How to Safely Disinfect Everyday Surfaces from Viruses

Viruses can remain infectious on surfaces for hours or days, depending on the pathogen, material, temperature, and humidity. Whether it’s flu season, a stomach bug going around school, or someone at home has been ill, knowing how to disinfect surfaces correctly makes a real, measurable difference. In this guide we will cover the right method, which surfaces to prioritise, and why contact time, material compatibility, and the disinfectant’s active ingredient matter more than most people realise.

Key Takeaways

• Cleaning and disinfecting are two separate steps — public health guidance from the CDC and EPA both stress that surfaces must be cleaned first and kept wet for the required contact time.
• GoGoNano Anti-Viral has been independently tested to BS EN 14476:2013+A2:2019 by UKAS-accredited BluTest Laboratories and confirmed virucidal against all enveloped viruses — including influenza, all coronaviruses, HIV, hepatitis B and C, herpes, measles, and more.
• Standard alcohol and bleach disinfectants are often unsuitable for soft materials like clothing, bags, paper packaging, leather, or finished surfaces. GoGoNano Anti-Viral is designed for a much wider range of everyday materials.
• Alcohol-free, non-flammable, and free from chlorine and quaternary ammonium compounds. Use as directed, store away from children and pets, and do not apply any surface disinfectant directly to skin or animals.

Cleaning and disinfecting are not the same step

Cleaning physically removes dirt, grease, and organic matter from a surface — soap, water, and a cloth does this well. Disinfecting uses an active chemical ingredient to inactivate the pathogens that remain after cleaning. This distinction matters: the CDC explains that cleaning removes most harmful germs from surfaces, while disinfecting can kill germs that remain after cleaning.

The order matters for a specific reason: organic residue physically blocks disinfectant molecules from reaching viruses or bacteria on the surface beneath. If you apply disinfectant to a visibly dirty surface, part of the active ingredient is consumed neutralising that debris rather than targeting pathogens — reducing efficacy even with a certified product.

The correct sequence is always: clean first, then disinfect.

In most everyday situations — routine household cleaning with no illness present — cleaning alone with soap and water is usually sufficient. Disinfecting becomes genuinely useful when someone in the household is sick, during flu and cold season, in shared workspaces, or when handling frequently touched items brought in from outside, such as shopping bags, packaging, coats, and school bags.

How long do viruses survive on surfaces?

Survival time depends on the pathogen, surface material, temperature, humidity, and how much infectious material is present. As a general guide:

• Hard, non-porous surfaces (stainless steel, plastic, glass) — many respiratory viruses remain potentially infectious for several hours to a few days
• Soft, porous surfaces (fabrics, paper, cardboard) — survival is typically shorter but still measured in hours for many viruses
• Hands — usually shorter survival, but contact-based transfer to eyes, nose, and mouth can happen within seconds of touching a contaminated surface

This is why a practical hygiene routine should consider both hard and soft surfaces — and why a disinfectant suitable for a door handle, a phone, a jacket sleeve, and a shopping bag is more useful than one limited to hard, non-porous surfaces only.

How to disinfect surfaces correctly: a step-by-step method

Step 1 — Remove visible dirt first. Wipe or wash the surface with soap and water or a general cleaner, using a clean microfiber cleaning cloth before applying disinfectant. This removes organic material that would otherwise interfere with the disinfectant’s efficacy.

Step 2 — Apply the disinfectant and ensure full surface coverage. Spray or wipe so the surface is visibly wet across the entire area you’re treating. Do not wipe immediately.

Step 3 — Observe the contact time. This is the most commonly skipped step — and the most consequential. Contact time is the minimum period the surface must stay wet for the active ingredient to reach its certified kill rate. The EPA explains that disinfectant labels specify how long a treated surface must remain visibly wet, and the product may need to be reapplied if it dries too soon. GoGoNano Anti-Viral achieves certified virucidal efficacy at a 5-minute contact time as confirmed by independent laboratory testing.

