With the second lockdown order and most recent announcement to stay at home in Ontario, it has become even more important to keep your home space as clean and tidy as possible. After all, this is where you’re going to spend most of your time during the lockdown. Keeping the home clean and organized can also help keep outside germs away, and less clutter means more space to work (for those working from home). Studies have shown that a tidy work and living space can help improve mental health and well-being. Without further ado, here are the top tips for keeping your home clean and organized:
1) Sanitize high-touch surfaces often
Studies have shown that the coronavirus can remain on surfaces for hours or days, depending on the surface. COVID-19 can live on surfaces such as cardboard for 24 hours, but up to 2-3 days on plastic and stainless steel. High-touch surfaces should be cleaned and disinfected regularly. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends cleaning and disinfecting the above high-touch surfaces at least once daily.
High-touch surfaces at home include:
- Door knobs
- Light switches
- Table surfaces
- Hard dining chairs (seat, back, and arms)
- Kitchen counters
- Bathroom counters
- Faucets and faucet knobs
- Toilets (seat and handle)
- TV remote controls
- Game controllers
The CDC has the following tips for disinfecting:
- If a surface is visibly dirty, clean it with soap and water first, then use a disinfectant
- Wear disposable gloves.
- Make sure you have good ventilation in the area where you are cleaning.
- Use a diluted household bleach solution, or an alcohol-based solution with at least 70% alcohol.
- The Environmental Protection Agency has a list of cleaning products that meet its criteria for use against the 2019 novel coronavirus.
- Follow instructions on the cleaning product’s label, and check to make sure it isn’t expired.
- Wash your hands when you’re done.
- Washing or sanitizing your hands often can also help eliminate most germs you might pick up from touching a contaminated surface.
2) Clean first, then disinfect
First, clean the surfaces to remove any contaminants, dust, or debris. You can do this by wiping them with soapy water (or a cleaning spray) and a hand towel. Then apply a surface-appropriate disinfectant. The quickest and easiest way to do this is with disinfecting wipes or disinfectant spray.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a full list of disinfectants that will kill the novel coronavirus. Common disinfectants:
- Disinfecting wipes (e.g. Clorox, Lysol, or a store brand)
- Disinfectant spray (e.g. Clorox, Lysol, Purell)
- Isopropyl alcohol
- Hydrogen peroxide
Most disinfectants can be found online through Amazon or Walmart if your grocery store is out of stock. Most disinfectants should have a label that lists the viruses they’re effective against, and that’s what you’ll want to look out for more than any particular active ingredient.
3) Wash your hands often
Wash your hands after you cough, sneeze, touch your face, use the restroom, or are about to leave one place for another. You should wash your hands when you leave and return from the grocery store, for instance.
Moisturizing your hands is also important. Dry, cracked skin is at greater risk for all kinds of infections, so apply a little moisturizer after you wash.
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If you’re looking for a professional cleaning service to clean and disinfect your home, give us a shout! We offer different packages for residential cleaning, and we use environmentally friendly cleaning agents.
Stay Safe,
The GTB Team