If you are planning to practice social distancing for the next few days, we are going to virtually give a strong round of applause to you because by stepping back and staying back, you are pulling yourself out from a probable chain reaction and prevent further spreading of this highly-contagious Corona virus infection. Along with maintaining absolute personal hygiene by frequent hand washing following the recommended Ignaz Semmelweis method (elaborate washing of hands for up to 20 to 40 seconds), it’s also necessary to disinfect your home and vicinity while you are in quarantine or self isolation to completely eliminate the chances of the virus lurking around on surfaces and objects. Please also remember to disinfect your phone with disinfectant wipes because you tend to always carry it all over and there are high chances that the virus can land on your phone, so please use caution. In this post, we would elaborate how you can sanitize and disinfect your home for Corona virus:
Before we start, we would like to go over what you have probably heard from everyone, and everywhere to prevent and pass on the corona viral infection:
1. Always cover your mouth and nouse when coughing or sneezing.
2. Always wash and disinfect your hands after coming home from outside or being in a public place.
3. Avoid going to crowded areas like markets, theater, gym, restaurants, where transmission of disease is higher.
4. Practice social distancing – avoid meeting people unless it is absolutely necessary.
5. Keep a distance of at least one meter when talking to people.
6. Do not shake hands with people, even fist bump is not okay. Greet each other with “namaste” or a broad smile is enough.
Why to Disinfect and Clean Home to Prevent Corona virus:
It has been established that Coronavirus is a pathogen that tends to settle down on surfaces, it stays viable in air for up to 3 hours. It transmits through person-to-person contact and also from touching surfaces. Corona virus can survive on surfaces, on copper surface for up to 4 hours, on cardboard for up to 24 hours and for up to two to three days on metal surfaces, plastic, and stainless steel items. But certain studies have stated that Coronavirus can last for up to 9 days on surfaces like glass, metal, and hard surfaces. But the good news is that basic household disinfectants are effective in clearing and killing these pathogens. If you have courier and packages or goods coming in from outside, it’s a good idea to use gloves while handling them or immediately washing your hands after you have touched and discarded the outer packaging.
Additionally, use stairs as much as possible instead of closed environment of the lift. If that’s not possible, always wash your hands after pushing the floor buttons in the elevator.
What Areas of Home to Disinfect and Clean:
1. Gate (independent house).
2. Door knobs.
3. Dining table and chairs.
4. Bathroom tap.
5. Toilet seat.
6. Light and fan switches.
7. AC remote.
8. TV remote.
9. Laptop.
10. Phone.
11. Bathroom sink.
12. Kitchen sink and taps.
Additionally, think of areas or things that you might be frequently touching or which have possibility of getting infected – for example:
1. ATM card (that you hand over for swiping at supermarkets and to the courier guy who brings your parcel).
2. Wallet or purse.
3. Your car’s steering wheel.
4. Your bike’s handle bars.
5. Keys to your house.
6. Car/bike keys.
List of Approved Disinfectants by EPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency) to Disinfect Home:
To effectively disinfect Coronavirus from surfaces, check for these active ingredients on the cleaning product:
1. Hydrogen Peroxide; Peroxyacetic Acid
2. Hydrogen Peroxide; Octanoic Acid; Peroxyacetic Acid.
3. Sodium Hypochlorite
4.Hydrogen Peroxide; Peroxyacetic Acid
5. Hydrogen Peroxide
6. Isopropanol
7. Quaternary Ammonium
8. Quaternary Ammonium; Citric Acid
9. Quaternary Ammonium; Ethanol
Caution: Never mix two or more disinfectants together because you would be putting yourself in danger since such mixing may lead to chemical reaction which might be poisonous and toxic. Use only one disinfectant at a time.
Important: Never mix bleach with ammonia or any other household or disinfectant product as it may create toxic fumes that can be dangerous for your health.
How To Clean/Disinfect Home:
1. Always wear disposable gloves before starting the disinfecting procedure. Once you are done cleaning each area, carefully throw the gloves into a dustbin with a lid.
2. Open all windows and let fresh air and light come in because you are dealing with chemicals here, so make sure there’s proper air circulation.
3. Never mix two or more disinfectants together because you would be putting yourself in danger since such mixing may lead to chemical reaction which might be poisonous and toxic. Use only one disinfectant at a time.
3. Use a detergent with water to wash hard metal surfaces, glass, and non-wooden items before disinfecting them. For wooden surface, use disinfectant wipes.
4. For disinfecting purpose, alcohol-based products with at least 70% concentration, bleach-based products, and also products with ingredients mentioned above (see the EPA-approved ingredients list) can be used.
4. Always dilute household bleach in water and use a towel or tissues to completely wipe surfaces.
5. Apply the disinfectant liquid on to the surface, allow it to sit for 10 minutes before wiping away with a wet cloth. Discard the cloth after each use into a dustbin with a lid.
How To Make Disinfectant at Home:
- Take 4 teaspoons household bleach.
- One litre of water.
- Mix both and transfer the liquid into a spray bottle.
- Spray this homemade disinfectant on to surfaces, allow it to sit there for 10 minutes, then wipe off with a wet cloth.
Please disinfect your home at regular intervals to prevent the further spread of Corona virus. Stay healthy, stay happy everyone 🙂
