Disinfecting Your Home
During this uncertain and rapidly evolving time, it’s important to understand how cleaning and disinfecting your home can help prevent the spread of COVID-19. In addition to maintaining Boardwalk’s already high standards of cleanliness, maintenance and sanitation, we’ve prepared a list of tips to help people tackle their cleaning needs at home.
What to Use
Luckily, your kitchen cabinet may already be stocked with cleaning supplies that can kill the novel coronavirus.
1. Bleach
It is not necessary to use 100% pure bleach. Mix one part bleach with nine parts of cold water. If cleaning with bleach every day, make a fresh batch of solution daily. Non-porous items like plastic toys can be immersed in the bleach solution for 30 seconds. Household surfaces that won't be damaged by bleach should get 10 or more minutes of exposure before wiping down.
To protect your skin, you should wear gloves when using bleach — and don’t mix the bleach with anything but water. Keep in mind that bleach can also damage some paint, and over time, it can corrode metal.
2. Rubbing Alcohol
When cleaning with rubbing alcohol, aim for 70% alcohol and 30% water. This is also very useful on household surfaces. Many hand sanitizers have a concentration of about 60% alcohol, and Lysol contains about 80%, so these are all expected to be effective against coronavirus.
Solutions of 70% alcohol and 30% water should be left on surfaces for about 30 seconds before being wiped down.
3. Hydrogen Peroxide
Most hydrogen peroxide is sold in concentrations of about 3%. It can be used as is, or diluted to 0.5% concentration for effective use against coronaviruses. It should be left on surfaces no more than a minute before wiping.
Please note, it is never okay to mix household chemicals.
What to Do
When cleaning, The Public Health Agency of Canada encourages you to focus on high-touch areas such as tables, light switches, faucets, toilets, doorknobs, stair rails and countertops — anything that you have your hands on multiple times throughout the day. It’s also recommended that you disinfect these surfaces several times a day.
If your phones and tablets can withstand the use of liquids for disinfection, they should be disinfected using 70% alcohol. When you are finished cleaning, all used disposable cleaning items should be placed in a lined container before disposing of them with the rest of your household waste.
Other Resources
The Environmental Protection Agency has a list of cleaning items that are effective for use against the novel coronavirus. The CDC website also has recommendations for households with suspected or confirmed coronavirus cases.
As we continue to navigate these uncertain times, we will continue to make decisions and take all measures necessary to assume our responsibilities in our communities. Please continue to take care of yourselves and each other.
Sources:
https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/list-n-disinfectants-use-against-sars-cov-2
https://nj1015.com/how-to-disinfect-your-homes-against-covid-19-advice-from-rutgers/