Cleaning During Pandemic

During quarantine, we have already remembered the importance of handwashing. But what about cleaning and mopping? Clean House explains how to properly clean your home to keep it safe from the spread of COVID-19.

Importantly, these guidelines were developed by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for homes where people who have confirmed (or suspected) COVID-19 live. However, their advice will be useful for everyone.

Cleaning is not a panacea, but it must be done

Routine cleaning only removes virus particles and dirt from surfaces, not kills them. However, even if you only reduce the amount of dirt, this will already help reduce the risk of spreading the infection.

The virus is killed by disinfection using chemicals (although this also does not give a 100% guarantee, but the risks of infection are significantly reduced). That is why cleaning companies that provide maid services, always use cleaning products that contain alcohol or other substances that kill the virus.

Be persistent

Daily clean and disinfect surfaces that are often touched by everyone who lives in the apartment / house: tables, chairs, door handles, light switches, TV remote control, toilet and bathroom, shelves, etc.

Do not forget to regularly ventilate the room.

Use the right tools

Before disinfecting, clean surfaces with soap and water or detergents.

For disinfection, use common household disinfectants with 0.5% chlorine or 60-80% alcohol. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for use and make sure the product has not expired.

Wear gloves

Wear disposable gloves when cleaning and disinfecting surfaces, and discard them afterwards.

If you prefer reusable gloves, then get a separate pair specifically for cleaning during quarantine and places where there may be a risk of encountering COVID-19. Wash your hands immediately after taking off your gloves.

It is not necessary to wear gloves when handling soiled clothing or linen, but you must always wash your hands afterwards.

What to do with carpets, curtains or bedding?

To remove dirt on soft surfaces (such as curtains, bedding or carpet), use regular cleaning products. If possible, wash in hot water and dry. The same applies to clothing.

Shaking once again dirty clothes so that the virus does not scatter around the room.

How long does the coronavirus live on various surfaces?

According to the Center for Public Health, the virus can remain on various surfaces from several hours to several days:

Copper (coins, teapots, dishes, etc.) - 4:00;
Aluminum (drink cans, coins, foil) - 2-8 hours;
Cardboard (food delivery boxes) - 1 day;
Stainless steel (refrigerator, sink, kitchen utensils) - 2-3 days;
Plastic (seats in transport, bottles, buttons) - 2-3 days;
Wood (furniture) - 4 days;
Paper and glass (newspapers, magazines, glasses, mirrors, windows, etc.) - up to 5 days
Ceramics (porcelain and earthenware) – 5 days
Metal (door handles, jewelry, cutlery, etc.) - 5 days.
At the same time, the virus was found on the Diamond Princess cruise ship 17 days after the passengers got off it. Therefore, data on how long the virus can remain on various surfaces may change in the future. The very fact that the virus can remain on surfaces for a long time, and you need to pay a lot of attention to thorough cleaning.

Stay healthy!