How to clean and disinfect your home properly

While cleaning our home thoroughly to keep it germ-free has always been part of our daily routine, it’s undeniable that the spread of COVID-19 has made us more scrupulous than ever with our cleaning and sanitation practices. Here are our tips on how to do it the right way.

The difference between cleaning and disinfecting

Let’s start with the basics: cleaning, or sanitizing, is not the same as disinfecting. While cleaning is about removing contaminants such as dirt and germs from a surface, disinfecting involves killing all pathogens which include not only bacteria but also viruses. 

Cleaning a surface usually takes less time that disinfecting it, which can take anywhere up to 10 minutes. The he latter is the only way to ensure that the risk of illness through contaminated objects or surfaces is reduced to almost zero.

It’s ideal that we not only clean but disinfect all the objects we take with us outside each time we return to our homes, such as our keys, wallets, phones and computers, as well as high-touch surfaces. But what exactly should we consider high-touch surfaces?

Identifying the high-touch surfaces and objects

High-touch surfaces include kitchen and bathroom countertops, refrigerator handles, doorknobs, faucets and faucet knobs, toilet seats and handles, as well as light switches. Phones, keyboards, remote controls and game controllers should also not be forgotten.

However, since each home is a little different, it might help to think outside the box and look beyond the usual suspects to include anything we might be in close contact with daily. These include desk surfaces and mousepads.

Choosing the right disinfectants

1. Bleach

When thinking about sanitizing and disinfecting your home, bleach is usually the first product that will come to your mind because it is a very effective disinfectant. However, using it pure form might be excessive as it is likely to it's likely to damage or discolor sensitive surfaces. Therefore, it is recommended to create your own diluted mixture by combining four teaspoons of household bleach with one quart water and pour it into a spray bottle.

2. Hydrogen peroxide

While hydrogen peroxide is often used to clean open wounds and prevent infection from minor cuts and scrapes, it’s also a powerful disinfectant that can kill viruses, bacteria and other pathogens when used on hard, non-porous surfaces. Typically sold in 3% solutions, hydrogen peroxide can be used as is, directly from the bottle.

3) Alcohol

Isopropyl alcohol is an effective disinfectant against many pathogens, including viruses, along as it is used with the correct concentration. Concentrations usually range between 60% and 99%, and 70% is the best. Pure alcohol (100%) evaporates too quickly to be used effectively.

4) Vinegar

Vinegar (or vinegar-based alternative cleaning products) is ineffective against most bacteria and viruses and cannot therefore be considered a disinfectant. Undiluted white vinegar, often a favorite when it comes to cleaning, may work on several types of bacteria, but is definitely not the best way to get a surface virus-free. 

Precautions to take when disinfecting

As with any strong chemicals, security is crucial when handling sanitizing products. Make sure you follow the steps below:

• Protect your skin with gloves. Contact dermatitis (or skin rashes) is a common effect of frequent exposure to chemicals. 

• Treat electronics with care. 

• Keep the products out of reach of children. Cleaning products can be dangerous if used improperly and when ingested

• Never combine disinfecting or any cleaning products and remember to ventilate the room if fumes become excessive.

• Patch test in a hidden surface before using bleach, alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, or any other disinfectant. 

• Always rinse with clean water and air dry surfaces often used for preparing or storing food after disinfecting.

Do not forget cleaning

Even though disinfecting is the only way to ensure a proper removal of ALL germs, including viruses, cleaning remains a necessary preliminary step. 

Start by removing any contaminants, dust, or debris by wiping them with soapy water or a cleaning spray and a hand towel. Keep in mind that rubbing helps eliminate pathogens by creating friction, which will contribute to their breakdown. You can then proceed to disinfecting the surface you’ve just cleaned.

PICK•A•ROO is coming very soon! Once it’s available on August 18, you’ll be able to order cleaning products from local supermarkets on our app - downloadable via the App Store and Google Play. Sign up to our waitlist now.