As the current health crisis forced families to stay at home, most people might think that they are already safe from the health threats of COVID-19. Well, think again. If you have people or deliveries coming in and out of your door, there will always be a possibility of acquiring the deadly virus.
In a study by the National Institutes of Health, researchers found that COVID-19 can linger on the air for over three hours and remain on any surface (i.e., cardboard) for over 24 hours, while the virus can live on stainless steel and plastic surfaces for three days. Once you get in touch with any of these contaminated surfaces, there is a higher chance of getting infected and spreading it to your family.
If you have been following COVID-19 restrictions, such as wearing a mask or observing a safe distance from others, you are already doing your job of preventing the virus from spreading. But how cautious are you when keeping the family safe? This article will discuss which parts of your home that need TLC the most. Take note of these suggestions to ensure you are keeping your home germ- and virus-free as possible.
Living room
As New York decided to close down many of its business establishments, Governor Andrew Cuomo recognized certain factors behind the spread of COVID-19 on America’s largest financial district. Aside from personal services and indoor dining, Cuomo tagged the living room as the biggest cause of COVID-19 infection.
Other local leaders have also considered the ‘living room spread’ as the potential factor why COVID-19 cases have been increasing in many areas. Why is this so? This is largely because the living room is one of the places in our homes where families or social bubbles can gather without wearing masks or observing social distance.
Common scenarios involve having group parties, sharing food or drinks, and sitting side-by-side while watching a sports event or movie. These social situations can put people in a very risky position to acquire COVID-19, especially if someone in the group is already infected.
To prevent the spread of COVID-19 at home, there are a few changes you need to do in keeping the living room a safe place for the family. The first step is to hire a service provider to clean the dryer vent at home.
There are plenty of benefits when conducting yearly dryer vent cleaning, such as lower power bills, efficient running of the appliance, less clogging, and improved air quality at home. If you have family members who have asthma and breathing problems, a clean dryer vent will allow cleaner air to circulate the house.
Another way to keep the living room clean and safe is to minimize frequent social interactions. If you cannot avoid these scenarios, make sure that every person at home observes a safe distance. When eating, everyone should ensure that they have washed their hands thoroughly. Instead of sharing food in a single container, there should be an individual plate where they can snack on their own. Have a hand sanitizer or alcohol accessible so everyone can clean their hands after coming into contact with any surface.
High-touch surfaces
Cleaning the entire home is never enough when dealing with high-risk viruses like COVID-19. You have to clean and disinfect the parts or places that your family often touches. High-touch surfaces include toys, chairs, toilets, faucets, door handles, mobile phones, handrails, electric switches, appliance and gadget controllers, and bathroom and kitchen surfaces.
Regularly clean and disinfect the surfaces mentioned above. You can buy an antibacterial product at the grocery, or you can make one on your own. Use wipes and disinfectant sprays for places and corners that are difficult to reach.
Kitchen
Although there are no studies that link COVID-19 to food packaging and products, there is no harm in taking the extra mile to keep your family safe when it comes to the food they eat. Whether you frequently order takeout or prepare food in the kitchen, always wash your hands when handling utensils and food products.
When accepting deliveries, minimize in-person contact as possible. You can ask the courier to leave the package at the doorstep and wash your hands before and after handling the package. Before preparing food, ensure that you observe food safety guidelines to keep the utensils and kitchen areas clean and virus-free.
There is no denying that the current health crisis has brought stress and loneliness to all of us. While it is hard adapting to the current social situation, knowing how to keep the family clean and virus-free can go a long way to make sure your loved ones are safe in these trying times.
