Need Help - How do I decontaminate my guns?

Guess I just like things clean when I have the option.
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Yeah, same here. I left one of my .22s dirty after a range session for several days until it bugged me so much I swore to a friend that I was going to clean it as soon as I got home from work. He told me, that was him as well.
How some of these guys get several or dozens of range visits between cleanings is beyond me-I just have to clean after every visit.
 
Super tropical bleach was the standard decontamination solution for use on Military weapons. Depending on the agent/vector it had varying contact times. If memory serves It was 15 minutes for hardened anthrax spoors. Commercial finishes might not with stand the corrosive nature STB or caustic soda.

Agents like the Aids virus are very delicate and do not survive long when exposed to sunlight and air. UV light also is a good decontaminate for most human pathogens.

Alcohol is not effective on several human pathogens, some Bacteria is not affected by it at all.

I would recommend a combination of a good cleaning with a hospital grade sanitizer followed with an exposure to UV Light.
 
What do you guys think about those Lysol disinfectant wipes on a Glock? I'm almost certain it wouldn't cause any problems but I just want to make sure before suggesting someone wipe down their $500 gun with them.
 
Ka26, I've yet to find anything that will hurt a Glock finish. I'm pretty you could throw one in the ocean for a month without significant damage. I see no reason why a Lysol wipe would hurt a thing.
 
Haha.

I still have coyote blood on my rifle.

But I don't think any household disinfectant will harm a quality polymer. I would just use alcohol wipes...if I were concerned about such things.
 
I am a bit of a mysophobic also. At least when it comes down to human germs. I would eat after my dog before I would eat after another person. I dont think germs on my firearms has ever been an issue. But stuff like restroom door handles makes me cringe. Always wash hands, dry with towel and use towel to open door before tossing it. Cant stand touching menus and that kind of stuff.
Wipe them down with alcohol. The only thing that it could hurt shinny finishes on wood or if there is a painted surface on the gun. Both of which are rare.
 
The alcohol should be fine, I doubt it would do anything to the metal of finish.

But do keep chlorine bleach away from aluminium, I don't know exactly what it does, but I've seen some weird stuff happen.
 
I will take those highly infectious guns from you if you are worried about aquiring some exotic disease...

Just place them in a biohazard bag prior to send to my ffl ;)
 
"But do keep chlorine bleach away from aluminium, I don't know exactly what it does, but I've seen some weird stuff happen."

And stainless steel.

I had a bottle of bleach leak in one of my cabinets and puddle under a stainless steel cooking pot. Don't know how long they were in contact, but it pitted the living hell out of the pot.
 
Probably the safest option would be to send all non Glocks to me through a FFL or whatever meets the requirements of law for permanent sanitary storage. I would be willing to sacrifice my safety against the germs for your benefit. :D
 
Thanks Ben, that's what I figured.

I'm not much of a germaphobe either, this was in reference to a post I made a few days ago about a friend having her gun stolen over a year ago by some homeless guy. The police recovered it in a dope house & who knows who had their hands on it. I'm sure she's going to want to give it a good wipedown after she picks it up, I know I would.
 
I got to thinking about tea tree oil and did some reading. Applied topically it is considered to be anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal. Prevents transmission of MRSA.

"Mix 14 ounces of water with 1 ounce of Murphy's oil soap and 10 drops of tea tree oil. Use an old spray bottle that has been cleaned thoroughly, and then mark the outside of the spray bottle with "Tea Tree Oil Cleaner" or with a similar name."

Constant use is not good for wood, but if you use it occasionally it will impart the anti-septic properties of tea tree oil to the wood.
 
When my machining career fizzled out I needed a job.The one that was open was school custodian.I have been doing it 8 yrs.

Restrooms get cleaned with hospital grade disinfectant daily.

FWIW,someone did a study comparing bacterial counts of school toilet bowl water versus the ice in drinks from fast food restaurants...need I say more?
 
Ain't no germ living in varnish, wood polish, oil, gun oil, or solvents. Just clean your guns the way we all should be cleaning our guns. You'll be fine.
 
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