Here are the latest tips and recommendations from the Public Health Agency of Canada and the American-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on how to clean and disinfect living spaces during the pandemic.
First and foremost, hands should be washed. The importance of hand hygiene enough can’t be stressed enough. Everyone should be washing their hands as often as possible with warm, soapy water for a minimum of 20 seconds.
“The virus has an outside coating and the stuff inside – DNA or RNA – is what actually causes the disease,” explained Richard Sachleben, organic chemist and member of the American Chemical Society. “For a virus, that coating is a protein and the soap breaks up the coating, so the virus spills its guts and falls apart.” The CDC has referred to the coronavirus as a fatty virus because of this outer protein layer. If soap and water are not available, hands can be disinfected by using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 70 per cent alcohol.
High-touch surfaces are areas touched throughout the day, including doorknobs, handles, water taps, toilets, light switches, cell phones, remote controls and keys. These surfaces should be cleaned and disinfected several times a day to reduce the spread of germs and viruses. According to current evidence reported by Public Health Canada, the COVID-19 virus can live on surfaces made from a variety of materials for a few hours to several days. Frequent cleaning and disinfecting high-touch areas represents the best practice measures for preventing viral illnesses in households and workplaces.
The bathroom brims with objects needing to be cleaned, replaced or tossed. Replace toilet brushes and toothbrushes and exchange these with fresh ones, especially after illnesses or gastrointestinal distresses. Every family member should store their toothbrushes away from the others, so they aren’t touching and spreading germs. When cleaning the toilet, scrub and disinfect the flush lever.
If the homeowner has a Saniflo macerating toilet, add 1-2 liters of cleanser into the toilet bowl with the main power disconnected. Run the pump for a few seconds to allow the descaler to enter the system. Let the solution sit inside the toilet then pump for two hours to let the product work. Reconnect the main power supply and flush the toilet a couple of times.
Cosmetics and makeup should be replaced every three months to two years, depending on the product. For example, eye products like mascara and eyeliner should be thrown away every two to four months after opening, but powdered cosmetics are okay for up to two years. Most skin care products in pump bottles are safe from six months to a year before becoming susceptible to developing bacteria, mould and yeast.
According to health experts, many household cleaning products are effective at killing the coronavirus when properly used. Soap when mixed with warm water breaks down and removes viral particles that might’ve attached themselves to the surfaces.
A diluted bleach solution is effective at killing viruses and germs. The CDC recommended a dilution formula of five tablespoons (1/3 cup) of bleach in four litres (one gallon) of water or four teaspoons of bleach in one litre of water. Bleach can harm your skin or cause damage to the surfaces, so wear gloves and protective eyewear if available, to avoid bleach splashing onto the skin or into the eyes.
Hydrogen peroxide can be used as a disinfectant, although this isn’t as strong as bleach. This chemical doesn’t need to be diluted, but can discolour fabrics. Rubbing alcohol and other products containing 70 per cent or higher alcohol content will kill the coronavirus. Rubbing alcohol is safe for most surfaces and doesn’t require dilution. Finally, Consumer Reports warns “There is no evidence that [white vinegar is] effective against the coronavirus.” Additionally, vodka and other distilled spirits aren’t useful disinfectants.
When cleaning, a quick swipe is not enough – scrub surfaces thoroughly, making sure the entire area is wet then let it dry on its own. Don’t wipe the product off with a cloth or paper towels. Use a disinfecting product and physical force then give the product time to work.
If surfaces are visibly dirty, they should be cleaned using soap and water before being disinfected – this two-step process will ensure maximum efficiency of the disinfection process.
