Health First Advises You to Keep COVID-19 at Bay by Disinfecting Your Home Regularly

it’s important to ward off other viruses and keep bacteria at bay

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – It’s pretty straightforward – a disinfected home can help improve the odds of keeping you and your family safe from COVID-19. Plus, it’s a mood booster to be living in a place that looks tidy and smells clean.

While keeping your house clean gives you a healthier edge in a COVID-19 world, it’s also important to ward off other viruses and keep bacteria at bay.

And it’s about more than taking a soapy dishrag to a countertop after cleaning up the kitchen (which can actually spread germs around). There’s a method to it, and it’s simple and effective.

At Health First, we want to provide you the tools to stay safe and be well.

That’s why we’re providing these tips, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), on the best way to keep your home sanitized:

▪ Start with cleaning frequently touched surfaces with detergent or soap and water on a daily basis. Anything that’s handled often should be cleaned. This includes tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, pull handles and knobs, desks, TV remotes, gaming controllers, keyboards, toilets, faucets, sinks and more. Don’t forget about smartphones and laptops. If hands are on an item frequently, clean it.

▪ Make sure to wear disposable or reusable gloves when cleaning.

▪ In addition to daily cleaning, spot clean as needed. If it’s soiled or stained, take care of it.

▪ After you’ve cleaned, disinfect. Household disinfectants on “List N” are approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to kill SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. Want to know if you have a product on hand that works? Find out by looking up the item at epa.gov/listn.

▪ Make sure you keep the surface wet with disinfectant for the time frame the label directs. It’s the key to killing viruses and bacteria.

▪ Make sure the area is well-ventilated so you don’t breathe in fumes.

▪ A diluted bleach solution may be appropriate for disinfection. Make sure the bleach you’re using is intended for this purpose and has a sodium hypochlorite concentration of 5% to 6%. Alcohol solutions with at least 70% alcohol work, too.

▪ Don’t forget to disinfect items such as carpets and drapes. Use disinfectants designed for soft surfaces and follow as directed.

▪ When doing laundry, use the warmest setting possible to kill anything that could be lingering. If you’re laundering items for someone who is sick, remember to wear disposable gloves and discard them immediately after use.

Disinfecting your home isn’t just something to do during a public health crisis – it’s a healthy habit that can protect you and your loved ones for years to come.

For more wellness tips and information on how Health First is working to protect you and your family, visit HF.org/staywell

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