During the COVID-19 crisis, many of us have come to think of cleaning in a whole new light. Although we’ve always aspired for a clean and organized home, suddenly disinfecting and sanitizing according to the CDC recommendations has become our guide. The appearance of clean has quickly turned to concern ourselves more about actually sanitizing or disinfecting surfaces.
This is not the type of clean that you will notice or admire since the difference is on the microscopic level. During a regular cold and flu season, and especially now in a national pandemic, it’s these types of cleaning habits that help prevent the spread of disease. Below are five everyday habits learned during the coronavirus outbreak that, if adopted, may make our homes cleaner forever.
Removing Your Shoes
According to a new study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shoes may potentially function as carriers for the virus. In a study of hospitals in Wuhan, China, half of the samples taken from the soles of medical staff’s shoes in the ICU tested positive for the virus, leading to the recommendation that the staff disinfects their shoes when walking out of wards with COVID-19 patients.
But even before the current crisis, studies have shown that our shoes are capable of spreading germs around our homes. This solution is simple. Simply get in the habit of taking off your shoes when you walk in the door. Consider setting up an entryway shoe rack and leave a pair of comfy slippers by your front door to slip into, so this new habit feels like a cozy ritual. If you have to use your hands to take off your shoes, follow up with a thorough hand washing.
Before You Flush the Toilet, Clean the Lid
If you’ve been waiting for the scientific proof that your family members should close the toilet lid—here it is! Studies have illuminated the risk of “toilet plumes,” or aerosols that are produced when you flush a toilet. If you leave the lid open when you flush, the aerosols that are released into the air can land on nearby surfaces that others may touch. Yuck! To help prevent the spread of the coronavirus (and other germs and bacteria), always close the lid, then flush.
Leave Your Cleaning Products on Long Enough to Take Disinfect
To really disinfect those frequently-touched surfaces in your home—doorknobs, counters, remote controls—you have to commit to each cleaning product’s recommended contact time. As the CDC points out in its coronavirus house-cleaning guide, most disinfecting sprays and products have to sit on a surface for a certain length of time in order to effectively destroy germs or bacteria. If you dry the kitchen counter too quickly, and you could be leaving it covered in germs.
Get in the habit of checking how long that Clorox spray or bleach solution needs to sit before wiping it away, and a little patience will make your home much cleaner.
Don’t Bring Your Phone Into The Bathroom
While most people are inseparable from our phones, it’s a good idea to separate when entering into the bathroom. If you read the above messaging about terrifying “toilet plumes,” then we will say no more.
It’s a tough habit to break, but the solution is straightforward: avoid bringing your phone into the bathroom.
Clean Your Reusable Shopping Bags (and Leave Them Off the Counter)
Another lesson learned during the current coronavirus crisis is the importance of washing our reusable grocery bags. If you don’t have a dedicated bag for transporting raw meat and fish, you could be spreading E. coli or salmonella to the rest of your groceries. And if you set those bags down on the kitchen counter, the same bacteria could wind up on your food prep surface.
Thoroughly cleaning your reusable bags is of particular importance right now, and it’s a good habit to continue.
Dawn to Dusk Cleaning Service continues to lead the way in disinfecting for health. We take action to make cleaning safe for you and our employees! We disinfect your home using professional-grade products that are EPA approved plus effective at killing viruses (including Coronavirus). We avoid cross Contamination by using fresh cloths and disinfecting our tools. We ensure healthy teams by doing daily health screens, practice social distancing while wearing protective equipment. In addition, we accept contactless payments & communications.
Call Dawn to Dusk Cleaning today at (586) 474-4454 to schedule your professional clean and add a layer of protection to your home and family. You can also reach out to us on our contact form.