How to Sanitize Your Home During the Coronavirus Outbreak
SANITIZING YOUR HOME FOR COVID-19 IS A TWO STEP PROCESS:
STEP ONE: Clean, then disinfect all high-touch surfaces. These include door-knobs, light switches, cabinet handles and pulls, control knobs on appliances and more.
STEP TWO: Clean these surfaces thoroughly with a commercial cleaning product or soapy water. Dry them and then apply a disinfectant, allowing it to remain for the required length of time:
• A bleach solution containing 1/3 cup bleach in a gallon of water should remain on the surface for at least 10 minutes.
• Allow a 70 percent alcohol/water solution to remain on the surfaces for at least 30 seconds.
• Hydrogen peroxide, full-strength, requires at least one minute to do the job.
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TIME TO ESTABLISH SOME NEW RULES:
• Remove shoes at the door and leave them outside.
• Remove clothing immediately and put right into the washing machine.
• Clean and disinfect all high-touch surfaces at least once per day
THERE IS MORE TO THINK ABOUT WHEN DOING LAUNDRY TOO:
Even if no one in the home is infected, use disposable gloves when handling dirty clothes and linens. Discard the gloves after handling the items and wash your hands with soap and water.
• To avoid dispersing the virus on clothing and linens into the air, don't shake dirty laundry.
• Use the hottest water temperature possible.
• Dry all laundered items thoroughly at the warmest temperature possible.
• Clean and disinfect the clothes hamper daily. Consider using a hamper liner that can be discarded or laundered.
The CDC says that "Dirty laundry from an ill person can be washed with other people's items."
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NOTE: To remain healthy, the United States Centers for Disease Control suggest that you disinfect your home once a day. If there is a coronavirus patient in the home, please follow these procedures more often.