Looking for a guide to disinfect your home? We’ve got you covered!
Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash
What Products Disinfect?
To disinfect your home, make sure you are using the right products. Cleaners that contain bleach or alcohol will be your best bet. However, there are other cleaning products, like vinegar, that may be effective against some bacteria and viruses. If you want to check your specific cleaner, the EPA has a comprehensive list of approved products. This list also lets you know how long the cleaner must be wet on the surface in order to kill germs.
In addition to bleach and alcohol-based cleaners, the high heat of steam can be effective, as can good old soap and hot water.
Room by Room
Without even realizing it, your normal cleaning routine kills germs, viruses, and bacteria. So go ahead with your normal cleaning routine room by room. Since you are cleaning with disinfecting in mind, you might add a few items to your checklist. For instance, instead of a cleaning rag, use paper towels that can be thrown away. Or, use a fresh cleaning rag for each area of your home to avoid spreading germs from one area to the next. Also, you probably want to pay more attention to wiping down areas that are frequently touched if you don’t typically do that. Places like doorknobs, sink handles, railings, light switches, chair backs, etc are places that you want to be sure to disinfect.
What About Fabric?
Anything that can be thrown in the wash can be disinfected in the washing machine with soap and water. Use as high a temperature for both the wash and dry cycle as recommended by the manufacturer. For items that can’t be tossed in the wash, like sofas and chairs, you have a few options. First, vacuum the furniture, then spray it with a disinfecting alcohol-based spray. You can either purchase a spray or make your own. If you have a steam cleaner with attachments, you can use that to clean your furniture as well. For a complete guide on disinfecting furniture, click here.
Don’t Forget to Disinfect These
Are there places you are forgetting to disinfect? After you clean, take a walk through your home room by room, and think about all the surfaces that are frequently handled by germy hands and start wiping and spraying.
Here is a list of things you might have forgotten:
- Phones and Electronics
- Keyboards
- Headphones
- Door Handles
- Light Switches
- Doorbell
- Railings
- Walls
- Laundry baskets
- Car steering wheel, handles etc…
- Pens, notebooks, art supplies
- Toys
- Books, bookshelves
Get Outside
It’s not just an old wives’ tale: sunlight can kill germs. So open the blinds and let the sun shine in. Even better, open the windows and let the fresh air in. You can even take hard-to-disinfect items, like area rugs, outside to spend some time in the UV rays.
Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash
Now it’s your turn to head outside. A walk in the sunshine is a great way to reward yourself for all the hard work you put into disinfecting your home.
