Hospitals have long used far UV-C light—a specific range of ultraviolet light that is germicidal—to kill airborne germs, emphasis on the far because there is an important distinction in the types of UV-C light. Near UV-C light, also known as “germicidal ultraviolet light,” can be a health hazard to the skin and eyes. By contrast, far UV-C light has been found to efficiently kill pathogens without harm to human cells or tissues. Recent research in particular has shown that far UV-C light can efficiently and safely inactivate airborne human coronaviruses. Now, that technology can be used at home.ae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb RELATED: For more up-to-date information, sign up for our daily newsletter. Take The Violet Clean Kit, for example. It’s a UV-C light bag that you can simply place your household items in for disinfecting. The light surrounds the items and kills all germs and pathogens within. While UV-C light hasn’t been yet confirmed to work against COVID-19 specifically yet, it does have that potential. Though the product uses near UV-C light, the user isn’t exposed to the light, preventing it from causing any damage as it kills the germs on your household items sealed inside. In an interview with Forbes, Violet Clean Kit inventor Phuong Mai touted the sanitation device’s efficacy, noting that the bag “effectively kills 99.99 percent of common bacteria, including E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans, using UV-C light.” According to the company’s website, the kit is designed to protect you from “germs and bacteria that live on everyday objects,” killing or inactivating microorganisms by destroying nucleic acids and disrupting their DNA and RNA. While it’s only available for pre-order, you can see an image of the new product via Instagram below: And for more on keeping your mask clean, check out 5 Ways You’re Cleaning Your Face Mask Wrong.
