Ever since COVID-19 was declared a pandemic, the WHO and the CDC have recommended different personal safety precautions. Proper hand hygiene, observing social distancing, and wearing face masks have proven to be the most effective measures. However, in addition to that, keeping your residence clean and disinfected during this outbreak is also essential. Making your home germfree keeps you and your family safe and prevents the spread of the virus. That is why it is crucial to effectively clean and disinfect different spaces in your home.
With the current novel coronavirus situation, old cleaning hacks are not enough to get rid of pathogens on different surfaces. Along with cleaning, disinfecting the area is also indispensable to get rid of the germs. Fabric wipes sweep the dust and dirt, while disinfectants and sanitizers eliminate the hazardous organisms present. Thus, to ensure adequate home hygiene, cleaning has to be followed by sanitization and disinfection.
The surfaces that people frequently touch and interact with should be the priority when disinfecting the house. It includes:
- Door handles and doorknobs
- Light switches
- Kitchen furniture and counters
- TV Remotes
- Railings
- Desks, tables, and chairs
- Toilet seat
- Sinks, washbasins, and taps
- Trash can lids
The ideal strategy is to approach the rooms one by one. This way, you will be assured that all of the rooms are appropriately disinfected and sanitized. It is recommended that you wear a pair of disposable gloves. If they are not available, you can use the regular ones and thoroughly wash and dry them after each cycle. Here are some of the ways you can clean and disinfect areas of your house during COVID-19.
- Bedroom
The bedroom is a place for you to unwind and relax. Additionally, during the lockdown, it is probably your temporary office space too. In order to sterilize the bedroom, you should start from the bed and the side tables. After that, the cleaning and disinfecting of the mattress, bedsheets, blankets, pillows, duvets, and pillow covers are up next. For cleaning, you will need a good detergent, bleach, water, and a vacuum cleaner. As for sanitization, you should use EPA-approved disinfectant to clean surfaces.
- Living Room
Majority of the population have been confined to their homes, the living room area usually gets messy with family members spending a lot more time there. It also happens to be the first room that is used when someone comes home and/or visitors. Therefore, it is vital to keep it clean and germ-free. The surfaces that are more regularly used, such as the doorknobs, handles, and switches are where you should start. After cleaning and wiping the high touch sections, other surfaces like chairs, different tables, shelves, racks, etc. should be treated. If you have kids that play on the floor, disinfect the spots with a cleaner that contains Sodium Hypochlorite as an active ingredient. Make sure that you follow the instructions on the packaging. It is recommended to check the cleaner’s compatibility first by testing it on a small portion and then rinsing it.
- Kitchen
With most of the family members at home, kitchens are busier than usual to prepare meals and cook food for everyone. That is why kitchen hygiene is also essential in ensuring the safety of the entire household. You should wash the utensils and the cooking platform every day. You can use a dishwashing liquid for this purpose. As for the floor, a good floor cleaner will suffice, but make sure that it does not interact with food. Again, following the instructions on the back of the product is crucial.
- Bathroom
Bathrooms are often used, and wet spaces that need to be cleaned and sanitized as frequently as possible. To clean and disinfect the restroom areas, make sure to put on rubber gloves first before you handle and apply bleach or any other EPA-approved surface disinfectant. Along with tackling the toilet seat section, the face and hand napkins, towels, bathrobes, etc. should also be thoroughly washed using a detergent to get rid of germs.
- Kids’ Room
Keeping the kids safe is the priority of every parent, and similarly, in this case, their room should be cleaned and sanitized daily. Start with gently dusting and wiping any dust or dirt. After that, use a regular detergent and water solution to clean the room. Sweeping and mopping should be performed every day. Once you’re done, you should use an EPA-approved surface disinfectant to complete the job. Again, focus on all the high-touch zones, as well as the floor.
After cleaning and sanitizing one room, you should disinfect the equipment before heading to the next one. This will limit any transmission of germs from one part of the house to the other. Keep yourself updated with the latest CDC recommendations and follow them strictly to keep yourself and your loved ones safe.
