10 Household Items To Regularly Disinfect #Covid19
10 Household Items To Regularly Disinfect. With the coronavirus upon us, our hygiene also has to be on top notch. The virus can survive on surfaces for hours, henceforth, it is imperative to clean some household items every now and then.
1. Appliances
It goes without saying that doorknobs and faucet levers need frequent disinfecting. Having noted that don’t forget refrigerator, oven door handles, the microwave touch pad and stove knobs. Wipe away any grease or grime from handles first with soapy water, then rinse and dry. Zap bacteria and virus germs with your disinfectant spray or wipe.
2. Light Switches
You touch them multiple times a day, so don’t forget to clean these high-traffic spaces often. Use damp cloth to clean off dust and grime. Be careful not to let any liquid seep behind the switch. With a disinfecting wipe or a cotton ball dampened with 70% isopropyl alcohol and well squeezed out, swab all sides of the switch and backplate.
3. Hand and Dishtowels
With coronavirus upon us, now’s the time to change them out more frequently. If you have a busy household, replace them daily or every two days. White towels can be machine washed in hot water with regular bleach and colored ones can usually handle the addition of a color-safe oxy bleach and stain remover, but check the care label to be sure.
4. Remote Controls
Considered one of the dirtiest items in a hotel room, household remotes get passed from person to person and rarely get cleaned, if at all. Take out the batteries and wipe the remote with a cloth dampened in 70% isopropyl alcohol or with an alcohol or disinfecting wipe.
5. Kitchen Trash Can
Garbage cans are often neglected, but they need the most love. Every now and then it gets filled with the dirtiest waste you can think of. Clean the can and any removable plastic liner with warm soapy water. Then, rinse and dry it with paper towel. Once dry, thoroughly spray all sides of the can with a disinfecting spray.
6. Toothbrushes
Dentists recommend replacing your toothbrush every three months or after recovering from a cold, but don’t forget to clean the area around your toothbrush too. To stave off bacteria, always allow toothbrushes to air dry before storing them and make sure family members close the toilet lid before flushing to contain any spray that can land on exposed toothbrushes and surfaces.
7. Purses
You carry your purse with you everywhere, so chances are it’s pretty gross. Finished leather purses can be quickly wiped down with a disinfecting wipe. Fabric bags can’t be disinfected, but they can usually be cleaned with a cloth dipped in a mild sudsy solution and rinsed the same way.
8. Keys
Your house and car keys go everywhere, your purse, the car, your pockets, even the grocery store with your shopper card attached. This definitely means lots of touching and resting on surfaces. Use a disinfecting wipe to go over over individual keys and the fob.
9. Credit Cards
These everyday essentials get handled by lots of people and germs can lurk in the crevices around the numbers. Give debit and credit cards a quick cleaning. Wipe down with an alcohol or disinfecting wipe and let them air dry before placing them back in your wallet.
10. Toys
Kids love their toys, and it’s important that you clean your children’s washable toys often. Place solid toys in the dishwasher or soak them for five minutes in a solution of 1/2 cup chlorine bleach and one gallon of water. Mix up a fresh bleach solution each time you do this. Place stuffed up toys in a pillowcase, knot the top, and, if safe, wash and dry them on a gentle cycle with low heat.
