Last month we officially welcomed spring. We also heard from
governments and public health officials about the importance of practicing
social distancing and self-isolation to help prevent the spread of COVID-19
(the novel coronavirus). So, with everyone staying home and doing their part to
flatten the curve, now is a great time to spring clean your home. Here are the
latest tips and recommendations from the CDC and Public Health Agency of Canada
on how to properly clean and disinfect your living spaces during the COVID-19
pandemic.
Wash your hands
First and foremost, please wash your hands. We can’t stress
the importance of good hand hygiene enough. This means washing your hands as
often as possible with warm, soapy water for a minimum of 20 seconds. “The virus
has an outside coating, and the stuff inside – DNA or RNA – is what actually
causes the disease,” explains Richard Sachleben, organic chemist and member of
the American Chemical Society. “For a virus, that coating is a protein, and the
soap… breaks up the coating, so the virus spills its guts and falls apart.” The
CDC has also referred to the coronavirus as a “fatty” virus because of this
outer protein layer. If soap and water are not available, disinfect your hands
using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 70% alcohol.
Focus on high-touch surfaces
High-touch surfaces are those we touch often
throughout our day such as doorknobs, handles, faucets, toilets, light
switches, cell phones, remote controls, keys, etc. These surfaces should be cleaned
and disinfected several times a day to help reduce the spread of germs and
viruses. According to current evidence reported by Public Health Canada, the
COVID-19 virus can live on surfaces made from a variety of materials for a few
hours to several days. Frequent cleaning and disinfecting of high-touch areas
is a best practice measure for the prevention of COVID-19 and other viral
illnesses in households and at work.
When in doubt, throw it out
The room in the home just brimming with things that really
need to be cleaned, replaced and tossed out is, of course, the bathroom. It’s a
good idea to toss cleaning tools like your toilet brush and toothbrush and
replace these with fresh ones, especially if you have recently been ill or have
experienced gastrointestinal distress. Also, each family member should store
their toothbrush away from the others so that they are not touching and
possibly spreading germs. When cleaning the toilet, don’t forget to scrub and
disinfect the flush lever. If you have a Saniflo macerating toilet, add 1-2
liters of Descaler Cleanser into
the toilet bowl with the main power disconnected. Run the pump for a few
seconds to allow the descaler to enter the system. Let the solution
sit inside the toilet and pump for two hours to allow the product to work. Then
reconnect the main power supply and flush the toilet a couple of times.
Open
cosmetics and makeup should be replaced every 3 months to 2 years depending on
the product. For example, eye products, like mascara and eyeliner, should be
thrown away every 2-4 months after opening, but powder cosmetics are okay for
up to 2 years. Most skincare products, such as those in a pump bottle, are
typically safe for 6 months to a year before becoming susceptible to developing
bacteria, mold, and yeast – icky things that can cause skin infections that can
be serious.
Can’t touch this
You’ve heard it before, and we’ll say it again – don’t touch
your face. We know it’s hard. Face touching is a subconscious act we all do
but, as much as possible, avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth, especially:
- After using the bathroom
- After blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing on your hands
- Before and after eating or preparing food
- After contact with pets or animals
- Before and after contact with another person who is or may be ill
Use what you have
According to health experts, many household cleaning
products, when used properly, are effective at killing the coronavirus. In many
places, however, disinfecting wipes and cleaning products are in short supply.
Fortunately, there are many other products you can use, most of which are
likely already in your pantry or closet.
Soap – any kind, though
ones that foam are best. Soap, when mixed with warm water breaks down and
removes the viral particles that may have attached themselves to the surfaces
in your home.
Bleach – a diluted bleach
solution is very effective at killing viruses and germs. The CDC recommends a
dilution formula of 5 tablespoons (1/3 cup) of bleach in 4 liters (1 gal) of
water or 4 teaspoons of bleach in 1 liter of water. Bleach can harm your skin
or cause damage to the surface you are trying to clean so, be cautious and wear
gloves and protective eyewear, if available, to avoid bleach splashing onto
your skin or into your eyes.
Hydrogen peroxide – this
can also be used as a disinfectant, though not as strong as bleach. It does not
need to be diluted but can discolor fabrics, so be careful where you use it.
Rubbing alcohol – products
that contain 70% or higher alcohol content will kill the coronavirus. Again,
don’t dilute it; rubbing alcohol is safe for most surfaces.
What products are not recommended? Consumer Reports warns:
“There is no evidence that [white vinegar is] effective against the
coronavirus.” Vinegar is another common household product that people often
clean with since it is natural and inexpensive, however, in this case, save
your vinegar for your French fries. Additionally, vodka and other distilled
spirits are not good disinfectants.
Technique is essential
How you clean is just as important as what product you clean
with. A quick swipe is not enough, you must vigorously scrub the surface
thoroughly, making sure that the entire area is wet, and then let it dry on its
own. Do not wipe the product off with a dry cloth or paper towel. What’s most
important is that you use plenty of disinfecting product and physical force and
give the product time to work.
If surfaces are visibly dirty, they should be cleaned using soap
and water before being disinfected. This two-step process will help ensure
maximum efficiency of the disinfecting product.
Remember to use disposable gloves when cleaning and
disinfecting your home and discard them after each cleaning. Wash your hands
immediately afterward. Gloves will also provide protection from harsh
chemicals in some cleaning products that can cause skin irritation. If you
don’t have access to disposable gloves, you can also use reusable rubber
gloves, just make sure to wash them with hot soapy water when finished, only
use them for household cleaning, and store them safely away between cleanings.
Try to use these products when kids and pets are not around and keep the room
well ventilated, if possible, as some products can trigger asthma.
Don’t forget fabrics
For soft surfaces such as carpets, rugs, drapes, clothing,
etc. remove viral contamination by cleaning with appropriate products indicated
for use on the item’s label. Wash all laundry, except for delicate items, on
the hottest water setting on your washing machine, rather than with cold water.
Change the bedsheets, vacuum the carpets and use
an antibacterial fabric spray on mattresses, couches, and other soft surfaces.
Tackle the big stuff
Lastly, wash your windows, rearrange the furniture and clean
behind the larger appliances. These are all things we tend to put off because
we are too busy. Now, use some of the extra time on your hands to give your
home a deep spring clean!
If you feel like you’re starting to go a little
stir crazy, remember that your home doesn’t need to feel like a prison cell
during this outbreak. Many retailers offer online shopping and delivery – buy
some trendy new bathroom towels and swap out your bedroom linens for fresh
spring prints. Making a few simple changes can help make a room feel refreshed
and updated. During this difficult and uncertain time, the one thing we can
control is our home environment. If you have cleaning tips, tricks or comments,
please share them with us on facebook.com/saniflocanada. We’ll be updating our
page with new cleaning tips as they become available.
