New research from scientists at the National Institutes of Health, among other agencies, shows that at least some Coronavirus can live for up to 24 hours on cardboard and up to three days on plastic and stainless steel.But a report in “The Washington Post” notes that the most likely period for infection from the virus on surfaces is in the first 10 minutes to one or two hours.Today let’s focus on how to disinfect your home to stay safe from the virus, you would need bleach, rubbing alcohol, and hot water.
When you work with disinfectants, practice some self-care. "Alcohol and bleach can be very aggressive on your skin, so wearing rubber gloves can help protect your hands,"
A bleach solution or rubbing alcohol is your best bet for keeping your home sanitized.
Steps:
1) For your high-touch surfaces, the Centers for Disease Control recommends a bleach solution diluted with water, or a 70% alcohol solution.
Follow this bleach recipe:
5 tablespoons (1/3 cup) bleach per gallon of water, or 4 teaspoons of bleach per quart of water.
2) Make sure to properly ventilate when disinfecting with bleach.
3) And check to see if your bleach has expired. Who knew it could? After about 9 months to a year, and if it smells less bleachy, it’s lost its disinfecting power. Time for a new bottle.
4) Wipe often most used surfaces including floor. With your preferred disinfectant, wipe down high-touch surfaces like doorknobs, light switches, tables, remotes, banisters, toilets, sinks, and faucets daily or more often, if someone in your home is sick. (Note: not all surfaces can handle bleach - For your nonporous floors, like those in the bathroom, the CDC recommends mopping with the bleach solution. Avoid bleach on hardwood and other porous floors because of staining. Instead, use a disinfecting wet mop cloth without bleach.
5) Leave for 10 minutes
6) Wipe off again with hot water
7) Clothes
With Covid-19 and especially if you have a sick person in your house, use the hot- water setting followed by a high-heat dry for about a ½ hour to 45 minutes is best for virus eradication. thoroughly dry.
8) Don’t forget about your laundry hamper. Wipe it down like you would other surfaces. You can also use a reusable liner bag, which you can launder with the clothes.
Safety Tip: Don’t mix bleach with anything other than water; otherwise, it could set off a dangerous chemical reaction. For instance, bleach + alcohol is a deadly combo.
You don’t want to use bleach?
Using alcohol (isopropyl alcohol or ethyl alcohol) works, so long as it’s at least 70% alcohol. The alcohol concentration will be listed on the bottle. Rubbing alcohol you buy should already be diluted, unlike bleach.
Erica Marie Hartman, an environmental microbiologist, whose research focuses on resistance, confirms soap, bleach, and alcohol are your best bets.
Using Disinfecting Wipes
What about the various disinfecting wipes on the market (at least if you can find them)? The active ingredient in many of those is an ammonium compound, which could become resistant to viruses over time says Erica Marie Hartman.
Cleaning Isn’t Disinfecting
Disinfecting with bleach isn’t actually cleaning. If you also need to clean your counter tops of dirt and grime, do that first with soap and water. Then use the bleach solution or rubbing alcohol to combat the virus and follow the steps above
What If I’m Selling My House, and Inviting More Germs In?
How to disinfect your home when it's for sale? Talk to your agent who will work with you to establish a hygienic showing protocol, including requiring visitors to wash hands with soap
and water or use hand sanitizer when they arrive, and to remove shoes or wear booties before entering.
Removing shoes not only reduces dirt coming in, but potentially germs.
In addition, some agents are reporting that they’ve eliminated open houses to avoid group situations.
After showings, practice your surface wipe-down routine.
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