The Difference Between Cleaning and Disinfecting
It’s important to note that cleaning a surface – simply removing dirt and particles – is not the same thing as disinfecting it to kill viruses and bacteria. There are many products you can use to clean hard surfaces, like soapy water and vinegar. And while cleaning high-traffic surfaces to remove contaminants, dust and debris is a necessary step of cleaning your home, you still need to disinfect those surfaces from the novel coronavirus.
Which Cleaning Products Kill COVID-19?
Not all cleaning products are effective on all types of germs, so you should know exactly which products kill COVID-19. You might already have some of these effective products in your home, like: - Disinfecting wipes, including Clorox, Lysol or store brand wipes - Disinfectant sprays, such as Purell, Clorox or Lysol - Isopropyl alcohol - Hydrogen peroxide And while using effective virus-killing products is key, it’s also important to follow the proper techniques to thoroughly disinfect surfaces. The EPA advises letting the product sit and remain wet on surfaces or objects for 10 minutes, and that will kill 99.9 percent of germs.
Hire a Premium Disinfecting Specialist
If you don’t have any disinfecting products on hand and are unable to find any in stores, a great option is a local disinfecting specialist like my friend Oliver from Germz Be Gone (germzbegone.com), who uses EPA-registered (List "N"), nontoxic, botanical disinfectants for use against coronavirus, norovirus, staph, fungi and more. Disinfects soft surfaces and eliminates 99.9% of most allergens upon contact. The beauty...our disinfectant fogging service is nontoxic so it won't harm your health in the process.
Disinfecting Against COVID-19
You don’t need to clean your house from top to bottom each day, but you should focus on disinfecting the areas that are hot-spots for germs. These are the most important items to disinfect every day: - Cupboard and drawer knobs/pulls - Faucets - Kitchen and bathroom counters - Toilets, especially the seat and handle - Refrigerator, dishwasher, oven and microwave handles - Remote controls and game controllers - Cell phones, tablets and other mobile devices - Computer keyboards and mice - Door knobs/handles - Table surfaces - Staircase railings - Light switches/switch plates If possible, wear disposable gloves and discard them after disinfecting. If you have reusable gloves, be sure to disinfect them after you’re done. And always remember to wash your hands before and after you clean and disinfect your home.
How to Clean and Disinfect If You Have a Sick Person In Your Home
If you have a sick person in your home, the CDC recommends taking extra precautions to clean and disinfect your household areas. The person who is sick should stay separated from other people in the home and use a separate bedroom and bathroom, if possible. You should only clean and disinfect the area around the person who is sick when needed, such as when the area is soiled. This will help limit your contact with the person who is sick. If possible, you can provide cleaning supplies to the person who is sick so they can clean their own space if they’re able. If you are sharing a bathroom with a sick person, they should clean and disinfect the space after each use. If this is not possible, you should wait as long as possible before cleaning and disinfecting.
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Nick Cope Realtor®
Forever Home Realty
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