Home Cleaning Tips to Protect Against COVID-19
Right now, we’re living in a world where social distancing, masks, and handwashing have become essential to staying healthy and well. With the novel coronavirus still being an issue, it’s enough to make anyone a little stressed out and anxious. Understanding how the virus is spread and what you can do to keep your home safe can offer a little peace of mind and ensure your family stays healthy.
The Basics About COVID-19
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it’s believed that coronavirus is primarily spread when someone healthy has close contact with another person who has COVID-19 and who is sneezing or coughing. This is why social distancing is such an important part of the new routine to fight this deadly pandemic.
However, there’s also a possibility that the virus can be passed when touching something that was contaminated and then touching your nose, eyes, or mouth. Because there are still unknown factors about the novel coronavirus, it might make you wonder how much caution you should use. That’s why we want to share some tips on how to clean your home to keep the entire family as safe as possible.
Recommendations from the CDC About Cleaning and Disinfection
The CDC makes a point that you should be cleaning and sanitizing all of the high-touch surfaces in your home. Some of the items that this may include are the following:
Custom Counters
Desks
Dining Chairs
Doorknobs
Faucets
Handles
Keyboards
Light Switches
Phones
Remote Controls
Sinks
Tables
Toilets
Video Game Controllers
Of course, every home is going to be different. There might be certain surfaces that are interacted with more in your home than someone else’s. Think about other things that you often touch and add those to the list for your safety and that of the others in your home.
The first step is to clean any of the surfaces using soap and water or detergent. This should be followed by using a household disinfectant to ensure things are as pristine as possible. This is the best way to prevent any chance of transmission of the virus through contaminated surfaces. For example, your custom cabinets in Orange County, CA, should be cleaned and then disinfected for your family’s health.
Not sure why cleaning and disinfecting are both necessary? Cleaning is a process that removes contaminants from a surface, while a disinfectant kills pathogens. These things should be done daily, especially if someone has come into or left your home. The same applies if you’ve brought any goods into the house over the last day.
All About Choosing Disinfectants
While almost everyone has soap and water to clean surfaces, you may wonder if you have a product that works as a disinfectant. The good news is that when you check the label of a disinfectant, it should mention what viruses it can prevent against, which is more important than going through the ingredient list. If the product indicates it can kill RSB, influenza, SARS, or other forms of coronavirus, it will work fine.
A few of the disinfectants that you can choose from include:
Disinfectant Sprays (Such as Lysol, Clorox, and Purell)
Disinfecting Wipes (Clorox, Lysol, or other brands)
Hydrogen Peroxide
Isopropyl Alcohol
Since some stores have trouble keeping these products in supply, you might find yourself in a situation where you need to make your own. Don’t worry. The process is simple and comes straight from the CDC. You’ll want to combine four teaspoons of household bleach with one quart of water in a spray bottle and then shake. It can be sprayed on surfaces, allowed to sit for 10 minutes, and then wiped away with a wet cloth.
Keep in mind that using bleach can have some disadvantages. It shouldn’t be mixed with other cleaning chemicals, and it can discolor and damage surfaces, like your custom cabinets in Los Angeles County, CA. It should only be used in situations where you have access to no other disinfectants. When using it, open your windows, wear gloves, and be careful.
The Washing Machine and Keeping Clothes Safe
You might be wondering if the washing machine will keep your clothes safe and that is mostly the case. You can wash with the same laundry soap you always do but may want to dry the laundry at a higher temperature to ensure the clothing is disinfected. However, you also need to be sure you disinfect surfaces where the dirty laundry has been, such as your hands and the hamper, especially if someone in the home is sick.
The hamper can be cleaned and disinfected like any other surface and you can thoroughly wash your hands after doing laundry for additional safety. Placing a liner in your hamper is also a recommendation from the CDC. Don’t forget to clean items like backpacks and coats, too. Using a disinfectant wipe on the inside should be enough if the item can’t be run through a washing machine.
What to Do About Electronic Devices
Many people use their devices throughout the day, making them high touch surfaces that are carried with you wherever you go. That’s why it’s essential to keep them cleaned and disinfected, just like other items in your home. In most cases, the best option is to use a disinfecting wipe, but there are going to be exceptions to the rules.
For example, laptop displays should be cleaned with isopropyl alcohol and a soft rag. The other components of the computer can be wiped down, such as the keyboard and exterior. Other items that are primarily made of glass or plastic can be cleaned with a disinfecting wipe.
Keep Your Home and Your Family Safe
At this point, you have the information you need to keep your home clean, disinfected, and safe for everyone who lives in it. The most important thing is to be thorough and ensure you do this every day. Keeping your home clean, washing your hands frequently, and wearing a mask when you are outside of the home are all precautions that can help during the pandemic.
So get in there and clean your Custom Cabinets in Orange County, CA. Make sure to take care of the faucets and light switches to be sure everything is disinfected and suitable for use. Once you make it into a habit, it will just be another thing you add to your day. Good luck!
Feel free to contact us with any questions.