New Jersey is already at Stage Two where more establishments are being opened – albeit, at limited capacity – to revive the local economy. And since people can now move more freely outside, utmost care must be taken to ensure that whatever pathogens there are outside don’t get inside one of the few safe sanctuaries from COVID-19 – the home. To do so, one has to regularly clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces.
Here are some high-touch areas/items and how these can be made pathogen-free:
Light switches, doorknobs, and handles
Basically, anything at home that you switch on and off, pull and push, and turn on a regular basis is a high-touch surface. You can use the standard household cleaning products to rid them of grime, fingerprints, or harmful pathogens but make sure to choose your cleaning product wisely. Some may be corrosive and may end up chipping away varnish or paint from your doorknobs and handles. Sometimes, a simple sponge with the standard dishwashing liquid can do the job. Make cleaning of these surfaces a routine at least once a day; more than once if you have an infected family member at home.
Countertops, sinks, faucets, and toilets
Even without a pandemic, these areas do need regular cleaning as the constant moisture makes them favorite breeding places of mold and mildew. Industrial-strength cleaning products can help but make sure you are also protected from the strong fumes and corrosive nature of these items by wearing gloves and a face mask.
Also, be careful of mixing these household cleaning products. After all, they’re still made up of chemicals. Bleach, combined with ammonia, will emit a chlorine gas that could inflame your lungs. Even extended exposure to scented products like fabric conditioners and detergents could cause cancer at worst.
If you want to use alternate cleaning and disinfecting items, all you need to do is to check out your pantry. Diluted vinegar has been known to not only remove grime and mildew from countertops and bathroom surfaces, but it can also put back the shine on faucets. Citrus-based solutions, meanwhile, have lesser chemicals but are just as effective as cleaning and disinfecting agents – and they leave a nice scent. For harder-to-take-off stains, you can turn to baking soda mixed with water.
Tables, desks, and chairs
Tables are where the family usually congregates to eat; desks are where people work. These come with chairs to sit on. Naturally, these will also need constant cleaning and disinfecting throughout the day, especially before use.
Remote controls and mobile phones
Given the more sensitive nature of these electronic items, washing them with soap and water is definitely out of the question. The gentle way to keep these gadgets grime- and pathogen-free is by rubbing them down with disinfectant wipes before every use.
Toiletries and makeup items
Every family member must understand that before they handle shared items like toothpaste tubes or lotion bottles, they must wash their hands thoroughly. This is one of the important safety protocols to follow, whether there’s a pandemic or not.
Meanwhile, most makeup like lipstick and blushes, as well as their corresponding accessories, are personal and should not be used by more than one person.
For more advice on protecting your home in the time of COVID-19 and finding great real estate options in Bridgewater, NJ, don’t hesitate to meet and discuss with top-notch Realtor Cindy Pagnotta and the team of Pagnotta Homes. Contact them at 908.436.7947 or info(at)pagnottahomes(dotted)com.