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7 Tips to Keep Your Home Clean During COVID-19

Cleaning home to prevent COVID-19

In these past few weeks, the Coronavirus has made us very aware of how easily an invisible disease can spread. It is of the utmost importance to be always on guard and to take as much precaution as possible against this sickness. Here are some essential tips for keeping yourself, your home, and your loved ones safe from disease.  

1.  Clean High Touch Areas (consistently)

Wipe down the common places in your home that are touched frequently. The CDC recommends using soap and water or detergent-based products to do this. During this high-risk time, it can be a good idea to customize a personal checklist for your own home that you can refer to each day.  Here’s a list to help you get started: 

  • Door knobs
  • Handrails 
  • Light switches 
  • Faucet handles
  • Pantry door handles 
  • Hard surfaces
  • Countertops
  • Electronic devices 
  • Remotes 
  • Toilets 
  • Tabletops 
  • Steering wheels (if you do have to drive somewhere) 
  • Shared items of any kind after each use

2. Don’t Just Clean, Disinfect!

After removing germs during cleaning you should also be sure to completely kill germs by disinfecting with EPA registered disinfectants. Wear disposable gloves to protect your skin.  Check for instructions pertaining to specific items, but general disinfecting can be done by using a diluted bleach solution. Try mixing 5 tablespoons of bleach for each gallon of water or 4 teaspoons for each quart of water. Let the mixture sit or soak around the surface or item for at least 10 minutes to ensure complete disinfection.  

For more information on our safer and more effective non-bleach process check number 7 below and/ or our Decontamination Solutions page!

3. Clean Your Phone

decontaminating smartphone

Our phones have been found to contain 3x more germs than a dirty doorknob, and studies also show that the coronavirus can live on our phone surfaces for up to 4 days.  Now think about how often you bring your phone to your face!  This is why we want to take extra precautions with this beloved device.  

When possible adhere to your device’s specific instructions for cleaning. If you do not have recommendations from your manufacturer try lightly wiping your device with 70% isopropyl or similar Clorox disinfecting wipes (as recommended by Apple). Just be careful to not harm your phone by getting too much moisture in openings. Make sure to wipe away all moisture with a dry cloth.   

4. Disinfect Soft Touch Areas Too

Items like carpets, couches, and drapes can be tricky. For some of these items, you will have to be aware of the fabric or material limitations and follow specific instructions if applicable. For general scenarios try vacuuming the item first, then scrubbing it with soap and water. Follow with a spraying of a deodorizing spray that contains enzymes.  

Using a dry steam cleaner at a temperature of 240 degrees Fahrenheit can be an alternative solution in order to avoid possible water damage to sensitive items.  Diluted vinegar can be used for cleaning leather couches or items with leather-like materials. 

5. Quarantine if Sick

If you have a sick family member, take extra precautions to separate that individual as much as possible from the rest of the household.  Wash their clothes separately from other household members, designate a separate trash can for this individual and use gloves and a face mask to completely dispose of their trash from the house. Keep their overall working, sleeping, and eating environment confined to one room that can be disinfected regularly. If more than one bathroom is available in the house designate one completely to the sick individual. If not, clean and disinfect the bathroom after each use made by the sick individual.  

6. Wash Your Hands

washing hands

We have heard this over and over again, but making this a frequent habit is the best way to prevent the spread of disease to yourself and to your loved ones.  Wash your hands with antibacterial soap and water for 20 seconds, remember to not touch your face, and keep your distance from your household members.    

Keeping hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol readily available in various locations around the house is also recommended. For an easy homemade recipe try mixing 2 parts alcohol for every 1 part aloe vera in a bowl. Make sure the sanitizer is blended thoroughly. Add any essential oils that you might like, and then put this in a labeled container for use.  

Make sure you do this before eating and preparing food, and also after you have had any kind of contact. Whether that is with another person, an animal, or a possibly unclean surface, taking this extra precaution regularly will keep you safe.   

7. Decontamination Solutions

 At Americon Restoration we have partnered with Safehouse Solutions to provide the Northeast Ohio area with our very own cleaning and disinfecting solution that we have appropriately named Decontamination Solutions. Our solution involves a professional 4 step process to completely assess, prepare, apply, and completely clean your home or business. It kills and eliminates viruses and bacteria that are on surfaces and in the air by the use of a natural process that breaks down the pollutants at their core.

This process was developed by the US Department of Defense and Research Scientists in partnership with Sandia National Labs to address biological threats and is EPA registered and completely green. It is safer than bleach, more effective than the other common household cleaning solutions listed above, and has been effectively used by our technicians since 2009. If you have a large home or business or want to have confidence in the air quality and safety of your living environment then our solution just might be right for you. For more information check our Decontamination Solutions Page.

Decontamination Solutions For Your Safety

There are still many unknowns regarding COVID-19, but one thing is for sure the spread can be stopped by taking the initiative to clean. Make sure you take the precautions listed here, but for peace of mind and absolute assurance don’t hesitate to let us assist you in cleaning your home and/ or your business. Give Americon Restoration a call and let us help you eradicate disease and ensure your safety! Call us at (216) 221-5200 or contact us here