Antibacterial and antivirus furniture handles

How to protect your home against microorganisms

A modern interior must look good and be functional. It also means responding to the need to maintain hygiene and health of the household members. In our store, we carefully select products so that everyone can equip their home with beautiful but also useful things. Furniture handles, hangers, door handles or even decorative elements can help us in these hard times for health. We do not need additional items - we just need to choose them consciously.

NENA M handle is a classic furniture knob, made under the supervision of craftsmen in Poland.

The world has heard the news that the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus lasts longer on smooth surfaces - metals or glass than on rough ones. However, it is easily "washable", so even when bringing plastic containers home, we should wash them with soapy water. However, please hold on, because metal is not equal to metal and we will do much better if we don't produce more new plastic.

Furniture handles that viruses and bacteria don't like

Viruses, plagues and pandemics have haunted mankind from time to time. We forgot about them because they haven't been known for a long time. That doesn't mean we have to live in glass bubbles now. Of course, in this situation, it is worth thinking about what we surround ourselves with and how to improve the hygiene of our surroundings.

An antimicrobial surface is one that contains an agent that inhibits the ability of microorganisms to grow on the surface of the material. Such surfaces are increasingly being studied for possible use in a variety of settings, including clinics, industry, and even the home.

An innovation in antimicrobial surfaces is the discovery that copper and its alloys (brass, bronzes, and others) are natural antimicrobial materials that have intrinsic properties to kill a wide variety of microorganisms.

How to get rid of viruses and bacteria in your home

One of the tested metals that exhibits antimicrobial properties is the well-known silver. Its use is well documented. Another great metal that goes well against various micro-organisms on its surface is copper. As humanity, we knew and used this property in antiquity, but nowadays we seem to have forgotten a bit. Copper's antimicrobial mechanisms have been studied for decades and still are, as we still have a lot to learn from it. We would like to present some of them as an important curiosity.

Recent clinical studies show that touch surfaces made of hygienic copper can reduce the risk of clinical infections by up to 58%. By using our handles made of raw copper, you guarantee the best protection against unwanted microorganisms.

We would also like to remind you that copper is an important element in the diet of humans and other living organisms. According to the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO) regarding nutrition, the average requirement for copper in adults is 1 - 2 mg. Fortunately, copper can be obtained from many products. Dark chocolate, leafy vegetables, legumes, lentils, nuts, organs (liver, kidney) and all shellfish contain copper and are good for health.

Copper and copper alloy surfaces are an effective means of preventing bacterial growth. In the EPA tests, the following microorganisms were taken into account: Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacter aerogenes, Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Escherichia coli 0157: H7 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and others. Found in over 355 copper alloys:

• Continuously reduces bacterial contamination, achieving a 99.9% reduction within two hours of exposure;

• Kills over 99.9% of bacteria within two hours of exposure;

• Provides continuous antibacterial action, killing over 99.9% of bacteria within two hours;

• Inhibits bacterial buildup and growth within two hours of exposure between cleaning and disinfection steps.

In medical applications, EPA-approved antimicrobial copper products include railings, railings, overbed tables, sinks, faucets, doorknobs, restroom fittings, computer keyboards, and more.

Copper and brass are the best antimicrobial agent

The antimicrobial effectiveness of copper alloy touch surfaces has been proven in multiple studies. Copper alloy surfaces have intrinsic properties to destroy a wide range of microorganisms.

In the interest of protecting public health, especially in medical environments, numerous tests have been carried out over the last 10 years regarding the effectiveness of copper killing E. coli O157: H7, methicillin, Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA ), Staphylococcus, Clostridium difficile, influenza A virus, adenovirus and fungi. Stainless steel has also been studied as it is an important surface material in today's healthcare environments.

Recent studies have shown that copper alloy surfaces kill over 99.9% of germs in just 1-2 hours. On stainless steel surfaces, microbes can survive for weeks.

For the most part, the bacterial kill rate of copper alloys increased with increasing copper content in the alloy.

Brass, which was often used for door handles in the past, is also antibacterial, but over a slightly longer period of time than pure copper. All nine tested brasses were almost completely germicidal (over 99.9% mortality) at 20 ° C for 60-270 minutes. Many of them were almost completely germicidal at 4 ° C - it took 180-360 minutes.

Total microbial death rates on the four tested bronzes ranged from 50–270 minutes at 20°C and 180–270 minutes at 4°C.

Copper and brass fight fungus

The antifungal efficacy of copper was compared to that of aluminum. For this purpose, organisms that can cause infections in humans were selected: Aspergillus spp., Fusarium spp., Penicillium chrysogenum, Aspergillus niger and Candida albicans. Increased die-off of fungal spores was found on copper surfaces, which was not found in aluminum, for example. In the case of the fungus Aspergillus niger, there was an increase in the number of spores on the aluminum coupons, and the growth on and around the copper coupons was inhibited.