Best Practices for a Germ-Free Home

Do you know what the best practices for a germ-free home are? Regular and rigorous cleaning is even more essential during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is crucial to keep household germs at bay to combat infectious illnesses like SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Germs can spread by direct and indirect contact and through the air. They can spread from one person to another through direct contact when people are shaking hands, hugging, or kissing.

People can also spread germs indirectly by sharing things like cups or remote controls. Viruses can also spread through droplets released in the air when a person cough or sneeze. These tiny droplets can travel on air as far as 6 feet and get into another person’s eyes, nose or mouth or landing on surfaces. You need to keep up your defences against it with best practices for a germ-free home.

Based on a March 2020 study, COVID-19 coronavirus can stay on various surfaces for a while:

• in the air: up to 3 hours
• plastic and stainless steel: up to 72 hours
• cardboard: up to 24 hours
• copper: up to 4 hours

The 2016 study about contaminated objects suggested that several factors influence bacteria and virus life, including surface types, living habits, lifestyle practices and cleaning procedures. The best practice for a germ-free home is keeping things clean. You can use some of these everyday household items:

• soap and water
• bleach and water
• disinfecting wipes with at least 60 percent ethanol or 70 percent isopropanol
• hand sanitizers with at least 60 percent ethanol

Cleaning with soap and water will help reduce the number of germs, dirt, and impurities on the surface. Meanwhile, disinfecting will kill germs on surfaces around you. The best practice is to clean surfaces using soap and water first, then use disinfectant. Always read and follow the directions on the product label to ensure safe and effective use.

• Wear skin protection and consider eye protection for potential splash hazards
• Ensure adequate ventilation
• Use no more than the amount recommended on the label
• Use water at room temperature for dilution (unless stated otherwise on the label)
• Avoid mixing chemical products
• Label diluted cleaning solutions
• Store and use chemicals out of the reach of children and pets

Do not eat, drink, breathe, or inject these products into your body or apply directly to your skin as they can cause serious harm. Do not wipe or bathe pets with any unapproved products for animal use. Different areas in your home have different levels of risk regarding exposure to bacteria and viruses. Here are some best practices for a germ-free home in different areas.

The Kitchen

The items in the kitchen that need frequent cleaning include:

• areas where food is stored especially areas in contact with uncooked and unwashed food
• cutting boards
• coffee maker
• kitchen sink, countertops, dish sponges and rags

Here are the best practices to keep the following spots germ-free:

• Use disinfectant wipes on the faucet, refrigerator surfaces, and countertops.
• Heat damp sponges in the microwave for a minute to kill bacteria.
• Soak sponges in a quart of warm water with half a teaspoon of concentrated bleach.
• Change dish towels a few times a week.
• Wash your hands before and after touching or handling food.

Using bleach and rubbing alcohol or disinfectant wipes with over 60 percent ethanol or 70 percent isopropanol is especially effective against SARS-CoV-2 on these surfaces in the kitchen. Remember to wash your hands for at least 20 seconds before and after you touch raw meat or unprepared food.

Knobs, Handles, and Switches

Most people assume that the bathroom doorknob would be the dirtiest. However, the NSF found other spots higher with bacteria, including the following:

• bathroom light switches
• refrigerator handles
• stove knobs
• microwave handles

You can clean those spots once a week with disinfecting wipes to get rid of any SARS-CoV-2 lingering on plastic or steel surfaces like these. The best practice is to use a new wipe for every spot instead of reusing the same one.

Bathroom

A bathroom is also an ideal place for germ growth due to the moisture from a hot shower. The best practice is to pay special attention to these spots:

• shower tub
• drains
• faucets
• floor area around the toilet
• bath towels
• toothbrushes

Wipe all those surfaces and handles down with disinfectant daily and do a thorough cleaning once a week. Use an old toothbrush for cleaning small spaces like drains and faucets. Replace your bathroom towels once a week and toothbrushes every 3 to 4 months. The COVID-19 is less likely to live in your shower, sink, or drains because soap and water can wash it away. But, you can still disinfect all surfaces in your bathroom as a precaution measure.

Laundry

Wet laundry left in a machine for more than 30 minutes can cause germs to flourish. Transfer the clean clothes to the dryer immediately after each wash. If you are using a laundry mat or a shared laundry facility, remember to clean the washer drum with a disinfecting wipe. Also, wipe down any surfaces before folding your clean clothes on it.

Warm or hot water is even more effective in killing both bacteria and viruses like the new coronavirus than cold water. Consider using hot water whenever possible to wash clothes you’ve worn in public.

Home Office and Living Room

Multiple family members and house guests often share tables, remote controls, computer keyboards, phones, and tablets. The NSF study found yeast and mold on the computer keyboard, remote control, video game controller, and staph on phones and tablets. Meanwhile, a carpet can hold up to eight times its weight in dirt and dust.

Use disinfectant wipes or plain water and soap to clean your items. Remember to wash your hands before touching any household objects if you’ve been out in public or met someone who got symptoms.

Pets

Pets can potentially bring germs and bacteria in your home, especially if they go outside. A study conducted by the NSF found that pet bowls placed fourth in spots with the most germs in a home. Pet toys also carried staph, yeast, and mold. Pets and their bowls, toys, and beds can all carry the new coronavirus, too. You can prevent your pets from bringing in the dirt by washing or wiping their paws before letting them in. Here are some other best practices:

• Wash pet bowls daily with warm, soapy water.
• Soak toys and bowls in bleach once a week.
• Clean hard toys regularly with hot, soapy water.
• Wash soft toys monthly.

Personal Items

You can bring in bacteria and viruses from the outside to your house each day through your shoes, gym bag, and even headphones. The NSF survey found that faecal contamination, yeast, and mould present on:

• cell phones
• keys
• wallet and money
• lunch boxes
• the bottom of purses

Most disinfecting wipes are effective against bacteria and viruses, including the COVID-19, on electronics. You can find electronic-specific cleaning supplies at stores to be extra-safe.

Ensuring a healthy and safe environment is critical to building occupants’ ease of mind. Atalian Global Services offers comprehensive facility management services, and we are committed to helping you clean your living room, kitchen, bedrooms, and bathrooms.

ATALIAN also offers specialized work procedures to remove or neutralize contaminants that have accumulated in any closed environment. Such contaminants could be of micro-organisms or hazardous materials, including chemicals and infectious viruses such as COVID-19, H1N1, SARS.

Give us a call to learn more about the best practices for a germ-free home.