Having a clean and well-organized home is among the top priorities of homeowners today, as a recent survey has revealed that Americans spend about six hours per week cleaning their houses. It’s no surprise why people are spending more time and effort to clean. Regular dusting, mopping, and disinfection of various surfaces not only adds to a home’s aesthetic value, but it can also prevent the spread of disease-causing germs. To keep your loved ones healthy, try these smart cleaning techniques for a pristine and germ-free home.
Equip yourself with protective cleaning gear
As the world continues to battle the spread of COVID-19, millions of people have begun to appreciate the value of having the right gear to protect themselves from getting sick. To maintain a safe and hygienic environment, not only do you need the right cleansers to get rid of the germs, but you also need to have the proper gear to protect yourself and prevent contact infection. This is particularly important when you’re cleaning outside your home, so put on a long-sleeved shirt, a pair of tight-fitting disposable gloves, and a mask before heading outside to clean your patio, porch, or den.
Before going inside your home, take off your footwear and the gloves. Once inside, change into a different set of clothing to avoid bringing pathogens into your home. Don’t forget to immediately wash your clothes with regular laundry soap and dry them in the drier at a slightly higher temperature than usual, or hang them out to dry in direct sunlight.
Focus on cleaning high-touch surfaces
High-touch surfaces refer to parts and items in the home that are frequently used or touched by the members of your family. Some of these are door knobs, tables, chairs, faucets, toilet seats and handles, bathroom and kitchen counters, TV remote controls, desk surfaces, computers and computer accessories, and smartphones. To lower your family’s risk of contact infection, clean these surfaces and items first by dusting or wiping them clean, then disinfect with a disinfectant wipe. You can also use a microfiber cloth spritzed with a liquid disinfectant such as Lysol, Clorox, or isopropyl alcohol to get rid of germs and bacteria.
Make your own disinfectant
If you’re unable to go out or if cleaning supplies are scarce at your neighborhood grocery, you can make your own disinfectant by combining 4 to 5 tablespoons of bleach with a quart of water. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle with a fine mist, then spray onto surfaces that you need to disinfect. Wait for at least 4 minutes before wiping items and surfaces with a slightly damp microfiber cloth. If you prefer to use natural cleaning solutions such as vinegar or baking soda, you may use them in lieu of commercially available disinfectants to get your home sparkling clean. However, they may not be enough to kill viruses such as COVID-19, so use the bleach and water mixture instead if you want to properly disinfect your home.
Maintaining a clean, germ-free home is one of the best ways to keep your loved ones healthy. Try these tips to properly clean and disinfect your house, and remember to clean as often as you can for best results.