With companies letting their employees work from home, shops and malls being shut, and schools declaring a holiday, social distancing has now become the norm to slow and stop the spread of COVID-19. But, infectious germs can live in your house too, especially if you have visitors, family members, house help, or anyone else carrying the germs from outside when they enter your home. So, here are some tips on keeping your home coronavirus free, so you and your family stay protected during these times!
How to Keep Your Home Free of Coronavirus
A few rules, a few cleaning tips, and a few other hacks, and your house will stay clean and coronavirus free during this isolation period. Here are 10 easy tips to follow.
1. Wash Your Hands Regularly
It goes without saying that our hands carry the highest amount of germs, which we then transfer to surfaces around us when we touch them. The best way to keep your house free of coronavirus germs is to wash them regularly, especially when you touch any surface on the outside. It can be as simple as opening the door to receive a parcel, to take the trash out, or stepping out to buy some groceries or for a meeting. The same rule applies to anyone entering the house, be it a family member or house help. Make sure everyone washes their hands before touching any surfaces inside the home.
2. Don’t Let Clutter Pile Up
Infections of any kind will lower your immune system, making you more susceptible to COVID-19. The longer you let clutter around the house pile up, the higher the chances of dangerous germs finding their way to it. Try and wash dishes as soon as you use them, put away your child’s toys after he is done playing with them, and don’t let your laundry pile up. You know how you’ve been wanting to keep your house clean and organised all these months without any piles of things to clean lying around? Well, this is all the motivation you need to do it.
3. Disinfect Surfaces Regularly
Disinfect the most-touched areas of your house every 5-6 hours with a strong disinfectant. This includes doorknobs, remotes, light switches, chairs, counters, sinks desks, tables, and any other area of your house. Remember, there’s a difference between surface cleaners and disinfectants. Surface cleaners only reduce the number of germs, but disinfectants use chemicals to kill all the germs on the surface. Hence, stock up on disinfectants to clean your house while the outbreak lats.
4. Use Gloves While Cleaning the House
Disposable gloves are a saviour for the person doing the cleaning, as well as the people in the house. So whether it’s you or the house help cleaning the house, make sure gloves are worn and discarded appropriately. Also, wash your hands immediately after wearing the gloves, just to be on the safe side.
5. Keep the House Well-Ventilated
We often forget how powerful sunlight and fresh air are. There is evidence that UV rays are strong enough to kill a majority of viruses; though this may not stand true for COVID-19, it does for other viruses that could still infect you at home and lower immunity. Sunlight and fresh air will lift your spirits and build immunity, which is all the more important when maintaining social isolation.
6. Disinfect Your Phone
It is surprising how often we forget that we use our phone so much that they may carry just as many germs as our hands do. Studies have even established that cellphones carry 10 times more bacteria than a toilet seat. So, how do you disinfect your phone? You could use an alcohol wipe or just dip a tissue in an alcohol-based sanitiser and wipe your phone. Yes, the front AND the back, and any cover that you may have put on it as well.
7. Wash Your Clothes and Linen With Hot Water
Wash your clothes at the warmest water setting on your washing machine. Another tip on washing clothes is to add a little bleach (use colour-safe bleach) mixed in with your regular detergent. Bleach not only removes stains but acts as a disinfectant, killing any residual germs on your clothing. This ensures that your clothes are washed thoroughly, without any germs still lingering on.
8. Sun-Dry Your Clothes and Linen
Make sure to dry your clothes and linen in the sun and make sure they aren’t the slightest bit damp when you remove them off the rack. This prevents the growth of any infection-causing bacteria. Also, wearing damp clothes can make you fall ill and decrease immunity, which is a strict no-no during these times!
9. Don’t Share Towels
Assign towels to each member of the household, so there is no exchange of germs. Wash and dry towels regularly, as you may be surprised at how many germs linger on them. The same goes for linen and clothes, especially if any family member still has to step outside for work. Another tip for serious cleanliness freaks out there is to do each member’s laundry separately. You have to be really committed to this, so don’t worry if you don’t have the patience or time to do so.
10. Invest in a Humidifier
Keeping the humidity level in your house been 40% and 60% can help slow the spread of disease-causing germs. This level of humidity also helps your body defend itself better against pathogens, as indoor air can dry out mucous membranes and make your body more susceptible to viruses, which a humidifier prevents.
Making changes to the way you clean your house or do your laundry may seem small, but they can actually help keep the deadly coronavirus out of your house. So, make the most of social distancing and keep your house COVID-19-free with these 10 simple tips.
