Home cleaning tips in time of a pandemic

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I hope you are in good health. In times of illness, it is very important to keep our home clean and limit the survival of viruses and bacteria in the environment. Here are some tips that can help you.
What is home cleaning?
Cleaning is practically a removal of impurity from the surfaces. Cleaning does not kill bacteria and viruses, but reduce their numbers and thus the risk of spreading infections.
What is home disinfection?
Using approved chemicals for disinfection destroys bacteria and viruses on the surfaces. Disinfection does not remove pathogenic microorganisms or impurities from surfaces and furniture, only destroys microorganisms and thus reduces the risk of spreading infections.
It is very important at this time not to improvise with disinfectants and cleaning products, but to buy and use only EPA-approved products. At the following link you can see the list of disinfectants effective against SARS-CoV-2 registered by EPA.
General recommendations for routine cleaning and disinfection
Family members very often should clean surfaces that are frequently touched like: tables, chairs, handles, faucets, sinks, power switches, work surfaces, toilets, etc, with cleaners and disinfectants appropriate for the specific surface. It is important to follow the instructions on the product labels. The labels contain instructions for safe and effective use of the cleaning product, including precautions to be taken during use, such as wearing gloves and providing good ventilation during cleaning.
How to clean and disinfect your home
– Wear disposable gloves when cleaning and disinfecting surfaces;
– Discard them after you finish;
– Remember to wash your hands after removing gloves;
– If surfaces are unclean, they must be treated with detergent or soap and water before disinfecting;
– Products that have bleach, alcohol solution (at least 70%) and are registered at EPA should be used as effective disinfectants;
– Bleach can be used to clean certain surfaces like tiles, stone floors, etc;
– Observe the expiration date of the cleaning products and follow the instructions on the back of the label;
– Never mix bleach with ammonia or any other detergent;
Clothing, towels, bedding and other…
– Wear disposable gloves when handling dirty clothes. Then throw them in the trash.
– If possible, do not shake the textile. This can minimize the spread of viruses in the air.
– Wash clothes according to detergent manufacturer’s instructions. If possible, wash them to a higher temperature and dry them completely.
– Clean and disinfect the laundry basket. If possible, consider using a disposable bag.

After you finish don’t forget to wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds. If water is not available and your hands are not visibly contaminated, you can use disinfectants that contain at least 60% alcohol, but if they are dirty, always wash them first with soap and water.