One thing that is certain about the COVID-19 outbreak is that cleanliness has been found to be one of the most impactful forms of protection against the virus. With shortages of disinfecting wipes to hand sanitizers disappearing from store shelves — learning how to utilize the resources available to stay healthy during the Pandemic is essential. With the following guide, Medical Guardian will help you understand which products and methods of cleaning for the Coronavirus are the most effective and where to get started in your own home.
Cleaning for COVID-19 in Your Own Home
Knowing where to get started cleaning for COVID-19 can be difficult but increased sanitation measures are paramount to you and your loved ones’ safety through the Coronavirus Pandemic. The order below, suggested by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), can help create some structure for your cleaning plan.
- Clean
Regularly clean frequently touched surfaces using soap and hot water. - Disinfect
Follow up cleaning with disinfectants — especially on High-Touch surfaces. - Soft Surfaces
Clean and disinfect the Soft (porus) Surfaces of your home. - Electronics
Carefully clean and disinfect your personal electronics with 70%+ alcohol. - Laundry
Use the warmest water setting possible to launder Soft Surfaces (clothing, bedding, etc.). - Clean Hands
Be sure to always wash your hands before and after each cleaning task.
Cleaning for a Loved One Recovering From COVID-19
According to the CDC, caregivers tending to those who are recovering from COVID-19 should limit the frequency they clean rooms or bathrooms designated to the infected in order to limit their exposure to the virus — focusing on high-touch surfaces and soiled items regularly while delaying the cleaning of other areas.
If there is limited space and a bathroom cannot be assigned to the recovering, it is important to clean the bathroom each time the infected uses it in order to sustain the health of the caregiver. Designating a lined and covered trash can for the recovering to utilize can also prevent the spread of the Coronavirus to others in the household.
Cleaning Products for COVID-19
Whether you’re cleaning your home to prevent the virus from lingering on High-Touch surfaces or disinfecting your dwellings to aid in recovering from the Coronavirus, the products that you use are incredibly important and how you use them can even save you from hazardous effects — making it critical to review each cleaners’ individual safety instructions prior to usage.
Before you begin cleaning and disinfecting, be sure to open enough windows to ensure that your home will be properly ventilated — especially if you have Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) or Asthma — as many powerful cleaners can irritate your lungs.
When using ammonia, it is crucial that you do not mix it with other cleaners — especially not bleach — in order to protect yourself from creating a toxic gas that can result in the irritation of eyes, skin, respiratory tract, or even result in death. If you are ever in doubt about the combination of cleaners you are utilizing, do some research prior to pairing them together.
When selecting cleaners, be sure that you are choosing disinfecting products that are EPA Approved and have an alcohol ranking of at least 70% for hard surfaces — opting for bleach, rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, and soap solutions over vinegars or household cleaners with low alcohol content. Below is a list of recommended products for removing the Coronavirus.
- Clorox Multi Surface Cleaner + Bleach
- Clorox Disinfecting Wipes
- Clorox Commercial Solutions® Clorox® Disinfecting Spray
- Lysol brand Heavy-Duty Cleaner Disinfectant Concentrate
- Lysol Disinfectant Max Cover Mist
- Lysol brand Clean & Fresh Multi-Surface Cleaner
- Purell Professional Surface Disinfectant Wipes
- Sani-Prime Germicidal Spray
Creating Your Own Coronavirus Cleaning Solution
When suggested name brand products are limited in availability, creating your own disinfecting solution by diluting household bleach (at least 1000ppm sodium hypochlorite) with the proper ratio of water can be effective against eliminating the Coronavirus. Use the proportions below to make your own and be sure that the bleach you are using is not expired.
- 1 Gallon of Water + 5 Tablespoons (? cup) Bleach
- 1 Quart of Water + 4 teaspoons of Bleach
High-Touch Surfaces to Sanitize Daily
You have likely heard the term “High-Touch” mentioned within conversations surrounding COVID-19. This refers to the areas and items we utilize the most throughout our day — which makes them a likely hotbed for the virus to accumulate in and should be disinfected at least once daily. The following are examples of items and locations that are considered “High-Touch”.
- Doorknobs
- Table Surfaces
- Hard Furniture
- Wheelchairs
- Countertops
- Faucets & Knobs
- Toilets — Seat & Handle
- Light Switches
- TV Remote Controls
- Work Stations
- Keyboards
- Car Doors
- Electronics
- Cellphones
Disinfecting Soft Surfaces
While tending to Soft (porus) Surfaces — such as carpeting, drapes, rugs, bedding, clothing, and other fabric-based items within our homes — it is important to take note of the manufacturing guidelines for maintenance while also utilizing recommendations from the CDC in order to properly disinfect them. This can include using a disinfecting spot treatment to clean contaminated areas — followed up by laundering the items in a warmer water temperature that is better suited for eliminating the Coronavirus. Be sure to completely dry the items before putting them back into their proper place.
Please note that if you are cleaning Soft Surfaces used by a loved one recovering from COVID-19, it has been suggested that you use disposable gloves and a facial covering to decrease your chances of becoming infected with the Coronavirus. It is also important to clean and disinfect clothing hampers after each use or to use a disposable plastic bag to store the recovering’s dirty laundry — discarding it and replacing with a new bag each time.
How to Clean Personal Electronics
Personal electronics can be one of the biggest contributors to the spread of COVID-19, as the virus can live for up to 2 days at a time on these High-Touch surfaces. Similar to tending to Soft Surfaces, following the suggested cleaning guidelines created by the manufacturer is a good place to start, as some cleaning methods can pose a hazard to the functionality of electronics.
Looking into using wipeable covers for your most utilized electronics can prevent them from becoming affected by repeated exposure to liquid cleaners — which should always be used carefully and dried thoroughly to avoid the pooling of liquid disinfectants. Consider opting for alcohol-based wipes that contain at least 70% alcohol, if they are available to you, as they can provide more control over the cleaning solution.
Check the Medical Guardian website regularly for more information surrounding the Coronavirus, articles about COVID-19, and helpful checklists.
