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How to disinfect your home to keep Covid-19 at bay

spraying alcohol on table

As the real estate industry adapts to new demands brought about by COVID-19, homeowners must come up with their own disinfection routines in the house.

As the list of household chores grows, it can be tough to keep track of the materials and effective tips that you need to eradicate virus contaminants. This blog post will serve as a comprehensive guide to help you make home living in College Station, Texas safe and comfortable.

The tools and disinfectants you will need

The good news is that most of these items are already available at home. These include:

  1. Microfiber cleaning cloth
  2. Rubbing alcohol (70% isopropyl)
  3. Bleach
  4. Disinfecting sprays
  5. Disinfecting wipes

If you need a full list of disinfectants that can be applied against COVID-19, check out this online resource from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Furthermore, the EPA recommends letting the disinfectant solution sit for a few minutes on surfaces – ideally, 10 or more – before wiping them down with a cleaning cloth.

In addition, exercise caution when handling bleach. Never mix the latter with alcohol or any other ingredient that isn’t water. To be extra careful, make sure to wear gloves when handling any type of disinfectant. Alcohol and bleach, for instance, can damage or dry up your skin.

Disinfecting approach

Being thorough is crucial but you also have to be strategic. Disinfecting every part of the home every day isn’t the best approach. Instead, prioritize the areas that frequently come into contact with hands, such as:
Door handles, knobs, railings, and doorbells

  • Light switches
  • Windows, including handles or cranks
  • Faucets
  • Table surfaces
  • Countertops Table
  • Appliance surfaces and handles (refrigerator, microwave)
  • TV remote control, TV buttons
  • Personal gadgets like computers, laptops, and mobile phones

Ideally, these should be disinfected daily or depending on how often you or other household members go out of the house. If there are family members that are at high risk of contracting COVID-19, you should seriously consider disinfecting more frequently… but judiciously.

According to the EPA, some bacteria become resistant to certain disinfectant solutions over time. To avoid this, experts recommend water (in combination with soap or bleach) and alcohol as your main arsenal. Use stronger solutions sparingly and only when absolutely necessary.

What about clothes?

Fortunately, there’s little that you need to change up in your laundry routine. Machine-washing clothes is already a stellar way of getting rid of all kinds of dirt and germs.

Before throwing clothes in the washer, however, take note of the following:
Carefully handle clothes owned by other household members. Consider wearing gloves while you do the laundry. Avoid touching your mouth and eyes after rounding up dirty clothes.

Toss in the reusable laundry bag in the washer. Contaminants may have transferred from dirty clothes to the laundry bag. Alternatively, if you’re using a laundry hamper, make sure to disinfect it.

Turn up the heat. Set the washing machine to a hot water setting, which can kill off virus particles. A high-heat dryer setting will also be helpful.

Make key lifestyle changes in your home

For best results, disinfection should be augmented by lifestyle changes. You have to rethink how you go about your daily household routine. Make alterations befitting the times.

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

  1. Use the mudroom as a sanitation area or create a makeshift anteroom by the entrance or doorway. Provide disinfecting or sanitation supplies in the area – rubbing alcohol, wipes, sprays, and soap and paper towels if there’s a sink or tap nearby, and so on. Disinfect shoes and leave them in the sanitation area.
  2. Consider exclusively using your own utensils. One of the ways viruses and bacteria easily spread is through items shared by two or more people. If you and other household members can stick to one set of utensils, plates, and other materials, you can help curb the spread of the virus in the home.
  3. Air the bathroom before and after use. Without sufficient ventilation and humidity control, the bathroom can be an ideal place for viruses and bacteria to fester. Consider opening a window or two or installing exhaust fans. Invest in a dehumidifier if you need to. Close the toilet lid before flushing and apply a disinfectant spray before and after use.

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Caliber Realty knows what it takes to navigate these uncertain times. With over 40 years of experience in residential and commercial real estate in Central Texas, our team will support you every step of the way.

Contact us via phone 979.694.8844 or email at sales(at)bhhscaliber(dotted)com to learn more about our full suite of real estate services.

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