July 19, 2021

How to Disinfect Household and Other Everyday Items

As what people always say, prevention is better than cure. With the pandemic we are currently facing, disinfecting has become a new norm in the daily routine of most people as one of the preventive measures against acquiring the dreaded coronavirus.

Since experts found that the virus can stay on surfaces for an hour or so, it has made the transaction of the virus riskier. With that, there is no doubt that disinfecting is now as important as keeping oneself healthy in this time of health crisis.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), household members can do a routine cleaning of surfaces or items that are frequently touched on a daily basis with the use of household cleaners and disinfectants.

Here are some useful tips on how you can disinfect and properly clean different items or surfaces in the house:

Hard Surfaces

Before starting to clean and disinfect, remember to always wear disposable or reusable gloves first.

Dirty solid surfaces such as tables, doorknobs, faucets, toilets, and light switches should be cleaned with the use of detergent or soap and water solution before disinfection. On the other hand, household disinfectants should be effective for disinfection.

However, should disinfectants be unavailable, you may use diluted bleach solutions instead. In making diluted bleach solutions, mix five (5) tablespoons of bleach per gallon of water or four (4) teaspoons bleach per quart of water.

Also read: 6 Natural Disinfectants You Can Find at Home and How to Use Them

Soft surfaces and clothes

For soft surfaces, remove first any visible contamination then proceed to clean with appropriate cleaners for each kind of material. These soft surfaces include carpets, rugs, drapes, and more.

Meanwhile, linens, clothing, and other fabrics that go in the laundry should be equally handled with care. Avoid shaking dirty laundry as it will increase the possibility of dispersing the virus through the air.

Wash your clothes using laundry soap or detergent. You may also consider soaking your clothes in solutions with disinfectants before washing. The World Health Organization recommends washing clothes in warm water, preferably in temperatures between 60 to 90°C (140 to 194°F).

Clothes hampers should also be cleaned and disinfected before using them.

Shoes

If you are coming home from a grocery run, remember not to bring your outdoor shoes inside the house. Leave it outside to clean before bringing it inside.

When cleaning shoes, consider wiping the shoes’ exterior surfaces and soles using disinfectant wipes frequently. You may also use detergent or soap and warm water to rinse. Proceed to dry your shoes in a well-ventilated area or under the sun.

Electronic devices

Cellphones, tablets, remote controls, keyboards, and other electronics inside the house should be cleaned using alcohol-based wipes or alcohol sprays which contain at least 70% alcohol solution.

Accessories and gadget cases should also be regularly cleaned along with your electronic devices every day. Do not forget to dry the surfaces of your electronic devices before using them to avoid liquids from entering the devices.

Also read: How to Effectively Disinfect Your Phone and Other Gadgets

Cash and credit cards

Money is also considered as one of the most high-touch surfaces as cash transfers from one person to another, which can lead the disease to spread.

In disinfecting money, certain banknotes and coins can be rinsed using a soap solution and water for a short period of time. Afterwhich, gently pat each bill and coin with a cloth or place under the sunlight to dry.

However, one must keep in mind that using bleach or washing powder can do damage to paper bills.

On the other hand, if you are to use credit cards, you can clean it gently with the use of disinfectant sprays or wipes. Perhaps, going cashless in this pandemic may also be safer than using money when running grocery errands to prevent the further spread of the virus through money.

Also read: BSP Urges Filipinos to Go Cashless for Transactions During ECQ

With all these tips and reminders on disinfecting everyday household items, one should always keep in mind to wash hands for 20 seconds frequently especially after touching items and surfaces that are susceptible to hold germs and viruses.

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Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Medical News Today, AAFP, CBNC, Daily Mail UK