How to Properly Clean and Disinfect Areas for COVID-19?

How to Properly Clean and Disinfect Areas for COVID-19? With all of the fear surrounding COVID-19, one may wonder how to protect yourself and others from getting the virus. A first, the simple answer seems to be to clean and disinfect.

But there are also so many questions, such as what to clean with, or what to clean first, that the process can seem overwhelming. If you find yourself struggling to answer these questions, then you have come to the right place.

Today’s article will tell you not only how to clean and disinfect your home or business, but what you should do first to make sure that your home is safe for you and your family. So, How to Properly Clean and Disinfect Areas for COVID-19? Read on!

Cleaning Versus Disinfecting: What’s the Difference?

One major distinction that we should make before we begin about the best ways to make someplace safe from COVID-19, is to discuss the difference between cleaning and disinfecting.

Cleaning is where you remove dirt, grime, or other germs by using water, soap, and detergent. It may not kill germs directly, but it does reduce the number of germs by removing what can cause them.

Disinfecting is to kill germs using certain chemicals from sprayers to detergents.

What to do to Clean and Disinfect Against COVID-19.

Current Evidence Suggests that COVID-19 and its variants are spread most commonly through person-to-person contact. Therefore, we will first discuss what you can do individually to make sure that you personally are protected against COVID-19.

1. Personal Protection

One of the best ways to protect against COVID-19 is to take the following precautions:

• The first way to protect against COVID-19 is to wash your hands! Washing with soap and warm water helps to get rid of any of the dirt and germs that can linger on the skin. Washing for at least 20 seconds is the best way to make sure that the hands are clean.

To make sure that it is long enough, try humming the “Happy Birthday” song twice through. If that doesn’t feel appropriate, (since it may not be your birthday) try and look up your favorite song lyrics then sing them with a timer.

This will give you a general idea of how many times to sing them through so you wash your hands in the appropriate amount of time. If washing your hands is not possible, then using hand sanitizer that is anywhere from 60% to 95% alcohol is also recommended.

• Another way to make sure that everyone is protected against COVID-19 is to wear a mask if not fully vaccinated, or following the CDC guidelines for the place you are visiting. This will help to prevent the spread of germs in general and COVID-19 in particular.

2. Protection at home

One of the best and easiest ways to protect yourself at home would be to maintain clean surfaces at home. This means cleaning the areas that you touch regularly. This includes light switches, doorknobs, handles of any type, and mobile devices like laptops and Smart Phones.

Desks and other surfaces should be cleaned as well, especially if it has been touched by other people. Try to clean and wipe down these surfaces daily and after a gathering of people has been in the home.

Cleaning Solutions

Now that we have discussed what to clean, the next step is to consider what to clean with.

Because there are many different cleaners available on the market, we will go over just a few generalities to look for here. For a more complete list, please visit the Center for Disease Control (CDC) website.

According to the World Health Organization, in general, the cleaners that are available at your local grocery store labeled as a disinfectant should be enough to kill the virus that transmits COVID-19.

When using this product, it is important to remember to follow the direction on the packaging, as well as store it safely and properly in the home.

If you do not have a cleaner available, using bleach can also be effective. While the amount can vary depending on the surface to be cleaned (check the CDC for more information) there are some general rules to be followed:

• Do not mix bleach with any other kind of cleaner.
• Wear rubber gloves and eye protection when handling bleach products.
• Do not breathe in product fumes. If indoors considering increasing ventilation by opening doors or windows.

When it comes to actually clean the home, one should always remember to wear protective gloves that can be thrown away after use to reduce the spread of germs. To remove the gloves safely, take the thumb and finger of one hand, and pinch the cuff of the opposite glove.

Then pull the glove off the hand and grasp the now inside-out glove in the gloved hand.

With the glove free hand, take the index finger and place it under the cuff of the gloved hand, then pull forward. This pulls the dirty glove off of the hand inside out, leaving the wadded-up glove inside the dirty glove. Dispose of these gloves safely and wash hands afterward.

Also, be sure to use disposable paper towels instead of regular cloth towels which can be a magnet for bacteria if not cleaned right away.

There are other things you can do to stop the spread of the virus and clean and disinfect your home. One would be the proper way to wash clothes. When you wash them, using laundry soap is a must, but it might not be enough to kill bacteria.

Using a bacterial cleaner added into the wash cycle can help to disinfect the laundry. Wash with warm water, and then high heat when the clothes are placed in the dryer.

How to Properly Clean and Disinfect Areas for COVID-19? – Conclusion

The talk about COVID-19 can seem scary, but with a little patience and care, you can increase your safety against getting the COVID-19 virus.

Using proper cleaning products, cleaning techniques, as well as personal protection equipment, can help to reduce your chances of getting COVID-19.

For more information, on the products you can use, as well as updated information on the virus, please visit the CDC website.