Cleaning Products To Sanitize During the Coronavirus:
Bleach
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends a diluted bleach solution (…“ cup bleach per 1 gallon of water or 4 teaspoons bleach per 1 quart of water) for virus disinfection. Wear gloves while using bleach, and never mix it with ammonia”or anything, in fact”except water. (The only exception is when doing laundry with detergent.) Once mixed, don™t keep the solution for longer than a day because the bleach will lose potency and can degrade certain plastic containers.
Always clean the surface with water and detergent first, since many materials can react with bleach and deactivate it, Dr. Sachleben says.
Dry the surface, then apply the bleach solution and let it sit for at least 10 minutes before wiping it off.
Bleach can corrode metal over time, so Sachleben recommends that people not get into the habit of cleaning their faucets and stainless steel products with it. Because bleach is harsh for many countertops as well, you should rinse surfaces with water after disinfecting to prevent discoloration or damage to the surface. If you can™t find liquid bleach, you can use bleach tablets instead. You may have seen Evolve bleach tablets, which dissolve in water, at Walmart or on Amazon. Just follow the dilution instructions on the packaging (1 tablet is equal to ½ cup liquid bleach). A label on the bottle states the product is not a disinfectant, but chemically, it™s the same as liquid bleach.
Isopropyl Alcohol
Alcohol solutions with at least 70 percent alcohol are effective against the coronavirus on hard surfaces. First, clean the surface with water and detergent. Apply the alcohol solution (do not dilute it) and let it sit on the surface for at least 30 seconds to disinfect. Alcohol is generally safe for all surfaces but can discolor some plastics, Sachleben says.
Hydrogen Peroxide
According to the CDC, household (3 percent) hydrogen peroxide is effective in deactivating rhinovirus, the virus that causes the common cold, within 6 to 8 minutes of exposure. Rhinovirus is more difficult to destroy than coronaviruses, so hydrogen peroxide should be able to break down the coronavirus in less time. Pour it undiluted into a spray bottle and spray it on the surface to be cleaned, but let it sit on the surface for at least 1 minute. Hydrogen peroxide is not corrosive, so it™s okay to use it on metal surfaces. But similar to bleach, it can discolor fabrics if you accidentally get it on your clothes. It™s great for getting into hard-to-reach crevices, Sachleben says. You can pour it on the area, and you don™t have to wipe it off because it essentially decomposes into oxygen and water.
Soap and Water
Just the friction from scrubbing with soap (any kind of soap) and water can break the coronavirus™s protective envelope. Scrub like you™ve got sticky stuff on the surface and you really need to get it off, says Richard Sachleben, an organic chemist and a member of the American Chemical Society. Discard the towel or leave it in a bowl of soapy water for a while to destroy any virus particles that may have survived. Using antibacterial soap won™t give you added protection against the coronavirus because it kills bacteria, not viruses. You can still use it as long as you scrub. Note: This information, originally published March 9, 2020, was updated to include additional information about bleach tablets, tea tree oil, and retailers™ inventory of disinfectants and other supplies. Original information from Perry Santanachote from the Consumer Report ¦and Additional reporting by Mary Farrell
Tips to keep key areas disinfected
Before I even address the cleaning and organizing aspect, I need to mention some safety measures. -how to properly bring things into your home during the corona virus:
1. FIRST OF ALL do not use reusable bags during the corona virus! Doctors and scientists say the virus can stick to
reusable bags and thus accidentally be a cause of its spread.
2. Throw away ALL GROCERY BAGS and unnecessary receptacles that have been touched by other people [i.e.
cereal boxes, beer boxes, box wine boxes, spices, bags of bread, etc. etc. literally everything from the grocery store
can be placed in another bag].
3. In the rare event that there are some things that need to stay in the receptacles they came in, wipe them down with
soap or clorox wipe then dry that off with a paper towel. Spoiler alert, most items bought from grocery stores can be
removed from the receptacle they are bought in and can be transferred easily to storage containers like Ziplock bags
and Tupperware that can be washed regularly after each use.
-amazon and other deliveries:
1. Open items outside and bring the goods in only. Dispose of the amazon/delivery box without bringing it into your
home/apartment.
2. Wipe down all goods before you bring them into the house. It is still unclear as to what items in factories and storage
facilities have been exposed to the corona virus. It is also still unclear as to how long the virus stays on different
material surfaces.
Your Home Entrance
Your front entryway is the welcoming point for your home. Youwant to come home to an uncluttered, and clean environmentevery day.
1. Vacuum or sweep the entire area to collect the dust.
2. Use a wet mop and the appropriate cleaner for your tileor hardwood floor to make the space spotless. I havesuggestions for different types of floors, but I will not getinto those now.
3. Clean your entry door and the surface of its exterioraluminum cladding with a warm, damp cloth and mildsoap “ Dawn soap is the best alternative. Stubbornstains on the cladding can be removed with mineralspirits. Clean the hardware finishes with a soft cloth andmild cleaner. If you have a window on your door or inyour entryway, clean it with a vinegar-based, ammonia-free cleaner and soft, lint-free towel. Spray on the cleaner andwipe it away quickly in horizontal and vertical motions, not circles. If the cleaning solution leaves streaks, rinse theglass with water and dry it with a different cloth.
