During this complicated time, staying clean is on everyone’s mind. To keep your home as sanitary as possible and void of the virus, there are some vital tips when it comes to cleaning your home and yourself. Install these daily measures to keep you and the rest of your household as safe as possible.
1. Mask or no mask, try to touch your face as little as possible. We all do this subconsciously, but now is the time to be as self-aware as ever. Don’t touch your nose, mouth, or eyes, which will help avoid transmission.
2. Throw your used tissues, masks, and gloves in the garbage. Disposing of them in the street or in other irresponsible ways is a surefire way to spread COVID-19 around. Safely toss them in a waste bin, and if you don’t have a tissue handy when you sneeze or cough, be sure to cover if with your elbow.
3. Remain a minimum of one metre from people, but two is ideal, as six feet is the suggested distance, especially for those who are exhibiting symptoms like sneezing or couching.
4. We’re sure this sounds like a broken record right now, but wash your hands as much as possible. It’s the best way to ensure your safety. Soap up frequently (at least once an hour, especially if outside) and thoroughly for a minimum of 20 seconds.
5. Regularly disinfect your surfaces in the home, especially ones that you touch often, such as computers, phones, door handles, tables, bathroom surfaces, and game controllers.
6. Lysol wipes and other disinfectants are great to keep on hand, and if you prefer to use eco-friendly options, check with the Environmental Protection Agency’s list on recommended products. Apparently, the cleaner needs to remain wet for a few minutes in order to work well.
7. In order to clean clothes properly and protect your home from potential bacteria, try to wash your clothes when you return home from a public place, and immediately change into clean clothing. Always remove your shoes before entering the house.
8. Do laundry as much as possible, cleaning your bedding and towels regularly as well. Don’t shake out your dirty laundry, which can put virus particles in the air. Additionally, use warm water when you do your loads.
9. When handling food packaging, either takeout or something you bought at the grocery store, try to throw out unnecessary packaging into a garbage can. With takeout, remove the packaging the food came in, and put it on a clean plate instead, and wash hands afterwards.
10. Make sure your perishables are in the fridge or freezer, and keep an eye on expiration dates. When cooking food, if you usually prefer rare, it could be safer to cook to a recommended temperature rather than your personal preference.
11. If you do decide to use a hand sanitizer, avoid all-natural alternatives and make sure the product contains a minimum of 60% alcohol. Visible dirt should always be rinsed off with water and soap beforehand.
12. To avoid damage to your smartphone, purchase a wipeable cover for it and other electronic items. It’s a better investment than having to buy a new phone because the old one was water damaged, so keep that in mind!
13. A helpful analogy to use is to see the coronavirus as paint. To damage your clothing, it must be fresh. When it starts to dry out, it stops being as harmful. A fresh supply is the most dangerous and likely to enter the eyes or mouth.
14. Don’t reuse disinfectant wipes on more than one surface. It can be tempting, especially since cleaning products are nearly impossible to find nowadays at stores. But a used wipe will just transfer germs to multiple surfaces, which heightens your risk even more.
15. Practice social distancing as much as possible. This might not seem like a direct cleaning tip, but it’s the most hygienic option out there. If you meet up with people, bump elbows, but even better, forgo those options and wave instead.
16. Avoid crowds and walk instead of taking public transportation. Although distancing, its inevitable that we’ll sometimes need to get from point A to point B, like for grocery store trips and other essential travel. If you don’t have a car, we suggest walking or biking as much as possible, since public transport is a germ-filled hub.