Coronavirus infection is easy to catch through home surfaces when an infected person touches them, such as plastic toys for children, and therefore, be sure to clean them well.
Evidence indicates that the emerging coronavirus may live for hours to days on surfaces made of various materials.
Therefore, cleaning dirty surfaces must be done on a daily basis, followed by disinfection to prevent emerging coronavirus.
This includes surfaces that are frequently touched daily, such as tables, door handles, light switches, knobs, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, and sinks.
Effective ways to eliminate the emerging coronavirus at home
Here are the most effective ways to eliminate the emerging coronavirus at home.
1- Leave the cleaning agent slightly on the surface
Some people follow a wrong procedure when cleaning surfaces, which is to wipe the cleaning agent from the surface immediately after applying it, but it is advised to leave this material long enough to kill the viruses first.
The application of the base varies according to the type of surface and the material used for cleaning, and therefore the instructions on the package must be read first, to ensure the time needed to kill viruses, as well as to ensure that this regulating material is suitable for different types of surfaces.
2- Cleaning dirty surfaces before disinfection
If surfaces are dirty, they should be cleaned first with water and soap intended to clean the surfaces before disinfecting them.
And after making sure that the surfaces are cleaned and that they are free of any dirt, they are started to be disinfected and sterilized with the materials designated for that.
3- Daily disinfection of surfaces
Surface disinfection should be on a daily basis in the home, and in the event that a member of the house is suspected of having the virus, the surfaces should be disinfected more than once a day, taking into account that the suspected person does not touch them.
This helps prevent transmission and spread of infection, especially since the virus may remain on the surface for up to a few days.
4- Not to mix different cleaning materials together
Some people think that using more than one cleaning agent together will increase the effectiveness of these materials to kill viruses, and this is a common mistake.
Mixing some substances such as chlorine, alcohol, and others can cause the creation of dangerous and toxic gases, and the best thing is to use one substance to kill viruses.
The best materials to kill viruses to protect our children
Here are the best materials for killing viruses at home
1- Chlorine
Chlorine needs to be diluted before use, by adding a third of a cup of it to a gallon of cold water, and you must follow the directions on the product label.
Chlorine should be used within 24 hours of its preparation and diluted with water because its disinfection power wears off over time.
Some items can be dipped in bleach after dilution to clean them well, such as plastic toys for children so that they are not placed in the bleach for more than 30 seconds.
In the event that bleach is placed on materials that do not cause damage, this shall be for a period of 10 minutes or more to ensure that viruses are killed and disinfected well.
2- Ethyl alcohol
Bleach should not be used on the skin or in washing or sterilizing hands, and the best is to use 70% ethyl alcohol, because it is the percentage that helps kill viruses, and if the percentage exceeds this, it can cause damage to the skin.
But alcohol should not be considered a hand cleaner, the most important procedure is to wash hands using soap and water for at least twenty seconds, and if soap and water are not available, alcohol can be used to sterilize them.
And in the case of using alcohol to clean surfaces, it must be at a rate of 70% as well, and that is for a period of 30 seconds to ensure that viruses are killed, and it can also be used to disinfect keys and smartphones.
And the alcohol solution must be sealed tightly, as it volumes quickly.
3- Hydrogen peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is usually available at a concentration of about 3%, and it can be used in this concentration or diluted to a concentration of 0.5% to be effective against coronaviruses on various surfaces.
And if hydrogen peroxide is used to kill viruses at home, leave it on surfaces for a minute before wiping it off.
4- Natural materials
Some people assume natural substances like vinegar and tea tree oil are a better alternative to disinfecting and disinfecting surfaces than coronavirus.
This is wrong, as these viruses cannot be eliminated using these natural materials, and it is best to use one of the aforementioned materials.
Important advice when disinfecting home surfaces
Some tips should be followed when disinfecting household surfaces, including:
- Wearing gloves: Gloves should be worn while cleaning different surfaces so as not to touch the hand, as well as to protect the hand from harsh cleaning materials, and gloves should be disposed of after the completion of cleaning.
- Washing hands well: It is necessary to wash the hands well after the completion of cleaning the various surfaces to protect them from any infection.
