This year, as we prepare for the holiday cleaning tradition, keeping our homes COVID-free has become even more critical. While we may not welcome guests as usual, it’s essential to take precautions. Here are five steps to a thorough and safe home cleaning during the COVID period.
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Start with Ventilation Before you begin cleaning, open all windows and doors to ventilate the space, as adequate air circulation is crucial in preventing virus spread. Aim for at least an hour of ventilation. If possible, let items like couch cushions, pillows, and rugs air out in the sunlight.
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Use Bleach and Water, Avoid Vinegar While natural cleaners like vinegar or lemon are great in other contexts, there’s no evidence that they’re effective against viruses like COVID-19. Stick with a diluted bleach solution or approved disinfectants. If you find the bleach smell too strong, add a minimal amount of scented cleaner to your cleaning mix but avoid using more than two additional cleaning products with bleach.
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Reduce Clutter and Exposure The fewer items out in the open, the fewer surfaces you have to clean. Store away non-essential items like throw pillows, magazines, and decor items. This helps reduce the number of touchpoints and minimizes risk for you and your family.
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Wash What You Can Just as frequent handwashing is essential, so is washing home textiles. Clean everything washable, including blankets, cushion covers, small rugs, pillowcases, and display items. Wash at high temperatures and, if suitable, add bleach to the wash cycle.
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Avoid Shaking Out Items Traditionally, we shake out carpets and rugs as part of holiday cleaning, but this practice can release particles into the air. Instead, vacuum these items thoroughly on a high setting and follow up by wiping down with a bleach solution where appropriate.
Following these steps can help ensure a cleaner, safer home environment.