Step 4 — Wipe or rinse after contact time where needed. For glossy, glass, mirror, or dark surfaces, wipe away any remaining moisture with a clean cloth after the 5-minute contact time to prevent streaks. For food-contact surfaces such as kitchen countertops and cutting boards, rinse or wipe with clean water after the contact time.

Step 5 — Ventilate if using alcohol or chlorine-based products. These can release fumes that irritate airways — particularly relevant in bathrooms or small kitchens. GoGoNano Anti-Viral is alcohol-free and chlorine-free, so it avoids the main fume and flammability issues associated with those disinfectant types. Normal room ventilation is still good practice with any cleaning product.

See Anti-Viral in use:

Independently tested and certified: what the lab results actually show

GoGoNano Anti-Viral has been independently tested by BluTest Laboratories Ltd (Glasgow, UK), a UKAS-accredited laboratory (UKAS No. 4597). The tests were conducted to European standard protocols with results authorised by Dr. Chris Woodall, Director of BluTest Laboratories.

Virucidal certification: BS EN 14476:2013 + A2:2019

BS EN 14476 is the European standard for the quantitative suspension test for virucidal activity of chemical disinfectants. It is one of the key European standards used to verify virucidal disinfectant claims.

The result: GoGoNano Anti-Viral POSSESSES VIRUCIDAL activity at a concentration of 10.0% v/v after 5 minutes at 20°C under clean conditions against Vaccinia virus VR-1549 Elstree strain.

Ready-to-use clarification: GoGoNano Anti-Viral 500ml and 1L are sold as ready-to-use products. The 10.0% v/v, 33.3% v/v, and 2.5% v/v figures below are laboratory test concentrations, not dilution instructions for customers. Apply the product directly from the bottle and keep the treated surface wet for the required contact time.

Vaccinia virus is used under EN 14476 Annex A as a representative enveloped virus. That matters because many clinically important viruses are enveloped viruses. The EN 14476 report’s conclusion states:

“This product therefore is effective against all enveloped viruses as defined in EN 14476:2013 + A2:2019 Annex A. This therefore includes all coronaviruses and SARS-CoV-2.”

The full list of enveloped viruses covered by this certification under EN 14476 Annex A includes:

• Influenza virus (seasonal flu)
• All coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2
• Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
• Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) and Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)
• Herpes simplex (Herpesviridae)
• Measles Virus
• Rabies Virus
• RSV (Paramyxoviridae)
• Ebola and Marburg (Filoviridae)
• Hepatitis Delta Virus (HDV)

Yeasticidal certification: EN 1650:2019

GoGoNano Anti-Viral has also been independently tested to EN 1650:2019 — the European standard for fungicidal and yeasticidal activity of chemical disinfectants in food, industrial, domestic, and institutional use.

The result: The product POSSESSES YEASTICIDAL activity at 33.3% v/v after 15 minutes at 20°C under dirty conditions against Candida albicans ATCC 10231 — a clinically significant yeast and one of the leading causes of fungal infection worldwide.

Antibacterial certifications: BS EN 1276 and EN 13697

Anti-Viral also holds independent antibacterial certifications to:

• BS EN 1276:2019 — confirming bactericidal activity at 2.5% v/v after 5 minutes at 20°C under dirty conditions against E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterococcus hirae
• EN 13697:2015 — confirming bactericidal activity on non-porous surfaces at 20% v/v of the working concentration after 5 minutes at 20°C under clean conditions against the same bacterial test organisms

Together, these four independent certifications — virucidal (EN 14476), yeasticidal (EN 1650), and two bactericidal standards (EN 1276, EN 13697) — give GoGoNano Anti-Viral a broader proof base than most household disinfectant articles show. Biocidal registration number: Nr. 2065/20.

Full independent test reports are available from GoGoNano on request for professional, institutional, or distributor verification.

Why GoGoNano developed Anti-Viral

“Most disinfectants on the market are effective — but they carry costs to the environment and to human health that rarely get discussed,” says GoGoNano founder Kaur Reinjärv. “Quaternary ammonium and chlorine-based products can be harsh on people, materials, and the environment. In lactic acid, we found an ingredient that is genuinely effective — as the independent certifications confirm — while helping us reduce reliance on harsher disinfectant chemistry.”

