During these unprecedented times, it’s likely that you’re looking for the best ways to keep you and your family safe. As far as that safety goes, keeping your living space clean and free of germs is the simplest way to protect yourself from the things which can be brought in from the outside world. Today, I’m going to highlight some of the best tips and tricks that experts recommend when keeping your space free of Coronavirus.
The Dos and Don’ts
The first thing you should do when cleaning your home is: wipe everything down with soap and water. This may seem trivial and unnecessary, but you have to get that first layer of invisible dirt and grime off your surfaces if you want your disinfectants to work. Taking away that layer with soap and water will get rid of an obstacle for your disinfectant, and it will make your efforts all the more effective.
Another tip for effective cleaning is to use multiple towels, paper towels, or disinfecting wipes instead of reusing the same one all over the house. Even though it may seem like you are still cleaning, you are really just picking up germs in one place and leaving them in another, which is counterintuitive to your efforts.
The importance of ventilation while cleaning is not only to protect yourself from the fumes emitted from disinfectants, but to also allow a virus to not be trapped inside a space with nowhere to go. Keeping open airflow available to a space you think could be affected by Covid-19 is recommended and necessary.
Be Consistent
Consistency with cleaning is going to be your best friend, and you should get used to doing it often. Don’t do it once per week; do it every day. New variables are introduced into your home every day, even if you are doing all the things you’re supposed to (such as socially distancing). Since we don’t know very much about the novel Covid-19 yet, it’s unclear how long it lives on surfaces or how long it stays airborne before dying. Experts recommend disinfecting everything that comes into your house, including packages and groceries.
CDC Recommendations
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends, on their website, a bleach solution of 5 tablespoons bleach and 1 gallon water or 4 tablespoons bleach in a quart of water in order to effectively clean your surfaces. They recommend using one pair of disposable gloves per cleaning session (discarding immediately after) or, if you’re using a reusable pair, to dedicate those gloves to Covid-only cleaning, and to wash your hands immediately after use.
The CDC also recommends washing the clothes of a sick person (or a member of the household who has just made a grocery run) on the highest temperature setting your washer has. Whether you think there is a strong possibility for the Coronavirus to have been brought into your home or not, you should treat it as though you’re sure there is an active virus at hand. Follow the link here for more information on how to best fight the virus.