How to Properly Clean Your Bathroom and Kitchen for Coronavirus
The world is currently in the grip of a massive pandemic. Coronavirus has spread across the world, disrupting economies and the daily lives of hundreds of millions of people. Over one million cases have been reported worldwide with roughly 53,000 deaths so far. (1) The likelihood that such numbers are actually higher is pretty strong as a number of countries have had their official tallies labeled suspect. However, the reality is that millions of people are now being ordered to stay at home, including most people in Colorado, and there is a healthy concern about how best to protect oneself and one’s family. (2) Besides wearing masks and limiting your exposure, another method of protection is to thoroughly clean your home. All About Kitchens and Baths wishes to offer some useful cleaning suggestions to help keep you and your loved ones safe during this difficult time.
Our cleaning suggestions will focus on the bathroom and kitchen, the two rooms most commonly used on a daily basis. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has a number of recommendations on how best to use cleanliness to fight against COVID-19. The first suggestion is to always wear disposable gloves when cleaning. If you use reusable gloves, then make sure they’re only used for cleaning and disinfecting the bathroom and kitchen. Always thoroughly wash your hands after removing the gloves.
Cleaning and Disinfecting
There are two stages to properly scrubbing your bathroom and kitchen against coronavirus: cleaning and then disinfecting. When it comes to cleaning the kitchen and bathroom, high-touch surfaces should have priority. This means doorknobs, light switches, toilets, sinks, handles, chairs, and so on.
Begin by using soap and water to wash all non-porous areas. This includes items like countertops, floors, stove, microwave, sinks, shower doors, and cabinet handles. Wash each area thoroughly. Once you have washed the various items in your kitchen and bathroom, it is time to disinfect.
For non-porous items, like a curtain for your kitchen window, you should use an appropriate cleaner and follow the manufacturer’s instructions. The items should then be laundered in the warmest appropriate water.
After washing the non-porous surfaces, the CDC recommends using disinfectants approved by the EPA that are effective against COVID-19, such as TNT from Clorox and Lysol Bathroom Cleaner from Reckitt Benckiser LLC. (You can find a full list of approved items here. LINK!!!) However, if you don’t have such a disinfectant, you can use bleach instead.
The CDC recommends using a bleach solution of 1/3 cup of bleach per gallon of water. Conversely, you can use 4 teaspoons of bleach per quart of water if you’re only disinfecting a small area. (3) You can also use alcohol solutions that are at least 70% alcohol. Make sure to leave the disinfecting solution in place for at least one minute. If you’re using bleach, always remember to never mix it with ammonia or any other cleaner. Another thing to remember is to ensure you have adequate ventilation while disinfecting your bathroom and kitchen.
What If Someone in Your Home Has COVID-19?
Cleaning takes on a new priority if someone in your household is infected with coronavirus. The best scenario is for that person to have their own bathroom and to stay in their own room until the virus passes. If an infected person has their own bathroom, then it should be cleaned and disinfected whenever needed, such as a surface becoming dirty.
However, if an infected person has to share the bathroom with others, then it should be cleaned and disinfected after they use it, every time. All About Kitchens and Baths understands that this will require a great deal of supplies and time but keeping one’s home as safe as possible is paramount. The CDC says that if it is impossible to clean the bathroom every time after an infected person uses it, then a non-infected person should wait as long as it is practical to clean and disinfect the bathroom.
We hope these cleaning and disinfecting suggestions will help keep you and your family safe. All About Kitchens and Baths understands that this is a trying time for everybody, and we heartily recommend following the instructions given by the CDC.
References:
1) https://www.worldometers.info/
2) https://covid19.colorado.gov/
3) https://www.cdc.gov/
LINK:
https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-
