Although we may be tired of COVID-19, the novel coronavirus certainly hasn’t tired of us. With roughly 7.49 million confirmed cases (and counting) nationwide, the pandemic is far from over. And while we’re learning new things about this disease with each passing day, what most of us already know is that we don’t want to risk catching it or transmitting it to someone we love.
In 2016, more than 35.7 million people stayed in U.S. hospitals. But when you’re admitted to the hospital for COVID-19, you could be facing a lonely road to recovery — or worse, you could end up having to say goodbye to your family via phone. And even if you do recover, you might face long-term health consequences or astronomically high medical bills. Although 91.5% of people had health insurance coverage in 2018, that coverage often leaves a lot to be desired.
And since there’s not yet a vaccine that can protect you against COVID-19 — and there may not be one for a while yet — you’ll need to do everything you can to prevent it through your own due diligence. Mask-wearing and maintaining physical distance between yourself and others both play a role, but you should also do your part to prioritize cleanliness. Of course, you should continue to wash your hands properly and frequently. But you should also take care to sanitize your home.
The possibility of catching COVID-19 by touching shared surfaces is relatively small, according to many experts. But we do know that virus that causes COVID-19 can live on certain surfaces for up to three days. Even though the risk may be remote, you can gain peace of mind (and potentially keep your family safe) by cleaning and sanitizing thoroughly. Here are just a few coronavirus cleaning tips to keep in mind.
Learn the Difference Between Cleaning, Disinfecting, and Sanitizing
Although these terms are often used interchangeably, they actually have very different meanings. Understanding the differences between these processes is essential for protecting against COVID-19 and other health concerns (from bacteria to allergens).
“Cleaning” involves the removal of dirt and germs from surfaces; however, cleaning doesn’t actually kill germs. Although it can lower the risk of spreading bacteria, it doesn’t actually eliminate it. “Disinfecting” uses chemicals to kill germs on surfaces, but it does not actually clean those surfaces. Therefore, it’s important to perform both of these processes to promote overall health. “Sanitizing” doesn’t completely kill all germs on a given surface, but it does lower the number of germs to a safe level. It often involves either cleaning or disinfecting, so it’s sort of a middle ground between the two. Most experts agree that you should clean dirty surfaces and then disinfect. Disinfecting can also be performed on a daily (or even an hourly) basis when a surface doesn’t actually contain any dirt or grime.
Use the Right Products
Now that you understand more about the processes of cleaning and disinfecting, you may be wondering about which products to use for best results. For cleaning, soap (or detergent) and water will typically work best. When it comes time to sanitize or disinfect, there are a number of options at your disposal. Lysol, Chlorox, and Purell all have wipes or sprays that are recommended by the EPA for their effectiveness against the novel coronavirus. Hydrogen peroxide and isopropyl alcohol will also kill XOVID-19. Typically, products containing bleach or at least 70% alcohol are good choices. Keep in mind that if you make a cleaning solution at home that contains bleach, you should follow CDC recommendations for its water-to-bleach ratio.
When cleaning and disinfecting, you should be sure to wear gloves and open your windows to avoid inhaling fumes from cleaning agents. The EPA recommends allowing cleaning agents to sit on surfaces for around 10 minutes before wiping to kill 99.9% of germs.
Pay Attention to High-Touch Surfaces
Now you know how to clean. But what should you be cleaning? Floors, countertops, and large appliances should be addressed, of course, but there are other objects and surfaces that need your attention. After all, bacteria can increase up to 31% every day on surfaces that aren’t regularly disinfected! You should be sure to clean and disinfect objects that see a lot of traffic, including:
- Faucets
- Doorknobs and handles
- Toilet seats
- Cell phones
- Computer keyboards
- Remote controls
- Light switches
- Railings
- Chairs and tables
- Credit or debit cards
Take stock of the items or spots in your home that are commonly used by your family and concentrate your cleaning and disinfecting efforts on those areas. Create a cleaning schedule that can be easily executed on a daily or weekly basis, depending on how frequently members of your household come into contact with these objects or surfaces. For larger cleanup projects, such as decluttering and deep cleaning, consider setting aside specific days and, if necessary, rent dumpsters to help efficiently dispose of unwanted items.
Ultimately, cleaning your home isn’t the only thing you can or should do to minimize your risk of catching COVID-19. But it’s just one piece of the puzzle that could protect your loved ones from becoming one of the more than 7 million Americans who have contacted this potentially deadly disease.
