Without a doubt, many of us have cleaned thoroughly at home while COVID-19 is hiding outside. Or maybe someone in your house was diagnosed with the disease.
COVID-19 is caused by a virus called SARS-CoV-2, which spreads mainly from human to human breath drops, according to the centers for disease control and prevention. You are less likely to get sick if you touch an infected surface and then touch your mouth or nose before washing your hands.
Although the transmission of surfaces with the virus has not been documented, evidence suggests that SARS-CoV-2 can remain viable on certain surfaces for hours or days, according to the CDC. A recent study found that the coronavirus can survive up to 4 hours on copper, 24 hours on cardboard and 2 to 3 days on plastic and stainless steel.
Regular cleaning of the house surfaces is already considered a proven method to prevent infection with more viruses. But that doesn't mean obsessively, said microbiologist Marilyn Roberts of the University of Washington, who offers several tips.
"With this virus, it's even more important to maintain social distance, stay at home, and not touch your face," said Roberts, a professor of environmental and occupational medicine in the United States. States that study antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Still, he said that heavily affected surfaces should be cleaned once or twice a day, including kitchen, dining, and bathroom areas. This can also include door handles and light switches.
Start with soap and water.
While you may be tempted to use a disinfectant wipe to quickly rub the surfaces, it's more important to wash with soap and water first, Roberts said.
Here's why: Disinfectants should work on relatively clean surfaces.
"You must first clean the surfaces before disinfecting," said Roberts. "So if you want to disinfect it, you can do it.
"On surfaces that contain food particles, body fluids, dirt or even chicken juices, they all contain organic substances that inactivate the disinfectant before it reaches bacteria. The disinfectant is said to act on microbes, including COVID-19. ""
Should you clean with paper towels or reusable towels?
One isn't necessarily better than the other, but Roberts said if you use paper towels, throw them away when you're done. Clean reusable towels after cleaning in a washing machine at the highest temperature. Sponges can get into the dishwasher even in the warmest environment.
Roberts uses microfiber cloths for cleaning and then puts them in the washing machine at high temperatures.
Also, be wary of disinfecting wipes when they begin to dry, as continued cleaning could spread over what you want to prevent.
Cleanse more when someone is sick
Improve housekeeping if you have someone in your home who is sick, suspected, or knows that it is COVID-19 or some other respiratory disease.
Roberts recommends isolating the sick person as much as possible in a room. Others in the house should wash their hands frequently and stay 6 feet away from the sick person.
Other tips:
Ask the sick member to use a separate bathroom if possible.
Do not share personal items. This includes toothpaste.
Serve the person's food on disposable plates and cutlery and throw it directly in the trash after eating.
"You should have disposable plates and possibly eat in your room to physically isolate yourself from the rest of the group, be it family or roommates," said Roberts. "If someone provides food, leave it at the door and the person can pick it up."
If ordinary dishes are used, they should be cleaned in the warmest place in the dishwasher.
Wash clothes and bedding in hot water.
Clean and disinfect everything the sick person has touched.
Provide your sick family member with a clean, disposable face mask that you can use at home, the CDC recommends.
When the disinfectant runs out
If you run out of disinfectant, some DIY mixes may work.
To disinfect your phone or other technology, use 70% isopropyl alcohol or a 1: 1 mixture of alcohol and water in a spray bottle. Mix 1% bleaching solution with water for permanent surfaces such as sinks or toilets.
CDC provides online information and tutorials on disinfection solutions. Alcohol or bleach can be corrosive on certain surfaces. So it's best to look for it.
You can also use soap and water for many items.
Packages
It probably does not need to be cleaned and disinfected here. "The likelihood that a packet will transmit something is not very high," said Roberts.
If you have any concerns, you can leave the packages there for a while. Normal mail is also considered safe.
The CDC offers further advice on this.
"Although the virus can survive for a short time on certain surfaces, it is unlikely to spread from products or packaging that are shipped over a period of days or weeks at room temperature," says the agency. .
General health
Regular cleansing could also prevent the spread of other viruses and foodborne diseases, or reduce allergic reactions, Roberts said.
"It's a good idea to clean up regularly, whether we're in a pandemic or not," he said.
"You should vacuum. You should order everything you can. There are other illnesses you can get and people suffer from allergies and asthma. Because pollen gets into the house, regular cleaning is very useful." "
Clean after every meal. If dishes containing leftovers remain for a long time, mold and bacteria can grow, Roberts said. It can also attract parasites like ants.
Other areas where daily maintenance is needed are toilets, he said. In the laundry room, you don't want dirty, sweaty clothes for days. "If you have sweaty clothes, these bacteria can grow. The floor in the outdoor garden can bring all sorts of things. ""
But in today's fight against the pandemic, Roberts said two steps are more important than cleanliness: social isolation and hand washing. "There is little or no data to suggest that humans got the disease from contaminated surfaces," he said.
"It does not mean that it is not possible; it just means that the chances are slim, "so cleaning is just another precaution.
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