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Hygiene and Cleaning Tips To Help Keep Coronavirus Out of Your Home

Team AckoJun 13, 2024

Coronavirus is affecting people that belong to various communities all around the globe. No specific age group is safe from contracting the COVID-19 disease. In this situation, it is important to maintain hygiene and avoid the disease from entering into your house and its vicinity. Let’s take a look at 10 tips that will help you clean and disinfect your house.

Contents

Hygiene and Cleaning Tips to Keep COVID-19 Away:
Why Enhancing Indoor Air Quality is Critical?
Mental Health and Well-being
Importance of Vaccination and Boosters
Nutrition and Immunity Building
Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products
How to Disinfect Your House?
Frequently Asked Questions:

Hygiene and Cleaning Tips to Keep COVID-19 Away:

Maintaining hygiene will help keep Coronavirus and other harmful bacteria away from your house. Here are some useful tips:

1) Keep Yourself Clean:

Maintaining personal hygiene is the very first thing that is effective against Coronavirus. It is therefore recommended that you should wash your hands as frequently as possible for at least 20 seconds. Washing should be done with soap and water. Take a bath at least once a day and use a sanitizer when required.

2) Disinfect Frequently Touched Surfaces:

Frequently-touched surfaces include light switches, door handles, television remote, fridge door, etc. You need to use a disinfectant for keeping these surfaces clean at all times. Use a mop or wipe to clean these surfaces.

3) Avoid Touching Eyes, Nose, and Mouth:

A person’s face becomes an entry point for the Coronavirus i.e. the virus can enter into a person’s body through eyes, nose, or mouth. Avoid rubbing your eyes, picking the nose or chewing on fingernails, as much as possible.

4) Wash Your Hands After Doing Laundry:

It is found that Coronavirus can survive in various fabrics for a long time. Consider changing into a fresh set of clothes when you return home. Wash your hands as soon as you are done washing clothes and other items.

5) Frequently Wash Bed Sheets, Towels, Reusable Kitchen Napkins:

Things like bedsheets, towels, or reusable kitchen napkins are not washed frequently in many households. Keeping the COVID-19 situation in mind, refrain from doing so for long intervals. Consider changing the bedsheet every couple of days (changing sheets every day is the best case scenario). Also, wash towels after each use and reusable kitchen napkins at the end of each use.

Also, read: Coronavirus Helpline Number, India

6) Handle Food With Extra Care:

It is highly unlikely that Coronavirus would infect a person via food. However, food and water should be handled with extra care to avoid other diseases. Always use clean utensils to prepare and serve food. Cook food at higher temperatures and avoid consuming expired food items.

7) Throw Away Extra Packaging Immediately:

Coronavirus can remain stable on various surfaces like cardboard, plastic, etc. Thus make it a point to throw additional packaging material like plastic bubble wrap, bags, cardboard boxes, etc. as soon as possible.

8) Manage Waste Smartly:

Due to the current COVID-19 situation, waste should be minimised and managed smartly. Consider using organic waste from the kitchen as a fertilizer for plants. Always separate dry and wet waste and keep the waste-bin covered at all times.

9) Keep Your Pets Clean:

Consider bathing dogs and cats every week. Other pets that are kept in cages or glass tanks should also be maintained for hygiene. Clean the cages as frequently as possible. Don’t wait till you get a foul smell. Keeping your pets clean will help avoid any possible infection.

10) Sterilize Toys, Utensils, and Bottles for Children:

Recent cases of children contracting COVID-19 is a lesson that they are not at a lower risk than adults. They can equally get affected by this disease. Thus, take additional measures like sterilizing any item which comes in contact with kids, along with normal precautions that are necessary to avoid an infection.

Also, read: Ways To Remain Healthy During Social Distancing

Why Enhancing Indoor Air Quality is Critical?

Breathing in fresh, clean air isn't just a comfort—it's vital for our health, especially with the threat of COVID-19. Enhancing indoor air quality goes beyond just opening a window; it encompasses everything from ensuring proper ventilation to using air purifiers with HEPA filters that can catch virus particles. Think of it as giving your home a set of lungs that can breathe in the bad and exhale the good, making sure the air you and your family breathe is as clean as possible. Incorporating plants into your home decor can also be a natural way to improve air quality, as they absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen.

By focusing on the air we breathe indoors, we're taking a crucial step in maintaining hygiene and protecting our home environment from unwanted guests like viruses and bacteria.

Mental Health and Well-being

In these challenging times, taking care of our mental health is as important as maintaining personal hygiene and cleanliness. The stress and anxiety brought on by the pandemic can take a toll, making it essential to create routines that support mental well-being. This might include setting aside time for exercise, which has been shown to reduce stress, or engaging in hobbies that bring joy. Digital socialising can also be crucial in staying connected with friends and family, helping us feel supported and grounded.

Remember, seeking professional help is okay if you're feeling overwhelmed. Cultivating good hygiene habits extends beyond the physical; it's also about caring for our mental landscape.

