8 Ways to Disinfect your Home from Viruses

Disinfect your Home

Whether someone in your house was recently ill or you want to stop the spread of germs, it is important to completely disinfect your home. House cleaning can be time-consuming and seem like a daunting task, but properly disinfecting your home can keep you safe and healthy.

Illnesses, like the recent coronavirus pandemic, have opened people’s eyes to the need to disinfect every room and keep viruses and bacteria at bay. Keep reading for eight ways to disinfect your home from viruses.

1. Pay attention to high-traffic areas

Some surfaces in our homes see more traffic than others. Just think about how many times per day someone touches a doorknob or sits in a chair. Cleaning and disinfecting high-touch surfaces can remove germs and bacteria that can live on surfaces for multiple days.

To get started, make a list of all the high-traffic areas and high-touch surfaces in your home. You may want to take a tour of your home, writing down which areas need the most attention. Some surfaces to consider include:

  • Doorknobs and handles
  • Kitchen and dining tables
  • Light switches, including lamps
  • Toilet seats and handles
  • Bathroom and kitchen counters
  • Remote controls, including TV and video game controllers
  • Faucets
  • Chairs
  • Tubes of toothpaste and toothbrushes
  • Trash cans
  • Shower handles
  • Stair rails
bathroom cleaning
 

2. Know how to clean and disinfect

Cleaning and disinfecting are often used interchangeably, but they are two different things. Cleaning is the process of removing contaminants on a surface, while disinfecting kills pathogens. Both processes are very important for removing germs, viruses, and bacteria from your home and surfaces.

To clean, you should wipe down your surfaces in order to remove contaminants or dirt. Use a hand towel with soapy water or a spray cleaner. Then, you can apply a disinfectant that works for the specific surface. Use disinfectant wipes or sprays to kill pathogens each day.

3. Disinfect packages

Chances are, viruses will not enter your home through mail or packages. However, there might be a cause for concern during a pandemic or if you have someone in your home with a compromised immune system. You can have peace of mind knowing your packages are safe by simply wiping them down with a disinfectant wipe before bringing them inside.

package

4. Disinfect electronics

We touch our smartphones many times per day, bringing them up to our mouths and faces on a regular basis. You should consider your most-used electronic devices as high-touch surfaces and use disinfectant wipes to clean them. You can purchase electronic-specific disinfectant wipes or use wipes that are safe for electronic devices. Wipe down the screen and buttons, remove the case to clean underneath, and clean the outside of the case.

When cleaning your laptop or desktop computer, avoid wiping the screen with disinfectant. You can clean the display using a towel and isopropyl alcohol. You can use disinfectant wipes on the keyboard and mouse, though. Be sure to wipe down your mousepad as well.

disinfect electronics

5. Keep germs out of bedrooms

Linens have a bad habit of hanging on to germs. Wash the sheets and pillowcases from all beds in hot water each week. If someone in your house is sick, you should wash them more often until they are well again. Be sure to remove all food from bedrooms each day. Food crumbs and snacks can cause mold and bacteria to grow and spread.

You can prevent the spread of illness by washing clothes on a regular basis. Don’t forget to grab stuffed animals and throw them in the wash as well. Wipe down toys and remember those high-touch surfaces. Light switches, doorknobs, and side tables are often overlooked when it comes to cleaning and disinfecting.

teddy mask

6. Wash utensils and dishes

If someone in your house is sick, you should wash all utensils and dishes they use with high heat in the dishwasher. Even if someone is not sick, it is best to wash your hands before preparing food and disinfect all surfaces after cooking. Don’t forget to wipe down chairs and tables, the refrigerator handles, and cabinets or door handles.

7. Sanitize everything, including the kitchen sink

The real trick to house cleaning is remembering overlooked surfaces or areas in your home. For example, the kitchen sink is a breeding ground for germs. You can scrub the sink with a disinfectant wipe or spray each day to keep bacteria from spreading. Don’t forget to replace your sponges and brushes on a regular basis as well.

dirty kitchen

8. Hire a professional

Cleaning services are a sure-fire way to remove bacteria and viruses from your home. Trained professionals, like those at Hellamaid, know how to properly clean and disinfect every surface of your home, especially high-touch areas. If someone in your home has recently been ill, you can utilize a deep cleaning service. If you just want to keep your home germ-free on a regular basis, standard cleaning services will keep you and your family healthy. Book a cleaning online or call us today!

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Hellamaid is a top-rated cleaning company in Canada that’s changing the cleaning industry. Led by two engineers, Ahmed and Abdul,  Hellamaid is on a mission to make cleaning services a better experience for both ends of the market: homeowners and cleaners. We offer value to homeowners through easy online booking and impeccable customer service, while offering a flexible and well paid opportunity to our cleaning partners. Learn more about us here!

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