HEALTH
The Latest Cleaning and Sanitization Tips That You Should Use
Studies show that soap and water destroy flu viruses, but what they don’t tell you is that it takes five minutes of soapy immersion for the magic to happen.
That means, washing your hands isn’t as effective against COVID and other viral infections as we assume. That brings the sanitization tips we’ve embraced over the last two years into question.
Although the finish line for the latest pandemic is in sight, it’s still important to guard against infections if we want to avoid a repeat. Check out our guide to sanitization best practices to help you set up a healthy routine.
Cleaning vs. Sanitization Tips
Cleaning something and disinfecting it are two entirely different things. So are viruses and bacteria.
Bacteria are often helpful and sometimes vital organisms that we encounter everywhere in our daily lives. Viruses transmit diseases of varying intensities, usually influenza.
Cleaning involves removing contaminants, dirt, bacteria, and some viruses from a surface. Disinfecting involves killing them in the process.
While the two aren’t mutually exclusive, a clean object can still harbor dangerous pathogens and a disinfected item might still be dirty.
With this in mind, it’s best to embrace both sanitization and cleaning best practices for both commercial and residential cleaning.
Clean First
You should clean high-touch surfaces like doorknobs, light switches, faucets, etc. daily to prevent a build-up of contaminants.
Hot water is essential for effective cleaning, it speeds up the process and enhances the efficacy of cleaning solutions. It’s best to wipe down surfaces with a clean, warm, soapy cloth until you’ve removed all the visible dirt.
You can buy a range of cleaning products to suit any surface at your local supermarket. You don’t need to change your cleaning methods to fight off viruses, but it’s a good idea to clean more frequently.
We do need to make some changes when it comes to disinfecting household items. In some cases, like doing laundry, you can get around this by increasing the temperature of your dryer.
In most instances, you’ll need specialized products to kill harmful pathogens.
Disinfect Second
Once you’ve got the surface sparkling clean, you should disinfect it using approved cleaning formulas. Some of the best solutions for residential cleaning include:
- Disinfecting wipes and sprays
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Isopropyl alcohol
- 4 teaspoons of bleach mixed in 1 quart of water
Always follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer. They base these cleaning techniques on research conducted while developing their products.
According to this article on COVID ending, this virus will be with us for the foreseeable future. So, if we want to sidestep another global pandemic, we need to keep up a rigorous cleaning routine.
Stay Fit and Healthy
Taking good care of yourself is just as important as following the latest sanitization tips. A healthy body can fight off illness more effectively than any amount of cleaning and sterilizing can.
Your health depends on good nutrition and a dedicated exercise program, browse our blog for more ideas on how to incorporate these into your daily routine.
Kenneth is a proud native of sydney, born and raised there. However, he pursued his education abroad and studied in Australia. Kenneth has worked as a journalist for almost a decade, making valuable contributions to prominent publications such as Yahoo News and The Verge. Currently, he serves as a journalist for The Hear Up, where he focuses on covering climate and science news. You can reach Kenneth at bloggerjohnsmith12@gmail.com.