sanitizing a knife blade

E

edcrefiner

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Aug 26, 2010
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About two weeks ago an acquaintance was borrowing a slip joint knife of mine. He kept horsing around with it and I told him that it wasn't a toy and that he should be careful. When my back was turned the idiot stabbed a water bottle and unsurprisingly the blade closed on his hand. I even told him that slip joints, such as the one he was handling, are not meant for piercing. Also told him that it could fold and cause a laceration.

The cut was pretty deep on his finger. It did not start to bleed for about a minute but when it started to bleed there was a lot of blood.

After fixing up his cut, I looked at my knife. No blood on it. However, I would like to sanitize the blade for blood borne viruses like Hepatitis and AIDS. Of course I didn't ask the idiot if he had any of these because it would have been rude and a bit insensitive to his little injury...

So how should I clean it? The slip joint knife is part of a multi-tool so I don't really want to submerge all those hinges in potentially hot water. Thanks.
 
Bleach diluted with water. I forgot the exact percentage we used in out virus Lab but maybe 5-10% bleach would work or 3/4 cup in a galloon of water and submerge over night.
 
90% rubbing alcohol will kill anything he may have had swimmin in his blood , available at any drug store , wipe on and around with a cloth and move on with your life. :)

Tostig
 
If it's been two weeks HIV should be long gone and from what I have read (you can google this) your chance of live hep variants still being viable are pretty much nill as well. A bleach solution is the normal quick kill although it is corrosive. A quick dip should kill it and then a good rinse and your blade would likely be fine. Alcohol or iodine should also do the trick. Sunlight (actually the radiation) will also kill the viruses so that is another added alternative.

Honestly unless you were to cut yourself while his blood was still wet it would be EXTREMELY hard to pass on.
 
I would use 10% (1 part bleach to 9 parts water) house hold bleach. Soak it for a few minutes then rinse it REALLY REALLY well. The chlorine in the bleach is tough on steel, even stainless steel.

Ric
 
I like to use Hand Sanitizer. Rub it all over then rub it off. Makes the blade nice and clean and I'm sure somewhat sanitary. Shiny too!
 
I use acetone that we have at the shop on the assumption that it effective enough. A decent alcohol session might be sufficient. Make sure that you clean inside the knife, too.
It's possible for some form(s?) of hepatitis to survive more than a few weeks out in the open, if memory serves me right.
 
A bit of air over time will kill almost all of the blood-borne stuff. That why they're body-fluid transmitted anyway. But it's always a good idea to play it safe and use rubbing alcohol to clean it off. Dry it out fully and you'll be good to go.
 
Stab your friend, and just burn the blade to clean it up! My rule is don't let fools handle your knives, same way with firearms.
 
I usually just use some good hand sanitizer, but....may not be enough for some task, any Lysol lying around? :D
 
Just rinse it in the sink you guys are getting crazy about this!!!! Lol !!! A 24 hour bleach soak cause your buddy cut himself ??? Really ??? :D
 
A quick dip in household bleach will kill ANY and ALL known viruses and bacteria. Doesn't need to soak. No need to dilute it. Just dip, hold for one or two seconds, and rinse off with plain water. (Remember to oil the blade afterwards.) This is what the bio-hazard folks shower with before taking off their hazard suits.

Alcohol will also kill of almost all known pathogens but it will take a longer period of time. Perhaps a few minutes soaking. Then again, a quick rinse and some oil.

Stitchawl
 
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