What Is UV Irradiation?
It’s time to talk about the topic that’s on everyone's mind—or at least our minds—at the moment: ultraviolet germicidal irradiation.
Amidst a pandemic and with winter looming around the corner, a lot of people are wondering how to effectively tackle germs in their homes and on the go. And the answer is ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. Not sure what it is? We’re here to answer your questions.
What is ultraviolet germicidal irradiation?
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) answers this on their website:
“Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) is the use of ultraviolet (UV) energy ... to kill or inactivate viral, bacterial, and fungal species. The UV spectrum is commonly divided into UVA (wavelengths of 400 nm to 315 nm), UVB (315 nm to 280 nm), and UV-C (280 nm to 200 nm). The entire UV spectrum can kill or inactivate many microorganisms, but UV-C energy provides the most germicidal effect, with 265 nm being the optimum wavelength.”
Essentially, ultraviolet germicidal irradiation is a term that describes the use of UV light to kill germs—something we’re passionate about at PhoneSoap.
Why should you use UV irradiation?
Human beings are germ magnets. From touching doorknobs to toilet handles, we’re constantly picking up germs, touching our phones, and bringing all those germs into our homes. That means we need a way to eliminate those germs.
UV irradiation is an incredible disinfectant, and UV-C light is by far the most effective of UV light at killing germs. That's exactly why we use it in our products. Because of its high frequency, UV-C light is fatal to viruses and bacteria. It’s clean (goodbye, soap residue!), efficient, and an incredible disinfectant, which is why hospitals use it to disinfect their equipment. However, it’s harmful to eyes and skin and needs to be used in a controlled environment.
How do you use it?
UV-C irradiation is all the rage right now, and for good reason. But knowing how to use it properly can be confusing.
One way you can make use of UV-C radiation is through germicidal lamps. It’s best to install UV lamps inside your HVAC system, where it fights germs getting sucked into the system. To read more about germicidal lamps and which ones work best, click here.
UV wands are being marketed like crazy right now, but buyer beware. Many of the items marketed are ineffective and falsely advertised. They have a UV-C level so low that you would have to hold the wand over any item for half an hour to disinfect it at all, let alone get rid of dangerous viruses. If you want a wand that's clinically proven to work, grab the SurfaceSoap UV wand. It kills 99.99% of germs in seconds.*
Another way to use UV light is by disinfecting items directly in UV products that have been tested and proven to eliminate germs.
What products do it best?
The answer to this question depends on what you want. Do you want a toothbrush sanitizer? Something to clear the air in your home? A disinfectant for your phone?
No matter what you’re looking for, PhoneSoap has you covered. We want to help keep you and your loved ones healthy by making sure your home is as germ-free as possible. That’s why we’ve created products using UV-C light to kill the germs on your phone, on various household items (keys, remotes, laptops, etc.), and even in the air circulating throughout your home. Check out these bad boys:
The PhoneSoap 3 – “You charge your phone every day, but how often do you disinfect it? Your phone has become like a third hand you never wash. PhoneSoap 3 is proud to be the first and only cell phone charger that disinfects your phone while it charges. Now you can enhance your daily charge with a disinfection process.”
The HomeSoap – “The same disinfecting power as the original PhoneSoap, but roomy enough for all your items. Now with automatic and manual modes.” The HomeSoap can disinfect anything that fits inside, including laptops, iPads, keys, pacifiers, bottles, and more.
The AirSoap – “AirSoap is a revolutionary new air purifier technology that kills and captures even the smallest viruses HEPA filters can’t. Proven to kill 99.99% of airborne viruses**, AirSoap uses washable and reusable collection plates instead of costly HEPA filters. The AirSoap can also reduce allergens like pet dander as well as help purify polluted and smoke-filled air. AirSoap is the best choice for your health, your wallet, and the planet.”
All of our products have been tested repeatedly and proven exceptionally effective and don’t pose risks to your health like other items employing UV radiation.
Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation isn’t just the most effective way to disinfect your items, it’s the easiest, too. Trust us, once you start disinfecting with UV light, you’ll never want to go back.
*SurfaceSoap UV was tested by BIOSCIENCE LABORATORIES, LLC against Salmonella enterica (ATCC # 10708), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC # 6538), and HCoV-OC43 (Zeptometrix #0810024CF). SurfaceSoap UV was tested by scanning glass slides containing these microbes and shown to kill up to 99.99% of the previously specified bacteria, and 99.9% of the specified virus strain. Tests were performed with the SurfaceSoap UV moving at 3 inches per second and held 1 inch from the exposed surface.
**AirSoap has been laboratory tested and proven to kill more than 99.99% of even smaller viruses (Influenza A-H3N2) and certified to capture particles down to 14 nm. While it has not yet been tested with SARS-CoV-2, the pathogen that causes COVID-19, this virus is 70–90 nm in size, much larger than the 14 nm the AirSoap has been proven to capture.