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As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to sweep across the world, citizens are looking for ways to stay safe in their own homes. The large majority of people who end up contracting the coronavirus will have little to no symptoms of illness, making it even more difficult to know where you are safe.
It can be frightening to have anyone in your household come down with this dangerous illness. When COVID-19 hits so close to home, it becomes more important than ever to limit the risk of infection to the rest of the family.
If you have a family member that is ill with COVID-19, there are measures that should be taken to protect everyone in your home. Mask wearing and quarantining measures can help prevent the spread. Once you or your family member have recovered it’s time to clean and disinfect your home. You may want to bring in professional COVID-19 cleanup services or if you are able you can follow these steps to ensure that your home is safe from infection.
In-Home Quarantine
If you or a family member becomes sick or is diagnosed with the COVID-19 infection, it’s critical to begin a strict in-home quarantine. Separating your ailing family member into just one bedroom or bathroom in your home can help reduce the spread of the virus throughout your entire home. Limited contact should be made with the infected family member and all family members should wear a mask at all times when around the infected patient.
Clean First
Following the recovery, it’s time to clean your home. Although disinfecting is an essential step in the process, cleaning should come first. All bedding, clothing, and towels should be laundered right away. Floors should be washed or vacuumed while wearing a mask to protect from particles being stirred up into the air. All surfaces in the quarantine room should be dusted and wiped with a clean cloth.
Disinfect
Once the quarantine room is cleaned and the laundry is done, it’s time to kill any remaining germs. Mattresses can be easily sprayed with an aerosol cleaner like Lysol to kill any remaining bacteria. If you have carpets, it’s a good idea to have them steamed. All surfaces that are regularly touched should be wiped with a bleach solution or a Lysol wipe including:
- Bedside tables
- Lamps
- Light Switches
- Tables
- Counters
- Toilets including flush handle
- Sink and faucet handles
- Door handles
- Remote control
- All devices including smartphones, tablets and computers
Shut Down
Once the quarantine area has been thoroughly cleaned and sanitized you can let time take care of the rest of the bacteria. The COVID-19 virus can survive on surfaces for several days. Any areas that you may have missed during your cleaning could present a risk. Once the rooms have been completely cleaned, you can shut the door for at least a week. Limit all traffic to those areas and let them sit untouched until the remaining bacteria has died off.
During the pandemic, every person is at risk for infection, even when precautions are taken. If you or a family member has tested positive for the virus, follow these steps to ensure that your home is cleaned and disinfected properly. These steps will help you eliminate the risk of future infection and protect your family.
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