COVID-19 is a dangerous disease, but there are steps you can take to keep yourself safe and disinfect your apartment. This is a time for all of us to remain vigilant and increase our levels of awareness. When you leave your apartment, you might be exposed to COVID-19. But don’t panic. This will not just be counterproductive; it can also be dangerous and make you less safe. Though staying at home and completely away from people would be optimal, it may not be possible for people who need to work or shop in person. Your best lines of defense while you are out are to social distance, wear a mask, avoid touching your face, and wash your hands.
According to current research, the infection can live on hard surfaces like tempered steel and plastic for as long as 72 hours; it can get by on cardboard for as long as 24 hours. Earlier exploration shows that hard surfaces and level surfaces are more friendly to infections than unpleasant surfaces or material. Factors like light, temperature, and moisture can also impact COVID-19’s ability to survive on other surfaces. Sunlight has been proven to damage the virus. The accompanying article will give directions on keeping your home during these uncertain times.
Clean and Disinfect Flat and Hard Surfaces
When you clean, you remove dirt and some germs from the surface of an object. However, cleaning does not kill germs. To kill germs, you need to use disinfectants. It’s always a good idea to clean surfaces before you disinfect them. Disinfect all areas that are routinely touched such as light switches, desks, toilets, chairs, sinks, door frames, doorknobs, handles, remotes, keypads, buttons, and counters. Make sure the Environmental Protection Agency has approved the disinfectant for use against SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes the COVID-19 coronavirus). Read the instructions and safety precautions before using any chemical. Keep the room well ventilated as you clean and after. As a precaution, use disposable gloves to disinfect and discard them after each use. Wash your hands after you remove the gloves. These gloves should only be used for disinfecting for COVID-19 and should not be used for other cleaning chores.
If it is safe to use on the surface you are cleaning, you can use household bleach. Bleach should never be mixed with any other cleaning product; mix bleach only with water. For each quart of water, you will need 4 teaspoons of bleach or 5 tablespoons per gallon of water. Disinfectant wipes containing bleach are also helpful.
Disinfecting Fabrics Against COVID-19
For fabric-covered areas such as couches, carpets, mattresses, and cushioned chairs, you have to follow slightly different procedures. Bleach will damage these materials. Vacuum the surfaces first. This will remove dust, dirt, and other particles that might harbor germs. Next, you will need a spray or aerosol disinfectant to cover the entire area and kill the virus. Use a sweeping motion so that you do not miss any spots. Make sure everything is completely dry before you walk or sit on it.
Disinfect Using Hydrogen Peroxide
You can also use three percent hydrogen peroxide as a disinfectant. Pour the hydrogen peroxide directly on the surface and let it sit for fifteen minutes. Then, scrub and rinse with hot water. Toothbrushes are great places for germs to hide and hydrogen peroxide does a great job of cleaning them also. Peroxide also has a bleaching effect and can discolor some fabrics and finishes.
Cleaning Places that are Hard to Reach
Dusters with extendable handles are extremely helpful for sliding under objects and furniture. Microfiber dusters trap dust and different particles. On the off chance that you don’t have a duster with an extendable handle, you can fold a material over a measuring stick or brush. The material can be appended with an elastic band.
A pillowcase can be helpful for cleaning a ceiling fan. One at a time, place a pillowcase over each blade making sure that both sides are covered. Pull the pillowcase off the blade and it will remove the dust and dirt. Since you are close to the fan, it would be a good idea to cover your nose, mouth, and eyes. If you do not have a safety mask, you can use a scarf or a cotton T-shirt. Glasses or goggles can be worn to protect your eyes.
For cracks, crevices, grooves, and other tight spots where germs may hide, a scrub brush or old toothbrush is helpful. Wipes are generally not effective in these cases because they cannot get into the areas you need to clean. Either spray the surface with an approved disinfectant or dip your brush into the cleaning solution. Then work the bristles into the groove to push in the disinfectant and scrub out any gunk or debris.
Cleaning Places that are Unreachable
Window sills are simple to clean, but the casings that contain the soil and germs are troublesome. The casings leave little space to get your hand inside so you have to get creative. Spray vinegar and allow it to sit for around ten minutes and afterward wipe out with a toothbrush.
Vents regularly have little cuts that appear to be difficult to clean. They are an advantageous spot for residue, dirt, and germs to build up. You can make a clearing apparatus out of a spatula or metal ruler. Wrap it with a paper towel or cloth and you can easily clean.
To do a thorough disinfecting against COVID-19, don’t forget to clean the blinds. Blinds are often overlooked because the tops are often not seen. However, they can get very dusty and germy. You can dust one side at a time or both sides at once. Open a pair of kitchen tongs and wrap a cloth on each side. Secure with twist ties or rubber bands. Run the tongs along the slats and both sides will be clean. You can follow dusting with disinfectant spray.
How to Disinfect Personal Electronics
Your cellphone is handled constantly and is probably concealing germs. Make a cleaning mixture of 40% isopropyl alcohol and 60% water. Dampen a lint-free cloth, wipe the cellphone, and let it air dry. Do not drench the cloth as this might damage the cellphone. Do not use a paper towel; that is too abrasive. Disinfectant wipes containing 70% isopropyl alcohol are also safe. Do not use window cleaner, abrasive cleanser, rubbing alcohol, compressed air, dish soap, hand soap, or vinegar. All of these can damage your screen. Remember to clean your case as well!
There are many commercial cleaners on the market for all touch screens and computer monitors, as well as other computer components. If you do not have one of these and you need to clean your keyboard, we’ve got a handy hack. Stand the keyboard up and gently tap it. This will remove loose dirt and debris. Then fold a small sticky note in half and push it between the keys. This will remove any dirt stuck to the keys.
Ways to Reduce Exposure
If someone in your home is sick, provide them paper towels, disinfectants, tissues, and cleaners. You should help them clean as seldom as possible to limit your exposure. The sick person should also remain in their bedroom as much as possible.
If members of the household must share a bathroom, the bathroom needs to be cleaned every time the sick person uses it. If the sick person is too weak to clean, you should wait as long as possible before you disinfect the room.
The sick person should eat in their room. Paper plates and plastic utensils would be useful but you should still wear gloves while handling them. Any other dishes and utensils should be washed in the hottest water possible.
Handling Contaminated Items
If possible, wear gloves at all times when handling anything touched by the ill person. If you do not have gloves, follow proper hand washing procedures. Wash hands for thirty seconds with soap and water. A hand sanitizer with 60% alcohol can be substituted if you cannot get to a sink.
The ill person should have his or her own lined trash can. Wear gloves when emptying the trash and wash your hands immediately. It would also be a good idea to have a separate laundry hamper or bag for the sick person. Use the warmest water possible without damaging the fabrics. When handling contaminated laundry, wear gloves and wash immediately after.
