As the COVID-19 pandemic spreads around the world, it’s a good time to understand how some cleaning products and techniques can help prevent the spread of disease and what you can do to cut the risk of infection in your home.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests routine disinfection of frequently touched surfaces like tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, keys, monitors, computers, devices, toilets, faucets, and appliances. The CDC also suggests using detergent or soap and water on contaminated surfaces prior to disinfection. These instructions affect houses and commercial establishments. Thus, it’s recommendable to hire residential and commercial cleaning services.
If anybody in your household has flu-like symptoms, try disinfecting items in your household on a daily basis, as SARS-CoV-2 has been shown to live for 16 hours on plastics. Whatever cleaning product you use, keep it in contact with the surface long enough to eliminate viruses and other pathogens. The period required depends on the material. Do not use multiple cleaning products at the same period. Many household chemicals, if combined, may contain harmful and toxic gases.
Cleaning with bleach
Bleach can be combined with cold water to create an efficient disinfectant against microbes, fungi and other pathogens, including coronaviruses. You will usually use one-quarter cup of bleach per 1 gallon of cold water — but be careful to check the instructions on the bleach bottle. Create the dilute bleach solution as specified and use it within 24 hours as its disinfecting capacity fades over time.
To make a bleach solution, mix:
5 tablespoons (1/3rd cup) bleach per gallon of water OR 4 teaspoons bleach per quart of water
Cleaning with alcohol
Alcohol in several ways, like rubbing alcohol, may be efficient in eliminating several pathogens.
You must dilute alcohol with water (or aloe vera to create a hand sanitizer) so be careful to maintain an alcohol concentration of about 70% to eliminate COVID-19. Most hand sanitizers have a concentration of around 60 percent alcohol and Lysol includes around 80 percent alcohol, both of which are efficient against coronaviruses.
Cleaning with hydrogen peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is usually distributed at a concentration of around 3%. This can be used as is or diluted to a concentration of 0.5 per cent for efficient surface use against coronaviruses. This will be left on the surface for one minute before cleaning.
It’s vinegar efficient against coronavirus?
Vinegar, tea tree oil and other natural cleaning products are not approved for COVID-19 control.
How to clean and disinfect
Wear plastic gloves for washing and disinfecting. Clean surfaces with soap and water. Practice daily cleaning on often touched objects.
High touch surfaces include:
Tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, sinks, etc.
Disinfect
Clean the spot or object with soap and water or some other detergent if it is contaminated. Use a household disinfectant. Follow the guidelines on the packaging to guarantee the secure and effective usage of the product. Therefore, you should clean the way a maid service will do it.
Many products recommend:
- Keeping the surface wet for a time period (see product label) Precautions such as wearing gloves and ensuring that you have adequate ventilation during usage of the product.
- Dilated household bleach solutions can also be used, if necessary, on the surface.
- Check the label and see that the bleach is meant for disinfection and to guarantee that the product does not exceed its expiration date. Any bleaches, such as those meant for safe usage on colored clothes or for whitening, might not be appropriate for disinfection.
- Unexpired household bleach would be protective against COVID-19 if adequately diluted.
- Follow the guidelines of the supplier for application and adequate ventilation. Never combine household bleach with ammonia or some other chemical.
- Leave the solution to the surface for at least 1 minute.
Soft surfaces
For soft surfaces such as carpeted floor, rugs, and drapes.
- Clean the surface with soap and water or with cleaners ideal for usage on such surfaces.
- Launder objects (if possible) as instructed by the manufacturer. Use the warmest water settings and fully dry the objects.
- Disinfect with an EPA-registered household disinfectant. Such disinfectants follow the EPA requirements for use against COVID-19.
- Follow the instructions of the supplier for washing and disinfecting
Electronics
For electronics, such as tablets, touch screens, keyboards, and remote controls.
- Consider placing a wipeable cover on the electronics
- Follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for cleaning and disinfecting
- If no advice is provided, using alcohol-based wipes or sprays containing at least 70% alcohol.
- Dry the surface completely.
Laundry
For clothing, towels, linens and other items
- Launder products as advised by the manufacturer. Use the warmest water settings and fully dry the items.
- Wear plastic gloves while treating contaminated laundry from a sick person.
- Dirty clothes by anyone who’s ill will be swept out from other people’s things.
- Don’t shake any dirty clothes.
- Clean and disinfect clothing obstructs surfaces according to the aforementioned guidelines.
- Remove the gloves and wash the hands right away.
Clean hands often
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds.
- Always wash instantly after removing your gloves and during contact with a sick person.
Hand sanitizer: If soap and water are not easily accessible and hands are not clearly dirty, use a hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol. Nonetheless, if your hands are clearly dirty, please wash your hands with soap and water.
Additional key times to clean hands include:
- After blowing one’s nose, coughing, or sneezing
- After using the restroom
- Before eating or preparing food
- After contact with animals or pets
- Before and after providing routine care for another person who needs assistance (e.g. a child)
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- When Someone is Sick
Bedroom and Bathroom
- Keep separate bedroom and bathroom for a person who is ill (if possible)
- The person who is ill should be kept separate from other persons at home (as far as possible).
If shared bedroom and bathroom, just clean the area around the person that is sick as required, including when the area is soiled. This should help to minimize the interaction with the person who is sick.
Caregivers can provide personal cleaning supplies (if possible) to the individual who is sick. Supplies include tissues, wet wipes, cleaners and EPA-registered products. If they feel that way, the individual who is sick should clean up their own room.
If shared bathroom: the person who is ill should clean and disinfect after each use. Although that is not possible, the caregiver will wait as long as possible before washing and disinfecting.
For more detail, see Precautions for family members and caregivers.
Food
- Keep separate: if possible, the person who is sick must eat (or be fed) in their room.
- Clean dishes and utensils with gloves and hot water: handle any used plates, cups / glasses or gloves with silverware. Clean with soap and hot water or in a dishwasher.
- Wash your hands when taking off your gloves or touching the used objects.
TrashDedicated, lined trash can: whenever necessary, dedicate a lined trash can to a person who is sick. Use gloves for removing garbage bags and storing and disposing of waste. Clean your hands afterwards.
If you don’t have the time or energy to take care of this, you could always hire house cleaning services.
