Tips for Keeping Your Home Clean In the Time of COVID-19

Tips for Keeping Your Home Clean In the Time of COVID-19
Tips for Keeping Your Home Clean In the Time of COVID-19

Novel Coronavirus 2019 or COVID-19 has singlehandedly disrupted the entire world. As of today, more than 2 million cases have been confirmed worldwide, while 135,226 fatalities have occurred because of the infectious virus.

Until a vaccine is developed, our best course of action is to stay in isolation and maintain impeccable hygiene. World health authorities such as UNICEF, CDC, and NHS, among others, are strongly encouraging people to keep themselves and their homes clean.

People know that they must wash their hands for 20 seconds or use a hand sanitizer frequently to make sure they remain virus-free. However, cleaning your self is not enough. You must also clean your home and make sure that it is disinfected.

After reviewing guidelines from credible health authorities, we have compiled guidelines on the best way to clean your home during COVID-19.

Read on to Learn More.

How Long Can Coronavirus Survive On Household Surfaces?

Notable health authorities have found the following information about the life of Coronavirus on different surfaces:

Surface Example How long COVID-19 lasts
 

¾     Stainless Steel

 

Pots and Pans, Refrigerators, Kitchen Sinks, Travelling cups & Bottles, etc.

 

 

72 hours/3 days

 

¾     Plastic

 

Plastic Containers, Plastic Bags, Seating, Bottles, Gloves, Baskets, Etc.

 

 

48 – 72 hours/ 2 -3 days

 

¾     Copper

 

Currency Coins, Cooking Wear, Decoration Items, Etc.

 

 

4 hours

 

¾     Aluminum

 

Disposable Food Containers, Tinfoil, Soda Can, Etc.

 

 

2 – 8 hours

 

¾     Other Metals

 

Silverware, Door Handles & Knobs, Car Handles, Jewelry, Etc.

 

 

120 hours/ 5 days

 

¾     Cardboard

 

Takeaway Boxes, Shipping Boxes, Office Files, Etc.

 

 

24 hours/ 1 day

 

¾     Paper

 

Newspaper, Magazines, Letters, Cards, Wrapping Paper, Tissue Paper, Etc.

 

 

A few mins – 5 days

 

¾     Glass

 

Windows, Mirrors, Tables, Drinking Glass, Etc.

 

 

Up to 120 hours/ 5 days

 

 

¾     Ceramics

 

Pottery, Mugs, Decoration Items, Bathroom Sinks, Toilet Seat, Etc.

 

 

120 hours/ 5 days

 

¾     Wood

 

Furniture, Wooden Floors, Etc.

 

96 hours/ 4 days

General Guidelines for Cleaning & Disinfecting Your Home

How to Clean & Disinfect Hard Surfaces

  • Always wear gloves when cleaning & disinfecting your home. Gloves should be discarded or disinfected after use. If you are using reusable gloves, they must not be used for any other purpose.
  • Clean the surface before disinfecting it: if your surface is dirty, clean it with water and detergent. For instance, you may wipe down a kitchen counter, wash your bathroom sink, or clean dusty furniture before beginning disinfection.
  • Use EPA registered household disinfectants. Mix the disinfectant according to manufacturer’s guidelines. If you are using household bleach, use 4 tablespoons of bleach for one quart of water.
  • Keep the disinfectant solution in a spray bottle for easy use.
  • Dip a clean washcloth into the disinfectant solution and wring it to remove excess. Then use the washcloth on contaminated surfaces. Wipe repeatedly; at least 3 times in circular and left to right motions to thoroughly clean the surface.
  • Once it’s cleaned, spray the surface with the disinfectant solution and leave it to air dry. Do not touch the surface when it is air drying.

How to Clean Soft Surfaces

  • Wear gloves.
  • Use EPA registered cleaners that are appropriate for the soft surface, such as fabric cleaners. Use the disinfectant as directed by the manufacturer.
  • Wash the Item if possible. Launder items like linen, table cloths, and curtains, etc. at the warmest setting.
  • Get professional help you can get big items like carpets and rugs cleaned from professional cleaners. Many cleaners including Carpet Cleaning London are offering cleaning and disinfecting services during this pandemic.
  • Wash your hands afterward.

Additional Tips for Keeping Your Home Clean

  • Exercise caution when you come back from shopping: trash the plastic/paper bag you have used to bring in your groceries. Do not bring it inside your home.
  • Use a hand sanitizer to clean your hands before you come into the house again.
  • Remove your shoes outside.
  • Immediately change your clothes and put them in the laundry.
  • If you wore gloves to go shopping, remove the gloves outside, and trash them properly.
  • Disinfect your phone and watch according to CDC guidelines.
  • Keep a hand sanitizer with 60% + alcohol or alcohol wipes with you.
  • If you are getting something delivered to your home, wear disposable gloves when you go to collect it, throw away the packaging, and then throw away the gloves before bringing it inside.
  • Spray the disinfectant solution on the item and let it air dry before using it.

Pay Special Attention to High Touch Surfaces

High touch surfaces are ones that are used repeatedly, these include:

  • Doorknobs & handles
  • Light switches
  • Remote controls
  • Electronic appliances
  • Tables
  • Staircase railings
  • Cellphones
  • Kitchen counter
  • Kitchen cabinets

Since we touch these surfaces multiple times during the day, it is essential to clean them frequently.

One easy to get it all done is to divide the tasks into batches – get all the light switches at one time, then all the doorknobs, and so forth. You can also assign each surface to different family members, so more ground is covered in less time.

Is it Necessary to Clean My Home?

Prominent healthcare care organizations state that COVID-19 spreads when a healthy person comes into close contact with an infected person. The primary cause of viral dispersion is coughing or sneezing. However, it is also possible to catch the virus from a contaminated surface.

Imagine that an infected person touched something, and then you came into contact with the surface while the virus was alive, so now there is a higher chance that you have acquired the virus from the infected surface.

You may be thinking that you have been stuck inside your home for the past 30 days, how the virus would even get inside your home.

If you have not had any contact with the outside world at all (no one came in from the outside, and you did not go out), then you are probably safe. However, most of us still go out to purchase groceries or medicine, get takeout delivered to our doorsteps, get the post, and so forth.

Every day, hundreds of people buy groceries, and therefore, there is a high probability of catching the virus from inanimate objects. The virus can be on the hand of the delivery person, on your shopping cart, on the plastic bag, and the cardboard delivery box, etc.

When these things arrive inside your home, they contaminate your home and put you at a high risk of infection.

Hence, you must clean your home at regular intervals, but especially when you have come into contact with the outside world.

Final Thoughts

Hygiene has never been more critical to our health and longevity. To ensure that you and your family remain safe from Coronavirus, it is essential to clean yourself and your home regularly.