Which surfaces need disinfecting — and how

Different surfaces carry different risk levels, and not all disinfectants are suitable for all materials. Always follow the product label and test delicate materials on a small hidden area first.

High-touch hard surfaces

Door handles, light switches, toilet flush buttons, tap handles, stair railings, elevator buttons, chair armrests, tables, and work surfaces. These are the highest-priority surfaces in any home or shared space. During illness, disinfect at least twice daily. In shared workspaces, every 2–4 hours during flu season is recommended for the highest-touch points.

Electronics and screens

Phones, keyboards, remote controls, and touch screens are among the most frequently touched surfaces in any home — yet they’re rarely disinfected properly. High-concentration alcohol wipes can degrade oleophobic screen coatings and certain plastics with repeated use. Apply an alcohol-free disinfectant to a clean microfiber screen cloth first, then wipe the device. Avoid spraying directly into ports, speakers, or openings. Anti-Viral 500ml is suitable for many electronics-adjacent surfaces when used carefully.

Soft surfaces and textiles — where most disinfectants fail

This is the surface category that many household disinfectants address poorly — and it is one of the most practical gaps in everyday hygiene routines.

Bleach can damage and discolour fabric. High-concentration alcohol can stain or degrade textile fibres, leather finishes, and some plastics. Yet contamination can transfer from a coat, school bag, or grocery bag to hands just as easily as from a door handle.

GoGoNano Anti-Viral is formulated for use on fabrics, leather, paper, cardboard, and soft furnishings — while maintaining certified virucidal and bactericidal activity. This makes it especially useful for disinfecting items such as:

• Outer clothing worn during commuting or shopping
• Children’s school bags and backpacks
• Reusable shopping bags
• Car seat upholstery and fabric interiors
• Children’s soft toys
• Fabric sofas and cushion covers

Food packaging

Cardboard boxes, plastic containers, and packaging brought in from outside all pass through many hands before reaching your home. Alcohol- and chlorine-based disinfectants are often unsuitable for food packaging and food-contact areas. GoGoNano Anti-Viral’s biodegradable lactic acid formula is suitable for wiping packaging before storing groceries. For any surface that will directly contact food, rinse with water after the required contact time.

Bathroom and kitchen surfaces

Toilet seat and flush handle, tap handles, sink surround, shower door, kitchen countertops. These benefit from daily disinfection when someone is ill. The underside of toilet rims and tap handles are high-contact areas that are routinely missed — include them.

Why lactic acid — the science behind the active ingredient

Lactic acid is a naturally occurring organic acid produced during fermentation and generated in the human body during physical exercise. It is listed by the FDA as a food substance used for functions including antimicrobial activity, pH control, curing, pickling, and flavouring. In Europe, Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2002 approved L(+) lactic acid as an active substance for biocidal product-types 2, 3, and 4, covering private/public health area disinfectants, veterinary hygiene, and food/feed area uses.

For GoGoNano Anti-Viral specifically, independent testing has confirmed virucidal activity against all enveloped viruses under BS EN 14476, bactericidal activity under BS EN 1276 and EN 13697, and yeasticidal activity under EN 1650.

Four biocidal mechanisms — with virus and bacteria precision

For enveloped viruses, lactic acid’s low-pH action helps disrupt viral envelope lipids through acidification, denature proteins, and interfere with enzymatic function. For bacteria, the same acid stress can also disrupt internal pH regulation and inhibit cellular respiration. That distinction matters: viruses do not have cell walls, so “cell wall disruption” should not be used as a viral mechanism.

This multi-mechanism profile is one reason lactic acid is attractive as a lower-hazard disinfectant active ingredient. It helps explain why the formula can combine credible antimicrobial performance with a safer material and environmental profile than many harsher disinfectant chemistries.

