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Sustainable Coronavirus Cleaning Tips: How to Keep Your Home Germ-Free

Photo by Francesca Tosolini on Unsplash

As we navigate COVID-19, it’s crucial to follow specific guidelines. While we need to practice self-isolation, it’s essential to clean our houses regularly. When you maintain a tidy home, you and your family can stay safe and healthy for longer. Plus, you’ll be far less likely to transfer germs to others.

Here are a few sustainable tips on how to keep your space germ-free:

  • 1. Scrub High-Traffic Surfaces

Every day, the people in your household touch doorknobs, light switches, counter tops and more. As a result, millions of germs flood those surfaces. Most of the time, they’re not overly harmful — but right now, it’s important to take every precaution. You don’t need to sanitize each area every hour of every day, but high traffic areas should be sanitized regularly. When you come home from work or the supermarket, be sure to clean then, too.

Use your favorite biodegradable wipes to sanitize areas effectively. A mixture of soap and water suspends viral particles that cause COVID-19, so that solution should always be your first step. Then, you can use other cleaning products like Bleach, Isopropyl Alcohol and Hydrogen Peroxide to destroy virus particles and disinfect thoroughly.

  • 2. Wash Clothes Immediately

We don’t usually think about our clothes as germ carriers, but they can transport harmful bacteria. As soon as you come back from a public place, take off your outfit and start a load of laundry. You don’t need to use extra detergent or other solutions. Simply turn up the water’s temperature and go about your usual routine. If you need to wash a sick family member’s clothes, make sure to wear compostable gloves.

It’s vital to sanitize hampers and laundry baskets, too. If you don’t know what products to use, the Environmental Protection Agency outlines specific regulated and approved cleaners to tackle COVID-19. Double-check those guidelines before you start cleaning.

  • 3. Disinfect Furniture and Rugs

Our furniture sees a lot of traffic — especially when there are kids, pets and adults around the house. Additionally, footwear can track nasty germs onto carpets and rugs (so remember to leave your shoes at the door).

That said, conventional sanitization methods tend to release harmful volatile organic compounds into the air, so it’s necessary to use a sustainable approach. First, determine your furniture’s material. Then, create a homemade cleaner.

Most fabric upholstery can handle a mixture of white vinegar, warm water and dish soap. After you vacuum, use your cleaner to remove stains and disinfect surfaces. Let the area dry before you sit down. Be sure to launder pillow covers and blankets as well.

  • 4. Wipe Down Electronics

Many electronics, like smartphones and laptops, contain high levels of bacterial contamination capable of making us sick. It’s necessary to sanitize those surfaces as often as possible. Again, you could use a solution of soap and water to scrub away viral particles. If you have an alcohol-based solution, that’s beneficial as well. Don’t spray products onto your electronics directly.

Instead of paper towels or abrasive tissues, try a lint-free cloth to ensure you don’t damage your technology.

Use These Sustainable Tips to Maintain a Clean Household

For the most part, you can use eco-friendly, homemade solutions to keep your home germ-free. Before you make a cleaner, be sure to consult the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s guidelines. That way, you and your family can stay healthy.

NOTE: It should go without saying, none of these (or any) cleaners should be ingested, injected or consumed in any manner. These are for cleaning and disinfection purposes only.

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