4. Disinfect everything. High traffic areas are often hotbeds of bacteria. Wipe down door handles, light switches, keyhooks, furniture and any other surface your family touches every day. Use disinfectant wipes or an antibacterialhousehold cleaner and a soft cloth. To fully sanitize, mix alcohol with water. Use gloves and protect your eyes. Keepaway from children.
5. Shoe and Drop-off Station: Have a multi-level shoe rack “ remember to use a liner to protect the rack and make easythe cleaning so you don™t collect germs, dirt and muddy water. Have some kind of basket “ with a liner that can becleaned regularly “ for people to drop keys, purses, and other miscellaneous “ and don™t forget an umbrella stand.Spray everything with a disinfectant before you take things inside the house.
6. Mount hooks and hand everything to avoid a dirty mess on the floor: You can use hooks, bookcases, and floorshelving, among others; however, think vertical and also mount overhead cabinets or cubbies with baskets to usespace in the entrance area that would otherwise be wasted.
7. Set Limits: Limit how many coats or pairs of shoes can be stored downstairs, and decide which items must be taken
up to bedroom closets or other storage areas.
Bathroom
A recent poll found that cleaning the toilet is officially the most hated chore inAmerica. However! you can make the task painless if you follow these steps:
¢ Start with your bathtub and shower area. Use Clorox “ or “ a mix ofperoxide, lemon and warm water (2 cups water “ 1 cup hydrogen
peroxide “ ¼ cup lemon juice)
¢ Move to the toilet “ use Clorox during these times to ensure higherdisinfectant protection.
¢ Go back to your bathtub and shower area, and rinse off the product youused earlier, scrubbing at any dirt that remains to get it all up.
¢ For the bathroom sink and surrounding area use peroxide for thefaucets, and alcohol with lemon for the rest. I suggest you do a quick
cleaning with alcohol-based wipes every day, especially if you have afamily member that needs to go out to work, and until we feel betterabout the virus situation.
Kitchen
Clean areas with sticky spills and dirt with soap and water. Then disinfect. To make a cheap, effective disinfectant, mix up to 3
teaspoons of bleach in 1 gallon of water. Never pair bleach with ammonia or vinegar. You will probably need additional
chemicals to clean the stove and oven, but I will provide additional kitchen cleaning time at a different time.
Laundry Areas
1. Remove any rugs or mats from the room and shake them off outside. Drape them over a railing to air them out while you are
cleaning the rest of the room.
2. As you move through the room, clean from top to bottom and left to right to minimize your cleaning time.
3. Remove any remaining lint from the dryer lint trap and wash the trap in the sink using a soft scrub brush or toothbrush. Using the narrow attachment on your vacuum, vacuum up any lint or debris that may have gone down the vent where the lint trap goes.
4. Remove the laundry soap dispenser from the washing machine and wash it in the sink. If you have a front loader, wipe down the rubber gaskets on the inside of the door with a microfiber cloth. Scrub with a toothbrush if added cleaning power is needed. Dry and replace the soap dispenser.
5. Give your washing machine a thorough cleaning with an alcoholbased cleaner, or use the peroxide with lemon and water solution you mixed to clean the bathroom. You can also make a mix of Dawn and Vinegar, but the sanitizing level will be stronger with the peroxide.
6. Use a damp microfiber with alcohol for the baseboards, but not if you have oil-based painted baseboards. You can also use dryer sheets to clean the baseboards. For deeper cleaning use a magic sponge with vinegar and water.
If you are seeking out good sanitizing services, my team is available to meet your needs. We are a Cleaning /Organizing / and Project Management small company covering projects throughout Chicagoland.The very dedicated and responsible Global Family & Home Care Team has done residential and commercial projects,including car washes, rehabilitation demolition hauling jobs, and prepared funeral homes for their Dept. of Healthaudits. We™ve also worked with real estate agents on residential properties, have done large relocation unpacks,transition downsizing, and organizing for VIP™s newcomers to various Chicagoland communities.You can contact my Global Family & Home Care Team if you need ideas to reorganize your space, if you need tobring an elder parent to be with you, or to receive a new bundle of joy in your family.I am available at: mconcepcion@globalfamilyandhomecare.com ” 773-803-9415 or 312-918-6741Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GFandHC/We can video chat to keep social distance and help you move forward with your project.
If you are seeking out good sanitizing services, my team is available to meet your needs. We are a Cleaning /
Organizing / and Project Management small company covering projects throughout Chicagoland.
The very dedicated and responsible Global Family & Home Care Team has done residential and commercial projects,
including car washes, rehabilitation demolition hauling jobs, and prepared funeral homes for their Dept. of Health
audits. We™ve also worked with real estate agents on residential properties, have done large relocation unpacks,
transition downsizing, and organizing for VIP™s newcomers to various Chicagoland communities.
You can contact my Global Family & Home Care Team if you need ideas to reorganize your space, if you need to
bring an elder parent to be with you, or to receive a new bundle of joy in your family.
I am available at: mconcepcion@globalfamilyandhomecare.com — 773-803-9415 or 312-918-6741
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GFandHC/
We can video chat to keep social distance and help you move forward with your project.