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Which Materials Are Most Resistant to Spreading Bacteria and Viruses

Under any circumstances, reducing the spread of germs, such as bacteria and viral strains, is an important consideration for anyone’s home. Unclean and unsanitized surfaces can accumulate all types of harmful organisms over time, which can make members of your household or visiting guests sick – sometimes very seriously. Although oftentimes the best way to prevent this is regular cleaning and common sense, with the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, it’s more important than ever to keep your loved ones safe and prevent transmission and spreading of the disease. Cleaning is important, but sometimes your home can also help with some of the work through natural microbial surfaces that stop germs in their tracks. So, which materials are the most resistant to spreading bacteria and viruses?

Quartz Countertops: Quartz is one of the hardest and most durable stones on the planet, as well as being completely nonporous. This makes them resistant to stains and scratches, as well as antimicrobial to make it difficult for germs and bacteria to survive on them for very long. Quartz countertops offer a number of benefits – such as being easily customizable due to being artificially manufactured, and the lack of need for resealing which can come with other surfaces like granite. Quartz countertops have always been a beautiful and practical choice, but knowing they can actually help keep your home cleaner is another big advantage to considering them in your next remodel.

Copper: While not traditionally the most common metal to implement into decorating, we’ve seen a big rise in the use of copper in the home – including being outfitted for countertops, cabinets, or just as detail pieces on your knobs, pulls, and other accessories. The great news is these are all surfaces that are commonly touched, which means you know they’ll be put to work when it comes to naturally eliminating the spread of illness and disease in your home. If you’ve been looking for another good reason to hop on the copper trend, this is a pretty compelling one.

Bamboo and Cork: Both of these materials are more commonly used as flooring, but they certainly have other uses as well. Bamboo has a natural antifungal agent that lives inside of it, and while cork is a versatile and functional material for humans, it actually functions as a hostile environment for bacteria and germs. Because they make it difficult for microorganisms to survive on their surfaces, you can enjoy the confidence that they’ll help keep your family safe while also adding an element of natural beauty in your home.

Antimicrobial Paints: Technology offers us so many creative and practical resources, and antimicrobial paints are certainly an excellent example of that fact. These are created by manufacturers offering an additive that doesn’t impact the color, but ultimately makes the surfaces it’s used on resistant to mold, fungus, and bacteria. If you’re looking to repaint anywhere in your home in the near future, antimicrobial paints are a great product to research so your home can be better protected than ever.

While none of these surfaces completely replace the need to clean and sanitize your home, they’ll certainly offer you an advantage when it comes to preventing the spread of sickness amongst your family and friends. If you’re looking to give your house a fresh new look in the near future, feel free to ask us about any of these materials, or learn more about the ones you may be currently considering – we’re here to help so you can design with confidence.