Washing your hands frequently is important to prevent possible viruses and bacteria, but it is also important to clean the house correctly. This type of deep cleaning will make our home free of germs and bacteria, which are the ones that could cause certain diseases. Do you want to know the steps to follow to clean and disinfect the house to protect yourself from viruses and bacteria? Then do not miss what we are going to tell you, it will be of great help!
Tips to clean the house and disinfect it from viruses and bacteria, protect yourself!
Surely you also clean the house every day, the basics, and that you leave the most in-depth cleaning for the end of the week. We all want to have a super clean, impeccable home, but the current rhythm of life means that, many times, we cannot dedicate the time we would like to it. Nothing happens, however, in special situations in which it is necessary to clean in depth and also disinfect to eliminate any virus, bacteria or germ and thus avoid contagion, we do have to pay a little more attention to cleaning the home. It is what is known as the ‘sanitization’ process, that is, the simultaneous application of two steps: cleaning and disinfection of any surface in the home. If you want to disinfect your entire house, this is what you have to do:
Choose the right products for home cleaning
The ideal would be to stock up on disposable products such as paper as well as other specific ones capable of emitting steam, it is that thermal shock that occurs between the two that allows the total elimination of possible pathogens.
If it is not possible for you to prepare the material before, then use chemical cleaning products, they are also indicated to sanitize and clean all the rooms of the house. In this case we will use the product according to the surface to be disinfected: detergent, products based on hydrochloric acid to remove lime scale, bleach or degreaser to remove grease or greasy residue… Remember, one for each need, never use them for what they are not designed for and, of course, do not mix with each other because there is a risk of intoxication.
Grandma’s remedies also work, and a lot
If you are more of traditional home remedies, those used by grandmothers, such as alcohol vinegar, citric acid or baking soda to remove dirt and bacteria, go ahead. They are products that work like a charm and also have the added bonus of contaminating much less than the disinfectants found in stores and supermarkets.
Another tip to keep in mind, especially when it comes to removing viruses that have already entered the house, scrub the floors with boiling water above 70°C , all pathogens will be eliminated, just be careful not to burn yourself when you go to pour the boiling water into the bucket.
Alcohol sanitizer of at least 75%
To sanitize the surfaces of the house, we can use a disinfectant solution of alcohol of at least 75%. We will spread the mixture on the surface to be treated, let it act for a couple of minutes and then wash the surface with water to remove the alcohol. Be careful not to touch the alcohol with your hands or that anyone leans on the surface you are disinfecting while you wait those two minutes for it to take effect.
How to wash and disinfect household fabrics
We have seen the steps to follow and the most suitable products to clean the floor and surfaces of the house in order to leave them free of viruses and pathogens, what can we do to disinfect the tissues of the house ? Curtains, tablecloths, sheets, blankets, sofa covers…
According to experts, whenever possible, the best way to wash this type of home fabric is to put it in the washing machine separately, that is, if, for example, we are going to wash the sheets of the whole house, we will put a washing machine with detergent and we will let it dry in the open air. We will do the same with the curtains or the sofa covers. We will make sure that the temperature of the washing machine is at least 70°C so that a complete and deep disinfection is achieved.
In the case of fabrics and upholstery that cannot be washed in the washing machine, it is best to use steam equipment as well as vacuum cleaners with a filter and a collection compartment, so that even the smallest particles can be filtered.
As for blankets and quilts that cannot be washed in the washing machine or cleaned with steam equipment because there is a risk that they will deteriorate, they can be taken to a laundry or dry cleaner. There they have special equipment and machinery to wash and care for this type of fabric.
Mobile phones and computers must also be disinfected
We use them every so often but we always forget about them when cleaning. Mobile phones, computers and tablets should also be cleaned. Think that we use them constantly and that we share them with other people so they can become a source of transmission of viruses and bacteria.
A daily cleaning of these devices is recommended, for this, we will turn them off and rub them gently with a solution that contains water and alcohol. We will let it dry completely before turning it on again.
How often do I have to clean the house?
The ideal would be to clean the basic things in the house every day, such as the floors and the kitchen; the bathroom every two or three days, depending on the people who live in the house, and leave the deep cleaning to be done two or three times a month.
As for fabrics and upholstery, we will wash them every two or three months or when we see that it is necessary, with the exception of sheets and other fabrics for common use that should be washed every two weeks.
If a virus or a pathogen has entered the house because someone is sick, we will disinfect floors, bathrooms and other surfaces as soon as possible and when the person has already recovered, it is the best way to keep the home clean and avoid possible infections.
Main indications suggested by the WHO for cleaning the home
Let’s see, finally, what the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO) say in the care and disinfection of the home, especially in emergency situations in which a deeper and more specific cleaning routine must be carried out.
The WHO emphasizes the need to use ethanol (alcohol) of at least 75% concentration. In addition, chlorine products such as 1% common bleach and specific cleaning products for floors and other surfaces will be necessary.
