Effectively Sanitizing Your Home

Effectively Sanitizing Your Home

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve been hearing a lot about how to protect ourselves from contracting the virus in public. What about keeping it out of our homes?

Any time we put our phones, keys, purses and other items on surfaces in public, we are at risk of carrying the virus into our homes. Be sure to wipe those items with sanitary wipes or alcohol before you walk into your house. Unfortunately, novel coronavirus could remain alive on surfaces up to several days so it’s important to sanitize as much of your items as possible. Here are some tips for keeping your home disinfected.

Use EPA-registered cleaning products

Household cleaners and disinfectants are not all equal in their ability to kill viruses. Be sure the products you use have an EPA registration number. Look for “EPA Reg. No.” on the product label. These products are proven to kill the virus. Follow instructions for disinfecting on the product package. You can also make a bleach solution with 1/3 cup bleach per gallon of warm or hot water. Alternatively, you can also use undiluted 70% isopropyl alcohol or hydrogen peroxide, for somewhat safer alternatives.

Practice routine cleaning of frequently touched surfaces

Use your EPA-registered products to clean frequently touched surfaces often:

• Tables/desks
• Door knobs
• Light switches
• Toilets
• Faucets
• Sinks
• Shower doors
• Remote controls

Wash laundry in the hottest water individual fabrics will allow

Wash sheets, towels and clothing often. Keep clothes you wear out in public contained in a laundry bag or hamper with a liner so they don’t risk infecting other surfaces of your home. If your hamper is not lined, use a trash bag and dispose of it once empty. If you do not use a liner or bag, disinfect your hamper when empty. Put washed items in the dryer whenever possible and dry completely.

Clean floors and carpets

Hard floors should be mopped or cleaned with EPA-registered disinfectant cleaner whenever possible. Vacuum carpets and rugs, then clean with a product recommended for those surfaces or spray them with a product like Lysol.

Disinfect couches and chairs

Use a cleaner recommended for the material your couches and chairs are made from. Many leather-type surfaces can handle disinfecting wipes, but check the label on your furniture. Spraying them with a product like Lysol may also be an option.

Following these measures won’t just make your home shine. It will help keep the virus from spreading inside your home.