The coronavirus outbreak has caused widespread devastation across the globe, leaving the UK government with no choice but to lockdown the country to minimise the virus’s spread.
If you are looking to minimise your risk of being exposed to the virus even more, keeping your home clean is a must.
Studies have shown that the virus can survive for up to three days on hard surfaces so, since you’re hauled up in the house anyway, why not make the most of your time in self-isolation by keeping your home as clean as possible?
Listed below are a few top tips to help keep your house clean and virus-free. Whether it be simple things like focusing on high-touch surfaces, or more unusual tops like putting used sponges in the dishwasher, here are a few things to think about.
1 – Clean THEN sanitise.
While you might be tempted to go straight in with the disinfectant wipes, don’t just rush in.
Before you disinfect the area, you should first clean it using soap and a sponge. Once this is done, apply the disinfectant, leave it for 30 seconds and then wipe it off.
Normally, you would only need to clean and sanitise in this way once every few days. However, these are not normal times we are living in – therefore, you should clean and sanitise your kitchen countertops on a daily basis.
2 – Dishwasher sponges.
While they may generally be used to clean plates and dishes, various studies have found that sponges are teeming with bacteria themselves.
Therefore, to kill off these germs, pop your sponge into the dishwasher after you’ve finished using it, or give it a hot soapy scrub yourself.
Alternatively, use microfibre cloths instead of sponges where you can, since these are much more straightforward to clean and launder once they’ve been used.
3 – Prioritise high-touch areas.
Since COVID-19 is incredibly contagious, it’s important to prioritise cleaning any areas around the home that you are more likely to come into contact with throughout the day.
These high-touch areas typically include kitchen countertops and appliances like kettles, toasters, coffee machines and fridges. However, there are several other areas of the kitchen that get forgotten about, including cupboards and cupboard door handles.
4 – Run an empty wash.
OK, this may sound a little counterproductive but hear us out-run a washing machine cycle without any clothes in it.
By running your washing machine on empty once a week, using either a high temperature or a chemical disinfectant, this will help prevent the growth of germs over the long run.
With this in mind, make sure to remove washing as soon as the cycle has finished as well. Leaving wet washing in the machine will only encourage the growth of germs, which will then get on your clothes and skin.
If you would like any further help or advice on how to keep your kitchen sparkly and clean, please do not hesitate to contact our friendly team here at Price Kitchens.