COVID-19 is undoubtedly the biggest health pandemic of our generation and is now responsible for more than 21,000 deaths globally and nearly 500 deaths here in the UK. Now, in a bid to slow the spread of the virus, limit the number of future deaths and soften the blow to the NHS; the Government has placed the UK on lockdown.
Following the Government’s announcement, the majority of the population are now confined to their homes entirely and are probably wondering what they can do to keep their homes clear of the virus.
Government Guidelines
The Government guidelines state that to effectively clean surfaces, we must:
“use either a combined detergent disinfectant solution at a dilution of 1,000 parts per million available chlorine or a household detergent followed by disinfection (1000 ppm av.cl.). Follow manufacturer’s instructions for dilution, application and contact times for all detergents and disinfectants”
To clean your home in accordance with the above guidelines, clean surfaces with soap and water first to remove the dirt, and then apply disinfectant or bleach solution afterward to get rid of the bacteria.
When you’re cleaning your home, always remember to:
- Wear disposable gloves.
- Follow the manufacturer’s guidelines.
- Make sure you have good ventilation in the area where you are cleaning.
- Wash your hands when you’re done.
It’s important to note that a ‘one-off’ deep clean will not suffice. Although an initial deep clean of your home is great, it is essential that you follow up with regular cleaning in order to maintain the cleanliness of your home.
Fear not, this doesn’t mean you need to be cleaning your home day in, day out; it just means that you need to keep on top of the areas in your home that are most commonly touched or are a well-known breeding ground for germs, bacteria, and viruses (such as tap handles).
What else can I do to help prevent infection in my home?
In addition to taking the necessary steps to keep our homes clean, we can all make a conscious effort to increase the frequency and length of our hand washing to reduce the spread of COVID-19 to one another.
The NHS states that in order to reduce transmission to others, we much all follow the following handwashing guidelines: “You should wash your hands with soap and water for the amount of time it takes to sing “Happy Birthday”, twice (which is around 20 seconds).”
You can view the complete NHS guide to correctly washing your hands, here.
Not only will washing your hands effectively kill and remove the virus if it is on your hands it will also prevent it from contaminating areas in your home that you have already cleaned.