Lower-hazard profile for people, surfaces, and the environment

• No alcohol, chlorine, QAC, or PHMB active ingredient. This reduces the fumes, flammability, residue, and sensitisation concerns associated with many conventional disinfectant types.
• Suitable for a wider range of common materials. Including textiles, leather, paper, cardboard, packaging, and food-contact surfaces when used as directed — applications where bleach and high-concentration alcohol are often unsuitable.
• Readily biodegradable active ingredient. GoGoNano’s lactic acid data sheet describes lactic acid as readily biodegradable, renewable, and suitable for low-hazard formulations.
• Non-flammable. Relevant for use in kitchen environments and for safe storage at home.

Scent and allergen transparency: Anti-Viral does not have the harsh bleach or alcohol smell many people associate with disinfectants. It has a mild cinnamon-like scent because the formula contains cinnamal, also known as cinnamaldehyde. Cinnamal is listed on the safety data sheet because it may produce an allergic reaction in sensitive users, so always check the label if fragrance allergens are a concern.

How GoGoNano Anti-Viral compares with common disinfectants

Most disinfectants can be effective when used exactly as directed. The practical difference is where they can be used safely, how long they must stay wet, and what trade-offs they bring for people, materials, and the environment.

This is the core positioning: GoGoNano Anti-Viral is not just “natural”. It is a certified disinfectant with a lower-hazard active ingredient and better material compatibility for the surfaces people actually touch every day.

Why alcohol-free matters in practice

Alcohol-based disinfectants are genuinely effective on many hard, non-porous surfaces when used exactly as directed. But they carry practical limitations that are rarely spelled out:

• Alcohol can evaporate before contact time is reached. The label’s claimed kill rate depends on the surface staying wet for the full contact time. On warm, absorbent, or large surfaces, alcohol can dry too quickly unless enough product is applied.
• Repeated use damages surfaces. Regular alcohol application degrades screen coatings on phones, leatherette, certain plastics, and finished wood finishes over time.
• Limited soft-surface suitability. Fabric, paper, leather, and many textile surfaces are poor fits for high-alcohol disinfectants.
• Flammable and often requires ventilation — a practical consideration in kitchens and enclosed spaces.
• Skin and respiratory irritation with frequent use — relevant for people with eczema, asthma, or contact sensitivity, and in environments where disinfection happens multiple times daily.

GoGoNano Anti-Viral addresses these practical limitations while still carrying independent European antimicrobial certifications.

When and where to disinfect: practical everyday scenarios

When a family member is ill

Focus on: bathroom surfaces (toilet, flush, taps, sink), door handles throughout the home, shared electronics (phones, TV remote, keyboard), and any fabric or soft surfaces the ill person has been in contact with. Hard surfaces should be disinfected at least twice daily. Wash bedding and pillowcases at 60°C. Continue the routine for 24 hours after symptoms resolve.

During flu and cold season (October–March)

A short daily routine on the highest-risk points makes a real difference: front door handle, kitchen and bathroom tap handles, toilet flush, light switches, and any shared phones or remotes. For families with school-age children, disinfecting outer coats and school bags after the school run is a practical additional step — but only with a disinfectant suitable for textiles.

After grocery shopping

Packaging passes through many hands between production and your kitchen. Wiping plastic containers and cardboard boxes before storing — particularly anything going into the fridge — takes seconds with a packaging-safe formula. GoGoNano Anti-Viral’s biodegradable lactic acid base is specifically suited for this use.

Shared offices and hot desks

Keyboards, mice, desk phones, and shared equipment should be wiped at the start of each workday during flu season. Fabric office chairs benefit from a textile-safe disinfectant. Communal kitchen surfaces — coffee machine buttons, microwave handle, tap — should be part of any office cleaning schedule.

Children’s items

Soft toys, fabric school bags, and lunch boxes need a disinfectant that is suitable for textiles and child-adjacent surfaces. Hard plastic toys can be wiped with a suitable surface disinfectant and rinsed if they may contact the mouth or food. Outer lunch boxes should be wiped daily; inner surfaces should be washed with soap and water.

FAQ: disinfecting surfaces from viruses