We want our homes to be a safe haven (particularly during stressful times), and part of that is living in an environment that promotes good health. The virus that causes COVID-19 is transferred mostly through intimate personal contact, according to the most recent information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (within about 6 feet).

So it’s more vital to maintain social distance, avoid touching your face, and wash your hands frequently and thoroughly than it is to obsess on housekeeping. Although the CDC has not discovered evidence of surface-to-person transmission (which is great! ), the virus can remain on surfaces for hours to days, making regular cleaning and disinfection a good idea during this period.

Hand-Washing Stations Should Be Upgraded

Hands should be washed for 20 seconds with soap and water after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing, before eating or preparing food, and after using the restroom, according to the CDC. Fill every sink in the house with the following items to make handwashing easier and more sanitary:

  • a bottle of hand soap in liquid form (anti-bacterial soap not needed)
  • A roll of paper towels and a wastebasket, or stacks of new hand towels and a hamper for soiled ones
  • a container of sanitising wipes for cleaning faucets and countertops on a daily basis

Isn’t Hand Sanitizer a Good Idea?

When soap and water aren’t available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. However, if your hands are clearly unclean, hand sanitizer will not be helpful, and you should wash them instead.

  • Understanding the Difference Between Cleaning and Disinfection
  • Cleaning should always come first; if a surface is unclean, germs may be hidden behind the dirt and grime, making disinfection efforts ineffective.
  • Cleaning helps to minimise the number of germs by removing dirt, filth, and germs.
  • Disinfecting uses chemicals to destroy germs on surfaces, which helps to lower the chance of illness transmission when done after cleaning.

Use the Proper Products — and Stick to the Guidelines

When it comes to cleaning, all you need is basic soap and water. However, it’s critical to make sure you’re using the appropriate disinfectant for the second step. You should seek disinfectants that have been licenced by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to combat the new coronavirus (see the current list here). Do you already have rubbing alcohol or bleach on hand? Either way, the COVID-19 virus will be defeated. (A word of caution when cleaning surfaces with bleach: it can discolour laminate and harm the seal on granite and other stone counters over time.)

  • If surfaces are unclean, start by cleaning them with soap and water.
  • Mix 5 tablespoons (13 cups) bleach per gallon of water or 4 teaspoons bleach per quart of water to make a bleach solution. Never combine home bleach with ammonia or other cleaning products.
  • If you’re going to use rubbing alcohol, be sure it has at least 70% alcohol in it.
  • Examine the dates of expiry. Do not use outdated medications since they may not work against the COVID-19 virus.