Finding out that COVID-19 can survive on various surfaces from hours to days can be unsettling. Use these tips to help stop germs at your front door. Creating an entryway that helps you disinfect items and effectively using cleaning products will prevent germs from spreading throughout your home.
Set Up An Entryway Cleaning Station
Getting in the habit of sanitizing your hands and disinfecting your phone as soon as you arrive home will help stop germs at the door! You can easily do this by placing a small table or shelf with hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes, and a small garage can inside your door. It is also a good idea, if you do not have already, to have a place to easily remove your shoes for sanitizing at the door as your shoes come into contact with many germs and bacteria whether you have made a trip to the grocery store or went for a walk for some fresh air. When getting in the routine of sanitizing as soon as you arrive home, also remember to wipe down or discard any packaging that may have been exposed before putting items away in your cabinets or pantry. Setting up an entryway cleaning station will help you keep your home clean and virus free.
Focus on Frequently Touched Surfaces
Routine cleaning is necessary to help stop germs and bacteria in their tracks, but it is important to place frequently touched surfaces on a high priority cleaning list. This is because cleaning the most frequently touched items such as doorknobs and light switches will help stop the spread of germs to other areas of the home.
Frequently touched surfaces that you will want to clean and disinfect daily may include
- Railings
- Doorknobs
- Light switches
- Cabinet hardware and doors
- Remotes
- Faucets
- Tabletops and counters
- Phones
Disinfect Effectively Using the Proper Cleaning Products
Check the product labels of your disinfectants to make sure they will clean the surfaces and items property. Check this list from the EPA to check if your products are for use against SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19. You will also want to clean any solid surfaces to remove dirt and grime before disinfecting. This will help the cleaning process be more effective as you are first removing anything that a disinfectant only may not clean. When using disinfectant sprays or wipes it is important to not touch the items for seconds to minutes (according to the product label) to allow time for the product to effectively kill germs or viruses. Reading the cleaning products labels first and following their guidelines will make sure that you are disinfecting effectively to keep your home virus free.
We hope each of you stays safe during this difficult time!