You really need short wavelength UV (sometimes called UV-C) to effectively disinfect. So you want to check that the UV bulb you purchased emits in that range. Typical black light bulbs filter out UV-C. Obviously the effectiveness also depends on intensity and time of exposure.
Disclaimer, I am neither a microbiologist or or an expert on UV-C salinization.
This article may be of interest:
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200327-can-you-kill-coronavirus-with-uv-light
With that out of the way, I built my own UV-C sanitizer which is similar to what nail salons use to sanitize intruments, though I use two 8-watt UV-C tubes instead of the typical single tube.
An inexpensive system can consist of a simple under-the-counter 8-watt fluorescent light fixture, the correct germicidal lamp and a cardboard box - which is what I used while I was waiting to put together version 2.0
I bought a desktop oven with essential specifications that it must have an inner cavity at least 12 inches wide and with a mechanical timer that ran for at least 30 minutes. My intention was to remove the heating elements and install two fixtures, one top and one bottom.
UV-C light can be damaging to the eyes so no light should leak from the cardboard box or housing while in use. The doors of the oven were clear glass, so I laminated black polyethylene to the inside doors.
This is the tube I used:
And this is what the completed sanitizer looks like:
Watch, wallet, credit cards used, gloves, mask, car keys and afterward, the shoes that I wore go in there for about 25 minutes.
I treat the mail as well.
😉
