How to clean effectively to prevent illness
Cleaning your home regularly is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of illness. Germs, bacteria, and viruses can easily linger on surfaces, making it easy for infections to spread within the home. By adopting effective cleaning practices, you can reduce the risk of illness and create a healthier environment for you and your family. Here’s how to clean effectively to prevent illness and keep your home safe.
1. Clean High-Touch Surfaces Regularly
High-touch surfaces are areas that are frequently touched and are common hotspots for germs and bacteria. These areas should be cleaned and disinfected regularly, especially during flu season or when there’s a risk of illness spreading.
High-Touch Surfaces to Clean:
Doorknobs and Handles: These are touched by everyone who enters or exits a room. Clean them with a disinfectant wipe or a disinfecting spray regularly.
Light Switches: Light switches are another high-touch area that’s often overlooked. Wipe them down frequently with a disinfecting cloth or spray.
Remote Controls and Phones: These devices are touched constantly but rarely cleaned. Use an alcohol-based wipe or a microfiber cloth with a mild cleaner to wipe down phones, remote controls, and other electronics.
Counters and Tables: Kitchen counters and dining tables should be cleaned after every meal, especially when raw meat or other bacteria-prone food is involved.
Toilet Handles and Faucets: The bathroom is a prime area for bacteria and viruses. Make sure to disinfect toilet handles, faucets, and other high-touch bathroom surfaces regularly.
How to Clean Effectively:
Use Disinfecting Products: Use disinfectants that are effective against germs and viruses. Products with ingredients like bleach, hydrogen peroxide, or alcohol can kill bacteria and viruses on surfaces.
Use Microfiber Cloths: Microfiber cloths are more effective at trapping germs and bacteria compared to regular cloths, making them ideal for cleaning high-touch surfaces.
2. Practice Proper Hand Hygiene
Your hands are one of the main ways germs and bacteria spread. Proper hand hygiene is essential in preventing illness, and regular hand washing should be part of your cleaning routine.
Hand Hygiene Tips:
Wash Hands Frequently: Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after using the bathroom, preparing food, or cleaning high-touch surfaces.
Use Hand Sanitizer: If soap and water aren’t available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer to kill germs. Be sure to cover all areas of your hands, including between your fingers and under your nails.
Keep Hand Wipes Handy: Have disinfecting hand wipes available for quick clean-ups after touching public surfaces or when soap and water aren’t available.
3. Clean and Disinfect the Kitchen After Food Preparation
The kitchen is one of the most important areas to focus on when cleaning to prevent illness. Raw food, especially meat, can carry bacteria that cause foodborne illnesses, so it’s important to clean kitchen surfaces thoroughly.
Kitchen Cleaning Tips:
Clean Counters and Cutting Boards: After food preparation, especially when dealing with raw meat or poultry, clean countertops, cutting boards, and knives with hot, soapy water. Use a disinfectant on surfaces after cleaning.
Sanitize Sponges and Dish Towels: Sponges and dish towels can harbor bacteria. Wash them frequently in hot water or sanitize them in the microwave (for sponges) to prevent the spread of germs.
Regularly Clean the Sink: The kitchen sink can accumulate bacteria from food scraps and dishes. Clean it daily with a disinfectant and scrub it thoroughly.
4. Vacuum and Mop Floors Regularly
Floors can collect dust, dirt, and bacteria, especially in high-traffic areas. Regular vacuuming and mopping will help keep germs and allergens at bay, improving air quality and preventing illness.
Floor Cleaning Tips:
Vacuum Regularly: Vacuum carpets and rugs at least once a week, and more often in high-traffic areas. This helps remove dirt, dust, and pet dander, which can contribute to respiratory issues.
Use a Wet Mop: Mop hard floors (such as tile, wood, or laminate) weekly to remove germs and bacteria. Use a disinfecting floor cleaner or a homemade solution like vinegar and water for a natural cleaning option.
5. Wash Bedding, Towels, and Clothing Frequently
Bedding, towels, and clothing are all areas where germs and bacteria can easily accumulate. Regular washing is essential in preventing illness, especially if someone in your household is sick.
Laundry Tips:
Wash Bedding Weekly: Wash your sheets, pillowcases, and blankets at least once a week to remove sweat, bacteria, and allergens. Use hot water for an extra layer of cleanliness.
Disinfect Towels and Cloths: Towels, dishcloths, and washcloths can trap bacteria, especially when used in the kitchen or bathroom. Wash them frequently with hot water and detergent to eliminate germs.
Separate Sick Household Members’ Laundry: If someone in your household is sick, wash their laundry separately to avoid spreading germs.
6. Use Air Purifiers and Ventilate Your Home
Indoor air can carry germs and allergens that contribute to illness, especially during flu season or when dealing with viruses. Using air purifiers and ensuring proper ventilation can help improve air quality and reduce the risk of illness.
Air Quality Tips:
Invest in Air Purifiers: Air purifiers with HEPA filters can help remove allergens, bacteria, and viruses from the air, making your home a safer place to breathe.
Open Windows Regularly: If possible, open windows and doors to allow fresh air to circulate, which can help reduce the buildup of germs and pollutants in your home.
Use Humidifiers: In dry weather, using a humidifier can help maintain moisture in the air, reducing the chances of dry, cracked skin and respiratory issues.
7. Clean and Disinfect After Illness
If someone in your household is sick, it’s essential to clean and disinfect frequently to prevent germs from spreading. Focus on the areas that the sick person has come into contact with, as well as high-touch surfaces.
After-Sickness Cleaning Tips:
Disinfect Common Areas: Clean and disinfect frequently touched areas like doorknobs, light switches, and remote controls to minimize the spread of germs.
Wash Dishes Immediately: After eating or drinking, wash dishes and utensils immediately to prevent germs from lingering on surfaces.
Keep the Sick Person’s Space Clean: Ensure that the room where the sick person is resting is cleaned and ventilated, with regular disinfecting of surfaces and washing of linens.
Conclusion
Cleaning effectively to prevent illness is about more than just keeping your home looking neat; it’s about creating a healthy environment where germs, bacteria, and viruses are minimized. By cleaning and disinfecting high-touch areas regularly, washing linens and dishes, maintaining good hand hygiene, and improving air quality, you can significantly reduce the risk of illness. Make cleaning a regular part of your self-care routine to ensure your home stays safe, clean, and healthy.
