thorough cleaning as they are best suitable for storing meat and dairy products
- They should be cleaned frequently
- They are composed of the following material:
- PEVA(polyethylene vinyl acetate)
- Heavy-duty nylon
- Waterproof cooler bag liner made of thin silver
- Clean the insulated reusable grocery bags with warm soapy water and air dry
- You can also wipe the bag with disinfectant solution
- Cotton and Canvas Reusable Grocery Bags
- It is very easy to clean cotton and canvas reusable bags
- You can wash them either by hand or in washing machine accordingly
- Wash the bag with warm soapy water
- Avoid drying in the dryer as it can lead to shrinkage of the material
- Air dry is preferable
- Non-woven reusable bags
- Non-woven reusable bags are composed of material like non-woven polypropylene
- Preferably wash by hands with warm soapy water and air dry
- Plastic (polypropylene) Reusable Grocery Bags
- Plastic reusable grocery bags are composed of composite manmade fibers like polypropylene and recycled PET (plastic resin)
- Gentle hand wash is preferable
- Wash the bag with warm soapy water
- Disinfect with Lysol or any other antibacterial agent if not washing
- Suitable air dry could melt in the dryer
- Avoid using chlorine bleach to clean the bag as it will damage and weaken the material
Conclusion
As stated by facts above, cleaning and disinfecting your bags used for keeping grocery items not only protects you from harmful microbes but also reduces the risk of food cross-contamination. It is always a safe practice to follow all the necessary guidelines to stay protected.
