Tips To Keep Your Home COVID Clean This Winter
With the invisible enemy – COVID-19 – taking a firm foothold on our shores, the outlook has shifted from hiding out from the virus to doing all we can to keep ourselves and our families safe from it. While we’re all aware of the now-common protocols of social distancing and mask-wearing, what can
you do to keep your home COVID free, and as we head towards flu season, protect ourselves from other nasties that are in circulation?
Should you be cleaning, sanitising, disinfecting or all three?
Is it possible that COVID-19 and other germs could be living on your groceries, shoes, and the front doorknob of your home? There are still plenty of unknowns regarding the spread of COVID-19, but we know that it’s most commonly spread through person-to-person contact. However, some studies have shown that COVID-19 can survive on surfaces for hours or days. That’s why it’s still important to have a thorough cleaning process in place. Here’s what you need to know about cleaning, sanitising, and
disinfecting:
• Cleaning – this involves physically removing dirt, grime and germs from surfaces using an allpurpose cleaner or warm water and detergent. It doesn’t necessarily kill things like viruses or bacteria, as it’s simply washing or wiping away the dirt that you can see.
• Disinfecting – this is done using certain cleaning chemicals designed to kill germs and bacteria specifically. Disinfecting doesn’t necessarily clean up dirt and grime, which is why cleaning is an essential first step. You don’t need to obsessively disinfect every surface (as exposure to some
germs is actually beneficial to our immunity). However, high-traffic and high-contact areas like countertops, doorknobs and light switches will benefit from disinfecting – particularly if someone in your household is sick.
• Sanitising – is the process of both cleaning and disinfecting a surface. Germs and dirt have been physically removed through cleaning, and then anything that’s left has been killed through disinfecting.
Where To Place Your Focus
Some areas of your home (and body) are more prone to harbour germs, so rather than a top to toe and floor to ceiling sanitisation, where should you focus your cleaning attention?
1. Your Home
Our homes can be a breeding ground for germs, so it’s important they get a regular and thorough clean. Cleaning with a household cleaner containing detergent and disinfectant reduces the amount of germs on surfaces, decreases the risk of infection, and leaves your home sparkling. To keep COVID safe, focus on cleaning high touch areas like door handles, toilet
buttons, tables, benchtops, and light switches with a daily clean, alongside the more obvious spots like the whole bathroom and kitchen at least weekly. Don’t forget other neglected areas of the home like:
• Sponges and dishtowels – yes, the things you use to clean get very dirty also and need to be kept clean! Most sponges can be popped in your dishwasher, and microbiologists recommend you should be changing your dishtowels at least every 3-5 days.
• Bedding – we share the bed with dust mites, dead skin, and hair (and often pet hair and dander) which can cause allergies if not kept clean. It’s recommended that you change your bedding weekly and vacuum your mattress at the same time.
• The washing machine – ever thought to wash the washing machine? If you’re in the habit of leaving wet laundry in the machine, beware of the bacteria! The warm, damp environment can cause germs to flourish, even if your laundry is only left for a short amount of time. Clean the washer drum thoroughly with a disinfectant wipe and use hot water wherever possible to wash your clothes.
• The home office – we’re all guilty of eating lunch at our work desks, crumbs falling on the keyboard and sticky fingers operating the mouse. But how often do you give these a thorough clean? Research has found that a computer or laptop keyboard is 20,000 times dirtier than a toilet seat, so it’s time to include this in your cleaning regime!
2. Your Hands
Home to between 100,000 to a few million germs at any given time; your hands pick germs up from everything they touch. They’re then transported to your mouth, nose or eyes – and they don’t have to wait long, with studies showing most of us touch our face on average more than 16 times an hour! Simply washing your hands well with soap and water for at least 20 seconds and drying them thoroughly is your best defence. Or, if you don’t have access to soap and water, an alcohol-based hand sanitiser is a good alternative.
3. The Laundry
With cloth face masks on high rotation, it’s important to wash these regularly (doctors recommend at least daily) with detergent and the warmest water setting possible. Follow this by popping it in the dryer (on the hottest possible setting for the fabric) or placing it in direct sunlight. Don’t forget to regularly clean and disinfect your laundry hamper too!
4. Shoes
It’s important to remove these before entering the home, as they can be covered in more germs and bacteria than a toilet seat!
5. Mobile Phones
With the average person touching their phone over 2,500 times a day, and 73% of people admitting to using their phones while in the toilet, the humble mobile phone is often forgotten about when it comes to cleaning. Alcohol-based wipes are recommended for sanitising your phone, or you can even buy a special UV phone steriliser. Make sure you check with the manufacturer before any cleaning.
Not All Cleaning Products Are Created Equally
From disinfectant wipes to antibacterial sprays, the supermarket aisle is full of products with different names and claims, so which ones are up to the task?
• To effectively kill a virus like COVID-19, a cleaning product needs to contain at least 70% alcohol, state that they have an antiviral activity or be a hypochlorite (bleach) based disinfectant. The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has a handy list of disinfectants approved for use
against COVID-19.
• Jim’s Cleaning products are specially formulated for the job at hand. The hospital grade surface sanitiser kills 99.9999% of viruses and bacteria safely and effectively. Formulated using organic ingredients derived from natural plant extracts and mineral ingredients, the product is safe for your
family and the environment.
Keep Safe While You Clean
While you’re cleaning to keep others safe, it’s essential to keep yourself safe while cleaning. Here’s what to keep in mind:
• Always follow the directions on the label of the products you are using. This might include wearing protective equipment like gloves, surgical masks, or goggles.
• Make sure the area is well ventilated. For example, open windows and doors, and turn on any fans.
• Store and use cleaning chemicals out of the reach of children and pets.
• If you have someone with COVID-19 in your household, it’s best to try and keep them isolated in a separate space. If this is not possible, make sure all communal areas are thoroughly disinfected.
Get The Job Done Right The First Time With Jim’s Cleaning
The team at Jim’s Cleaning are experts in hygiene best practices. With all the equipment on hand to keep your home sparkling clean and protect your household from nasties, they’ll tackle all jobs, big or small. Get in touch with a local owner-operated cleaner near you today and relax knowing that your
home is in good hands.
DISCLAIMER
All information is general in nature, and the advice or information may not suit your circumstances. Source references are included to give credits to any source content published by others. If applying any cleaning techniques or products, be sure to check the product materials or surface you are
working with or call in one of our local Jim’s Cleaning experts on 131 546 jimscleaning.com.au. When using any cleaning products, always read the label and follow the directions for use before using the product. Keep out of reach of children and store in a safe place.
About Jim’s Cleaning
As part of Jim’s Group, Jim’s Cleaning are a team of highly trained, police-checked, and experienced professionals ready to take charge of all your cleaning jobs – big or small. Our crews are fully insured, giving you, your family, or your business total protection. And with access to the very latest in cleaning products and equipment, we promise to deliver outstanding results to our customers every time. That’s why we offer a Jim’s Work Guarantee. How do we do it? We’ve formulated our own range of cleaning products (which you can purchase to spruce up your home in-between visits from us), and we build up trusted relationships to provide every client with personalised and trustworthy service.
We’d love to show you that all cleaning service companies are not created equal – if you’ve previously tried other cleaning firms and been disappointed, it’s time to call Jim’s Cleaning! Our hundreds of
happy customers will testify that we’re the very best in the business. And with a local owner-operated cleaner near you, let us roll up our sleeves and get started. What are you waiting for?
Your Local Cleaning Experts
Jim’s Cleaning Services Australia | Best Cleaning Services – 131 546 (jimscleaning.com.au)
