7 Cleaning Tips – Covid-19 Home Recovery
We have been living through Covid times for almost 2 years already so now it’s time to accept the reality that at some point we are going to have contact with somebody who is sick, and that person could potentially be somebody who lives at home with us.
Knowing that Covid isn’t going away anytime soon, the best thing you can do right now is to be prepared for when that happens, including having a well thought out plan for how to keep your household clean while a Covid positive member is recovering at home.
Keep reading if you’d like to know our top 7 tips for best practices so you can be prepared if and when this situation occurs (hopefully not, but it’s always better to be well-prepared!).
Tip #1: Clean and disinfect high touch surfaces and items in common areas every single day.
High touch surfaces can be defined as doorknobs, light switches, tables and countertops, cabinet handles, shared mobile devices, the refrigerator, and anywhere other surfaces that household family members might touch every day in common areas.
Tip #2: make sure to wear gloves as you clean and disinfect.
We have learned by now that washing our hands and using hand sanitizer is a very basic yet effective habit that can prevent the spread of the COVID-19 infection. When dealing with somebody sick at home, it’s best to take extra precautionary measures to protect yourself from coming in contact with the virus and you can do this by simply wearing gloves that you can clean and disinfect after cleaning the common household areas. And, of course, always be sure to wash your hands after you finish cleaning and disinfecting.
Tip #3: Remember to first clean then disinfect.
Cleaning and disinfecting are indeed two different processes so it’s always important to remember to first use some kind of household detergent to break down dirt, germs, and scum, and then separately use a household disinfectant to kill bacteria and viruses.
Be sure to follow the instructions regarding how long to leave the disinfectant on the surfaces and items that you are cleaning. Also be sure that the area you are cleaning is well-ventilated and that there is a good amount of airflow circulating.
Tip #4: Wash kitchen utensils and dishes using soap and hot water or the dishwasher.
Using hot water is always a safer bet when trying to clean proactively.
Tip #5: if possible, keep the infected household member in a separate room using a separate bathroom.
It is very important to limit your contact with a sick household member as much as possible, so if they can stay in their room during recovery it will help with keeping the common areas clean ensuring that the infection stays isolated to one part of the house.
Your best bet is to only enter the room and clean these areas if something has gotten soiled, such as sheets, bedding, or anything else that requires an immediate change during the recovery period.
Tip #6: Limit your contact as much as possible with the sick household member and have them stay confined to their room.
If you do need to have contact with them, be sure to protect yourself by having everyone wear a mask during moments of direct contact.
Tip #7: Make sure to have a lined bin in the isolated room at all times.
This will help reduce the need for touching any soiled tissues or other types of trash that could potentially transmit the virus when emptying the bin.
We hope these tips help you if you find yourself in the situation of having someone close to you at home sick with Covid. We wish you good health and remember to check back with us for more tips and information!
