Disinfecting Your Home During COVID-19
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues and many of us spend our days at home, you may be wondering how to best keep your house clean and healthy throughout the quarantine.
While some of us are safely tucked away all day, other families have essential workers who go out and do their jobs despite the risk.
But whether you have people leaving your home for work or not, you may still have to do things like pick up groceries or go to the pharmacy.
Because each interaction can increase the spread of this pandemic, it is important for all households to do their part and stay at home as much as possible.
It is equally as important that we all do what we can to keep our home environments healthy.
Today, we at Hollister House Cleaning will share some of our best tips and tricks for disinfecting your home during a pandemic.
Clean
Pick up
The first step in creating a truly clean and healthy environment is to clean up around the house. Go through each and every room picking up and putting things back into their designated place.
It may also be a wise idea to throw away, give away, or recycle anything that your family no longer needs. Having less items around will make managing and disinfecting your home much easier.
Once all of the rooms in your home are nice and neat you can then move on to really cleaning.
Dust
Dusting is the next step in your journey to having a nice clean home.
One thorough way to get rid of all that dust that has built up in your house is to use a bucket of warm water, some dish soap, and a washcloth.
Begin dusting by starting at the top of ceiling fans, light fixtures, shelves, and entertainment centers and working your way down right to your baseboards.
If you are up for it, consider washing your walls.
Make sure you clear off surfaces and get every inch of your home where dirt might build up. Dust off any objects and knick knacks that also might be covered in dust.
Vacuum
Vacuuming is another great way to get rid of dust and dirt, ensuring you have a clean house.
Go through every room and vacuum furniture, rugs, curtains, and all floors. Move furniture and make sure you are getting any dust bunnies or built up dirt underneath couches and tables.
This may also be a good time to clean your carpets if you are able.
Mop
Now to make your floors shine! Use your mopping tools of choice and begin methodically mopping any hard flooring in your home.
You can also disinfect your floors while mopping. This will save time and energy later on when you are disinfecting your house. A vinegar solution can make a great floor disinfectant.
Be sure to use the right cleaning supplies depending on your floor type.
Disinfect
Wash With Soap And Water
If a surface, such as your countertop, is clearly dirty use soap and warm water to wash it before disinfecting.
Make sure to clean any surfaces with water and soap before disinfecting so you can wash away any dirt or dust first.
Make Or Buy A Disinfectant
You can use a store bought product such as Lysol wipes to disinfect your home, or you can make your own disinfecting solution at home.
To combat the virus, the CDC recommends making a household disinfectant by mixing 1 quart of water and 4 tablespoons of bleach. Then shake the container to properly mix.
When using this solution, spray surfaces and let sit for 10 minutes before wiping away with a wet cloth.
When disinfecting your house focus on highly used objects and areas, such as doorknobs, remotes, light switches, toilets, and electronics.
Although these are important areas to focus on, be sure to go through your whole home disinfecting often.
Wear Disposable Gloves
While you are disinfecting your home it is a good idea to wear gloves, preferably disposable.
However, if you are not able to do that, then have a pair specifically designated for disinfecting.
Be sure to wash them as well and keep them in a safe place.
Preventive Measures
Wash Hands
After you are done cleaning and disinfecting be sure to thoroughly wash your hands.
You should also wash your hands often throughout the day including, but not limited to, after using the toilet, before preparing food, and after disposing of garbage.
Be sure to follow the CDCs recommended hand washing guide. Wash for 20 seconds with warm water and soap. If that is not possible use hand sanitizer.
Hand Sanitizer By The Door
One good way of preventing the spread of germs is having hand sanitizer by your front door so you can clean your hands as you enter your house.
Hamper By The Door
If you have an essential worker in the home who comes in contact with a lot of people, it would be wise to have a hamper by the door so you can get any potentially contaminated clothing immediately to the washer.
Use The Disinfectant Cycle On Your Washer
When washing clothes, and any soft things in your home like a rug or curtain that you want to disinfect, you can use the disinfectant setting on your washing machine.
Disinfect Groceries
When you buy groceries, it is a good idea to wipe down each object and food item so that you do not bring any germs into your home.
Follow that same advice with any new product brought into your home like packages and take out containers.