Importance of Vaccination and Boosters

Vaccines have been our strongest allies in the fight against COVID-19, offering a shield for ourselves and our communities. Staying updated with COVID-19 vaccinations and booster shots is crucial in maintaining this defence. These vaccines prepare our immune system to recognise and combat the virus more effectively, significantly reducing the risk of severe illness. Think of them as training sessions for your immune system, equipping it with the knowledge and tools it needs to protect you.

By keeping up with vaccination schedules, we're not just practising good hygiene habits but contributing to a broader shield that helps keep our homes and communities safer.

Nutrition and Immunity Building

What we put on our plates is not just about satisfying hunger—it's about building a fortress for our body against diseases. Nutrition plays a pivotal role in strengthening our immune system. A diet rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants can help our body's natural defences fight against viruses and bacteria. Foods like fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds are packed with nutrients that support immune health.

Also, staying hydrated is key to maintaining personal cleanliness and hygiene, as it helps eliminate toxins from the body. Focusing on nutrition and immunity-building gives our bodies the tools they need to maintain hygiene and health from the inside out.

Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products

In our quest to keep our homes free from viruses and bacteria, let's remember the impact of cleaning products on the environment. Eco-friendly cleaning products offer a powerful solution that's kind to our planet. These products are made from natural ingredients that are just as effective at cleaning and disinfecting but without the harsh chemicals that can harm our health and the environment.

By choosing eco-friendly options, we practice good hygiene while protecting the earth. It's a win-win situation—our homes stay clean, and we contribute to a healthier planet.

How to Disinfect Your House?

Coronavirus can be killed by regularly disinfecting your house. Thus, each room should not only be cleaned but also disinfected regularly. For example, a kitchen is a place where food and food particles can be found commonly. Apart from the current threat of Coronavirus, your kitchen can be infected with E. coli, mould, yeast, salmonella, or listeria. These can cause health issues if they enter your body through food. Disinfect the kitchen with the help of wipes or kitchen napkins by using phenol or diluted bleach especially after preparing food.

Bedrooms and living rooms should be disinfected at least once every couple of days because it has electronic items like TV, sound system, laptop’s mobile phones, etc. Use alcohol-based wipes to disinfect such things. Avoid using soap and water as it may cause damage. Bathrooms should be disinfected with soap and warm water as frequently as possible. Use a new toothbrush after recovering from cold or other illnesses. Regular disinfection will help keep COVID-19 away.

Also, read: Impact of Covid-19 on Motor Insurance

Frequently Asked Questions:

Here are a few frequently asked questions:

Should I keep the windows of my house shut tight to avoid Coronavirus from entering?

Coronavirus spreads through droplets sprayed into the air when an infected person sneezes or coughs. Thus, it is unlikely that these droplets remain air bound and enter into your house with the wind. Shutting down of windows may not be necessary to avoid Coronavirus from entering your home.

Can I use natural disinfectants to kill Coronavirus?

Natural disinfectant like vinegar may not be effective in killing Coronavirus. They may be efficient for maintaining general hygiene however there is no data available that natural disinfectants can avoid COVID-19.

How long does the Coronavirus survive on various surfaces of a house?

Coronavirus can last from several hours up to days depending upon the nature and texture of a surface. It can remain stable on porous surfaces like ceramics for several days. It can also survive on stainless steel, plastic, and cardboard for many days.

Can coronavirus be transmitted through food or water?

While it's highly unlikely that coronavirus infects people via food, handling food and water with extra care is essential to avoid other diseases. Use clean utensils for cooking and serving, and ensure food is cooked at higher temperatures.

What should I do with extra packaging from groceries or deliveries to prevent COVID-19?

Coronavirus can remain stable on surfaces like cardboard and plastic. It's advisable to dispose of additional packaging material, like plastic bubble wrap and cardboard boxes, as soon as possible to reduce the risk of contamination.

How should I manage waste during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Minimize and manage waste smartly by using organic kitchen waste as fertilizer and separating dry and wet waste. Keeping the waste bin covered is also crucial to prevent spread and maintain hygiene.

How can I ensure my pets do not contribute to the spread of COVID-19?

Bathing dogs and cats weekly and cleaning the cages or tanks of other pets frequently can help maintain hygiene and reduce the risk of any possible infection spreading to humans.

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References:

Cleaning and hygiene tips to help keep the COVID-19 virus out of your home, UNICEF, https://www.unicef.org/coronavirus/cleaning-and-hygiene-tips-help-keep-coronavirus-covid-19-out-your-home#cleaning-home
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) FAQs, United Nations, https://www.un.org/en/coronavirus/covid-19-faqs

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**The content on this page is generic and shared only for informational and explanatory purposes. It is based on industry experience and several secondary sources on the internet; and is subject to changes. Please go through the applicable policy wordings for updated ACKO-centric content and before making any insurance-related decisions.