While businesses and restaurants are beginning to open, we should still be careful when it comes to protecting ourselves against the Coronavirus. Here are some tips that will keep you and your family safe and your home clean.
The Coronavirus can live on surfaces for several days, so it’s important to use the right products to clean and disinfect the surfaces in your home. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Soap and water
- Disinfectant spray
- Disposable gloves
- Diluted bleach solution (50% bleach, 50% water in a spray bottle)
- Alcohol-based wipes and/or rubbing alcohol
- Lined trash can
Soft surfaces – Soap and water can be used to clean soft surfaces like couches, chairs, carpets and pet beds. You can also use bleach-free disinfectant products that are fabric-safe.
Hard surfaces – You can use a stronger solution on hard surfaces, like a disinfectant spray, the diluted bleach solution or alcohol-based wipes. However, if you do you a bleach-based product, you will need to let the solution “dwell,” or sit on the surface for several minutes before rinsing it with water.
Electronics – Alcohol-based wipes and rubbing alcohol are great for cleaning electronics. Just make sure to check the manual to make sure you won’t be damaging expensive equipment.
Laundry – If you have been to the grocery store, a public place or if you are an essential worker, you will want to remove your clothing and place in a laundry bag away from the rest of the house. If you have a washing machine, you will want to wash this clothing by itself or with other “exposed” clothing with warm water (or what the manufacturer recommends). If you do not have a washing machine, hand wash these items alone with soap and warm water.
Hands – While many people are reaching for the plastic gloves when they go to the grocery store or out in public, they aren’t necessary. It is more important to wash your hands with warm water and soap when you arrive home and wipe your hands with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer when you get back into your vehicle.
Masks – The CDC has recommended that the American people wear masks to help stop the spread of the virus. While most of the homemade masks aren’t going to keep all of the germs away, it is better than no protection at all. In order to keep your mask clean, pop it into the washing machine. If you don’t have a washing machine, you can place the mask in a paper sack in a warm place for at least two days to kill any germs.
In times like these, many people start to become “experts” with their proven home remedies. But things like white vinegar and vodka aren’t strong enough to kill the virus. And using undiluted bleach solutions can be dangerous to your health.
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Jessa is the Editor-in-Chief of Hooray for Family and the mom of three energetic children. She has a BA in Mass Communication/Journalism from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, and is a long-time resident of Central Texas. When she isn't writing and editing, she enjoys playing board games with her kids, teaching Sunday school and channeling her creativity into craft projects.
