There has probably not been a more anticipated spring than this one of 2021. (Closely rivaled, of course, by spring 2020.) But with this spring, we see an even greater light at the end of the tunnel. Life at home will change as we slowly progress to doing more outside of the house. And who isn’t looking forward to that?
As predicted, however, the pandemic has altered some things in our lives for the foreseeable future, if not for good. The concept of the annual ritual of spring cleaning seems to take on more significance now that we have realized just how precious and essential our interior spaces really are. To that end, home industry professionals including manufacturers and fabricators are assessing and addressing new needs when it comes to what our interiors are made of and what they need to do for us now.
What We Touch, Touches Us
Surfaces and materials within the home are taking center stage as it makes sense going forward that they work to protect us, as well as comfort and serve us.
While interior experts have been working with what is known as “performance fabrics” for years, the emphasis now is on a certain fabric within that class. Unlike others that offer surface-level stain-resistance, Crypton is a textile uniquely created with a patented system that encases textile fibers with a copolymer formula. This process infuses the fabric with stain, moisture, mildew, odor-reducing, and that all-important anti-bacterial protection.
Initially adapted in the healthcare industry and hospitality sector scenarios, Crypton is now used regularly within the residential home market for both indoor and outdoor fabric applications. Companies like Brentano offer many custom upholstery options that offer the added protection of Crypton.
With demand for fabric coatings that also possess virus-resistant properties now high, scientific research in this area has been robust. The University of Pittsburgh has been actively studying how to make more efficient PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) for healthcare professionals and is making significant strides. Currently, a coating is being developed that can be applied to PPE and furnishings such as those in doctor’s offices and schools where viruses easily spread. With consumer interest high, the goal is to eventually provide coatings of this nature to manufacturers of home furnishings, as expediently as possible.
Coming to a Living Room Near You?
These marvels are already being used in hospitals, and for commercial and industrial applications. Using UV light that kills 99.9 percent of bacteria, the autonomous ZenZoe robot can treat an entire room in 15 minutes. Can residential applications be too far behind? Smaller, portable personal home sanitizer units are already available for in-home applications. These little wonders also use UV light to remove 99.9 percent of illness-causing microbes. For just under $80 you can purchase a PhoneSoap 3 for your mobile phone.
Hard Choices
Fortunately, consumers have become better educated as to how to help prevent disease-causing bacteria from living on hard surfaces. We’ve all been schooled on how to properly handle and then clean surfaces like our kitchen countertops after working with raw chicken. But what if we could actually work on a surface that is already helping us fight germs?
Fact is, some already do! The best types of countertop materials for the pandemic-centric world we now live in are non-porous. The less porous the material is, the less chance that bacteria can live and breed on it. In recent years, sealed concrete countertops have been making the scene in sleek modern kitchen scenarios, and if you have already made this choice little did you know how smart you would look.
A material that is making a countertop comeback in the kitchen due to COVID19 is copper. Copper has natural antimicrobial properties and requires little maintenance to keep it germ-free. This material is regularly used in restaurants and other commercial scenarios because of its antimicrobial advantages, but if you ever thought of applying it at home, now is a good time to ask your design professional about residential application.
Fast Fact:
Did you know that unchecked bacteria on your countertop can double in numbers every 20 minutes?
In general, metals like copper and zinc are just better at keeping germs at bay, but if you are afraid of your kitchen looking too sterile, there are other surfaces like silestone quartz that also naturally possess antimicrobial agents, and you will not sacrifice your style sensibilities in any way with this choice.
At the end of the day, even less-porous and more cost-effective surfaces like Formica perform well when it comes germs, and if you would rather not part with the marble, granite, or wood countertop that you already have, just remember that now is not the time skimp on regular maintenance, or any sealant applications they require. Keeping your countertops and vanities in tip-top shape and thoroughly cleaned daily with the right disinfectant, can provide peace of mind without having to change everything up because a once-in-a-hundred-years pandemic blows through.