The effects of being shut in doors for prolonged periods of time are starting to show… and we don’t just mean that you’ve exhausted Netflix, and that all those little jobs you’ve been putting off are done.
Lots of people spending time indoors together means (amongst other things) heavy use of the bathroom, increased fridge and dishwasher action and a lot of dust (not created from mostly human skin but dirt brought in on your feet and airborne particles like dust and soot with a bit of carpet fluff, clothes fibre and pet hair for good measure) and, after a few weeks of quarantine its getting harder and harder to avoid the inevitable clean….
But if cleaning ‘isn’t your thing’ or you want to prioritise then where do you focus your energies and what should you use?
Washing your hands and WIPING DOWN SURFACES are probably the most important tasks you should be undertaking at the moment to prevent the virus lingering (and to also clear the other bacteria that cling to a surface)
Start by using a DETERGENT to wash surfaces; for example washing up liquid or laundry powder. Detergents don’t kill bacteria but they do clean things. They are an important first stage of a deeper cleaning process as the bacteria and virus killing products like bleach attack germs, they don’t clean dirt and grime; so detergents break down grease and dirt which can harbour bacteria.
To clean hard surfaces effectively you need a DISINFECTANT – A substance that kills germs on non-living things. The most common type of household disinfectant is bleach. BLEACH kills some of the most dangerous bacteria including staphylococcus, streptococcus, E. Coli and Salmonella – as well as many viruses including the flu and the common cold. (Bleach is also a corrosive and should be used with care).
BIOLOGICAL CLEANERS are eco-friendly alternatives to bleach. They contain ‘good bacteria’ that work by consuming ‘bad bacteria’. These cleaners penetrate deeper into a surface and they work for as long as the good bacteria has something to consume. This means they keep surfaces hygienic for longer, although they do take longer to work than bleach.
ANTIBACTERIAL products kill – or at least reduce – the number of harmful germs and bacteria lurking in homes. Common varieties often contain a combination of additional chemicals and natural oils that have also have antifungal and antiviral properties.
ANTISEPTICS are substances that kill germs on living things.
In other words, they do a similar job to disinfectants, but they are for people rather than floors, surfaces and other inanimate objects.
SANITISERS are products that both break down dirt AND attack bacteria.
HOW TO….
Use a disposable cloth to first wipe surfaces down with a detergent (washing up liquid) – apply your product following the manufacturers guidelines and leave for 5-10 minutes for most effective cleaning – wipe off and dispose of the cloth – wash your hands – repeat as often as possible….
And if you have any energy (or inclination left) after cleaning your homes hard surfaces then a quick dust and hoover will keep those respiratory problems at bay too.