7 HOME CLEANING TIPS TO DISINFECT YOUR HOME FROM GERMS AND VIRUSES

admin | May 6, 2021

With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing practices making us spend most of our lives within the comforts and safety of our homes, frequent cleaning and disinfecting our homes is important for keeping ourselves and our family safe and healthy.

As studies have shown that the novel coronavirus can remain on surfaces for hours or days depending on the surface, regular cleaning and disinfection of high-touch surfaces like doorknobs, handles, countertops, and switches are crucial.

To help you out, Veegaland Homes, the most trusted builders in Kerala has come up with 7 home cleaning tips to disinfect germs and viruses at your home:

1. Cleaning vs disinfection

Cleaning and disinfecting are the two best ways to decrease the spread of germs and viruses throughout hard surfaces. However, they are two different procedures and should be used together to remove and kill germs and viruses.

Cleaning refers to the removal of dirt and germs from surfaces, and it will simply remove or reduce the number of germs, and not specifically kill them. Whereas, disinfecting is the process that uses chemicals to kill germs and viruses.

The use of diluted household bleach solutions or alcohol solutions with at least 70% alcohol, disinfectant wipes, and several approved household disinfectants are considered effective for disinfection. Always wear disposable gloves while using disinfectants and discard them properly after use.

2. Prioritize high touch surfaces/items

High-touch surfaces or items are those areas or items in our homes that we constantly touch and are therefore required to be frequently cleaned and disinfected. Some of the common high-touch areas within our homes include Doorknobs, switches, remote controls, keys, mobile phones, taps and faucets, tables, and benchtops.

Prioritizing these common touchpoints, first clean the surfaces removing any contaminants or dust. Wiping the surface with soapy water or cleaning spray and a hand towel would be enough. Afterward, using a surface-appropriate disinfectant wipe or spray, disinfect these areas.

3. Launder your clothes

Germs and viruses get attached to your clothing as well, and therefore, launder your used clothing, towels, and linens regularly. Before washing, do not shake the dirty laundry, as it can cause the dispersal of the virus through the air, and always wear disposable gloves, while you are loading dirty laundry into the washing machine.

While washing your clothing, wash them as you normally would, but use the warmest appropriate water setting and dry them at a slightly higher temperature than normal. Also, make sure that you wash your hands with soap and water after removing the disposable gloves and disinfect your laundry basket or clothes hamper.

4. Neat and clean bedroom

Dust, dust mites, and other related microscopic organisms can possibly live on your mattresses, bedding, and other upholsteries. As they directly contribute to poor air quality and can cause allergy to humans, wash all your bedding and related clothes once a week in hot water above 130˚F to kill dust mites.

Using zippered plastic mattress and pillow covers and vacuuming uncovered mattresses on a regular basis are also advisable alternatives. Maintaining relative humidity at about 50% or below using a dehumidifier or air conditioner is also a preventive strategy against dust mites.

5. Safely clean the electronics

Electronic devices and appliances are magnets for dust, dirty and messy fingerprints, which can be difficult to clean. Viruses and bacteria from such dirt and contaminants can make us sick as we are directly in contact with their surfaces constantly during our everyday lives.

Before cleaning and sanitizing any electronic device or appliance, check their manual first for the manufacturer’s recommendations. Also, ensure that you disconnect them from power sources and remove the batteries. Be careful not to spray cleaner, sanitizer, or any other disinfectant directly onto the devices and therefore use wipes or microfiber cloth pieces.

6. Keep the kitchen shining

The kitchen being the heart of your home, it would be frequented by everyone in your home and therefore, cleaning it regularly is a must. Especially, if you are prepping food and cooking on a daily basis, you should check and discard old and expired food in the pantry, fridge, and freezer.

For a clean, sparkling, and inviting kitchen, regularly wipe down all kitchen surfaces, including counters, tabletops, and any other surfaces you frequently come in contact with like stovetop, oven, microwave, dishwasher, and countertops. Also, wipe drawers frequently, clean the shelves in the refrigerator and freezer often and replace sponges and washcloths whenever needed.

7. Maintain a hygienic bathroom

Although modern plumbing fixtures are designed to make the task of bathroom cleaning easier, sinks, showers, tubs, and other bathroom fixtures deserve special cleaning attention. And the more you delay the cleaning, the harder it will be to get rid of all the potentially harmful bacteria. Ideally, the fixtures should be cleaned once a week and the whole bathroom should be deep cleaned once a month.
Using disinfectants designed to kill molds and fungus can help you maintain a hygienic floor and ceiling. Wiping down the tub or shower walls and curtains after bathing, discarding soiled tissues, and emptying the wastebaskets on a regular basis would also be ideal. You can also take the cleaning occasion as an opportunity to remove the clutter, vacuum all the surfaces and maintain a hygienic bathroom.

Now that you have gone through the 7 home cleaning tips to disinfect germs and viruses at your home, we hope that it will be helpful along with your efforts to make your house a safe and hygienic space.

Flourishing as the most trusted builder in Kerala, Veegaland Homes designs and builds modern living spaces with a vision to create better and sustainable living for its occupants.