With different variants of the COVID-19 virus popping up, the number of people affected in the US has continued to surge since early 2020. While it’s more common for people to become infected by direct contact with someone who has the virus,it is possible an infection can occur if someone touches a contaminated object or surface and then touches their mouth, nose, or eyes.
Even though most transmissions of COVID-19 occur through close contact with an infected person when they cough or sneeze, it’s important that you are able to properly clean and disinfect your home if you or your loved ones have had or been exposed to COVID-19. Since germs tend to linger on surfaces, there are a few important tips to follow to ensure your home is safe and decontaminated.
Using the proper cleaning and sanitizing agents
There are dozens of options when it comes to cleaning and sanitizing agents in your local grocery or online store. Some are more toxic than others and it’s your call as to what you want to use. It’s important that you carefully follow the directions on the label. The most important surfaces to clean are those which you use most often like door handles, remote controls, countertops/tabletops and other frequently used areas at home. It is also important to make sure that you remain safe if you have chosen a more toxic product. If using a toxic product like chlorine bleach, ammonia, quaternary disinfectants, you should wear gloves to protect your hands, a mask to protect your respiratory functions and safety glasses to protect your eyes from spills and splashes, especially if the label explicitly says so. You can identify potentially hazardous cleaning products you are using in your home here.
Do you want healthy alternative solutions for cleaning? You can use less toxic chemicals than the ones listed above, like the owners of Xtreme Cleaners use. All our household supplies are purchased from the USA manufacturer and store, The Wellness Company online.
Clean regularly to try and eliminate germs before they can spread
Since germs can live on a surface for anywhere from a few hours up to a few days, it’s vital that you clean regularly to try and stop the spread. This is especially important if someone in your home is sick or has been exposed to someone who has been sick.
The CDC recommends that in addition to cleaning, you should disinfect your home when someone is sick or if someone who is positive for COVID-19 has been in your home within the last 24 hours. As a best practice, the CDC recommends using EPA registered and approved chemicals to help reduce the risks associated with COVID-19 and to help limit the spread of the virus. Disinfecting kills any remaining germs on surfaces and reduces the spread of germs and they have released guidelines for the best tips and tricks to cleaning your home that are helpful to follow.
When to seek professional help
Viruses like COVID-19 can spread rapidly and cleaning and disinfecting your home if it becomes contaminated should be taken seriously to help protect the health of you and your loved ones. Improperly cleaning areas or incorrectly handling cleaning supplies can result in poisoning yourself. It’s important to have a professional company deeply clean the areas that may be infected. If you or someone you know needs help cleaning due to a COVID-19 related death or contaminated space, call Xtreme Cleaners at (800) 524-9591.