How To Keep Your Home Clean And Sanitary

By Ashley Paskill on June 2, 2020

Now, arguably more than ever, it is crucial to keep your home clean. Having a clean home before may have focused on how it looks, but now having a clean is more focused on sanitation and preventing the spread of germs. In order to do this, it is crucial to know what can be done and what does and does not work. Done right, though, your home will be a space of refuge from potential germs and infection.

Know what is a myth

There are plenty of cleaning myths out there and it is crucial to know what works and what does not, especially when it comes to disinfecting your home. One common misconception is that using hot water can help eliminate germs. There is some truth to this, but in order for this to be effective, the water needs to be 212 degrees Fahrenheit and the area you are cleaning needs to be exposed to the hot water for at least a few minutes or more. Most water heaters are only set to 120 degrees Fahrenheit, so it will not do the trick.

Another myth is that heating a sponge gets rid of germs, but this is not the case. Sticking anything, including food, comes with an inherent fire risk, so it is important to be especially careful. As mentioned above, it takes a certain temperature in order to fully get rid of germs and bacteria, and your microwave will not be hot enough to get rid of all of the germs that accumulate on your sponge. Instead of using a sponge, use a cloth or something else that can be washed between uses.

Buy the right supplies

Buying the supplies you need will ensure that you are able to clean surfaces properly. If you have wooden furniture, you will need a wood cleaner. Other supplies you will need include disinfecting spray and wipes, a duster, bleach, and toilet bowl cleaner. Having the supplies you need ensures that your surfaces are as clean as they can be without ruining them. Be sure to use the read the instructions on each product to find out how to use them properly and what they are used for. Having these items in stock before your scheduled cleaning time will help you avoid procrastinating.

Image: Crema Joe via https://unsplash.com/photos/n5qirFAe6rQ

Make a schedule

It can seem overwhelming to find time to clean, but if you plan it and put it in your planner like you do other activities, it will be much easier to stay on task and to not make excuses for not having time. If you are finding it difficult to find an entire day devoted to cleaning, find small chunks of time each week for each room. You may even decide to get roommates or family members to help you out to make the time go by quicker. Having others helping out, especially if you are all working together at the same time, you will be able to do a more thorough cleaning job and have fun in the process.

Keep your hands clean

During times of increased illness such as COVID-19 and cold and flu season, having clean hands is essential to keeping your home clean. If your hands have a ton of germs on them and you touch other surfaces, the chances of spreading illness increases exponentially. Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds frequently. If you are not somewhere that you have access to soap and water, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. As soon as you can, wash your hands with soap and water, making sure that you get under your nails.

Clean common surfaces regularly

Germs can live on surfaces for multiple hours, so it is crucial that you frequently clean surfaces that you and others touch frequently, especially after you use them. While you may not have to clean a bookshelf or china cabinet every day, you should clean surfaces such as doorknobs, countertops, and other frequently touched surfaces at least daily. You might not have to do an in-depth clean, but you should at least wipe these surfaces down with disinfecting wipes to help kill the germs. You should also disinfect your steering wheel since you touch it a lot after being somewhere.

Clothes count

Your clothes might be one of the main carriers of germs. At the very least, take your shoes off at the door and avoid throwing your jackets on common furniture items such as chairs since germs can stay on surfaces for a long period of time. If you want to be extra cautious, change your clothes when you get home and put them in the hamper immediately. As mentioned above, there are myths that come along with cleaning and clothes are not exempt. There is a myth that the more detergent you use, the cleaner your clothes are. However, this is not the case. In this case, quality is much more important than quantity as the strength of your detergent determines how well it will work.

Keeping your home clean and sanitary is a crucial way to keep those within it safe, especially in these times where we are spending a lot of time at home. Making sure you know how to clean and doing so regularly is key to preventing the spread of germs.

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