Staying Clean through COVID-19
If you guys are like me, you’re trying to balance your normal crazy lives on top of the constant spray of Lysol on your surroundings. But, I wanted to share an important tip to help you sort through the many facts and fakes out there. It’s also the best advice I’ve gotten about keeping my home clean through this difficult time; actually the best advice on keeping a clean home in general!
The best tip ever. Here it is:
Know the difference between cleaning and sanitizing. In general, the definition of clean is “free from (dirt, bacteria, etc).” The definition of disinfecting is “to destroy bacteria (etc).” But the question is: is there a difference between the two? If so, what is it?
The act of cleaning is the first step of any hygiene routine, and the most important step! The removal of bacteria is the goal, right? When you wash your hands, it’s a multi-step process that includes lathering soap, rinsing & drying. All together this removes the germs, bacteria & viruses from your hands. They go down the drain and are gone for good! However, when you apply sanitizer, it kills the bacteria. Is that bad? Not necessarily… If there are any remaining germs/bacteria left after the cleaning process, disinfecting (or sanitizing) will nail it!
So, sanitizing after cleaning is a great idea when there’s a super-bug around! But it’s most definitely NOT a replacement for cleaning. Applying sanitizer without cleaning first can actually cause more harm than good. Without that good old cleaning, you have A LOT of germs left to kill, and you could ultimately just be “wiping” all of that bacteria around, instead of removing it completely. How much better it is to remove it first, and kill the small amount that may be leftover.
FACT: Applying sanitizer is a great addition to your cleaning routine.
VS.
FAKE: Sanitizing is as good & as effective as cleaning.
In-Home Tools
Sanitizing is a great addition to your regular or deep cleaning processes! But the most important thing to remember is that regular cleaning is still necessary & THAT is the most important step in keeping your homes safe with an epidemic on the loose! So when you hear everyone saying “sanitize, sanitize!”, you should keep in mind we are all saying it with the assumption that you have already cleaned first, and followed up with a just-in-case-there-is-anything-left sanitizer.
So, now that’s settled, let’s talk about the fibers in your home. Different fiber types cling to the bacteria, dust, grime, and other contaminants differently. How do you know the best way to clean all of your different surfaces and fiber types? There are way too many variables for everyone to know and keep track of, that’s why we (your cleaning experts) are here to help!
What should I use?
Ensure that your cleaning solution is both EPA-approved and safe for the material you are using it on. If you aren’t sure what to use on something, go with what the CDC says and the EPA approves! I’ve attached a link to both of these resources for you.
Where should I clean?
EVERYWHERE. But if you find anywhere else, let me know because I’ve been looking for places I haven’t cleaned and I can’t find them.
How do I clean effectively?
FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS. You may be surprised (even with a product you’ve been using for years) that you might not be following the instructions. Why is that a problem? Well, it’s only effective and approved by the EPA when the instructions are followed. So you could be doing a lot of work without the intended result. Another thing to consider is the surface or fiber type. The answer greatly depends on the surface and fiber type of what you are cleaning. For how to technical guides on a variety of things, click here. For my blog post about carpet & rug cleaning methods, click here.