Cleaning Your Home Amidst COVID-19

Coronavirus and Cleaning Your Home

It seems like every time you turn on the television or radio there is some new statistic related to the COVID-19 outbreak. Each day brings new information, new numbers and new guidelines for staying healthy in the midst of the pandemic. However, some specific cleaning tips are proving to be very effective for disinfecting your home against the Coronavirus. In this post, we will take a look at some basic practices for reducing the spread of this unwanted intruder.

Keep Your Surfaces Clean and Use Disinfectants

One of the easiest ways to mitigate the spread of the virus is to keep commonly touched surfaces clean and disinfect them frequently. There is a difference between cleaning and disinfecting. For example, it is possible to clean a surface or material without disinfecting it. Cleaning and Disinfecting could be defined as follows:

• Clean - the removal of dirt and/or germs and impurities from a material's surface. Removing the impurities reduces the number on the affected surface, thus reducing the spread of infection.
• Disinfect - the use of chemicals to kill germs on a surface and does not necessarily remove the dirt or impurities from the affected surface. By killing germs on the surface, the risk of spreading is reduced.

As you can see from the above definitions, both cleaning and disinfecting are important for effectively reducing the spread of COVID-19. By cleaning surfaces and disinfecting them, you are sure to get the best results.

Which Disinfecting Cleaner to Use

So which cleaner is the right one to use for combating the Coronavirus? There are a number of them the are readily available. We have taken an extensive list that is published by the EPA and filtered it down to include the registered distinfectants for use in residential environments. You can find our list on our website on the Residential Coronavirus Disinfectants Registered With the EPA
As you can see from the list we have posted on our website, there are a number of registered disinfecting cleaners that can be used for fighting the spread of the Coronavirus. Just be sure to use the disinfecting cleaner of your choice according to the instructions provided by the manufacturer.

How Often to Disinfect Cleaned Surfaces

The answer to that question is going to depend on the environment about which you are asking. Not all rooms or areas of the home have the same amount of traffic and/or activity. Some environments are used frequently and others sporadically. What are the key factors in determining which rooms of the house to disinfect more frequently?

• Rooms with heavier traffic and more activity.
• Areas or rooms in which surfaces are touched the most.
• Rooms in which a person with an illness has spent time.

The above list is not comprehensive, but it does give you an idea of what to look for. Furthermore, even if a room does not have a high rate of use, there may be areas in those rooms that get quite a bit of use or contact; especially with hands. For example, here is a list of "high touch" surfaces that can be found throughout the home:

• Light Switches
• Door Knobs
• Appliances
• Faucets
• Remote Controls
• Computer Keyboards
• Telephones
• Cabinet Doors
• Handheld Devices

The idea then, is to be mindful of what areas are getting the most contact. Cleaning and disinfecting those surfaces more often makes the most sense. So the frequency of the disinfecting and cleaning should be commensurate with the amount of use a surface receives. Additionally, having your surfaces professionally cleaned and disinfected periodically will help you keep a leg up on that COVID-19 enemy.

Evironmentally Safe Flooring Choices - Tile

In a previous post, I explained that I am writing a series of floor covering posts in which I will be discussing environmentally safe flooring options and in the last post I talked about the factors that make stone flooring a green choice for protecting the environment. Here I will discuss some of the things to consider when choosing tile as a floor covering material.

Tile flooring can be made up a variety of materials. To gauge the degree of environmental friendliness, the buyer needs to know what is in the tile. You will want to be sure to research the materials that comprise the flooring so that you can make an educated decision regarding the company and the product.

If you are wondering what types of things can contribute to the 'green index' of the tile, here are some ideas I found on a web site that sells tile flooring:

One aspect of environmentally friendly tile flooring is the process of manufacturing the tile. Gaining as much information as you can on the the manufacturing process can help you to see if the end product is something you would choose to use in your project.

An additional aspect of measuring the tile's 'friendliness' to the environment is the material itself. There are many substances that can be added to the 'mix'. Knowing what materials are used in the tile's construction an help you decide which tile to choose for your home or business. For example, is the tile constructed of partly recycled material? If so, what material was used?

As with many of the substances that I have considered in this series of posts, tile comes in a variety of kinds and the more information you have about the process and the substances as well as the rate at which the material is replenished, the more comfortable you will be with your decision.

Are You Allergic to Carpet?

Is Carpeting Allergenic?

That is a fair question and one that should be taken seriously because it can be a health factor for several years since the average wear of carpeting is between five and ten years according to some researchers. So, should you be concerned about carpet allergies?

The short answer to that question is yes. Being concerned about allergies only makes sense, however, some might be surprised at what causes the allergy problems.

Carpeting by itself is, for the most part made from the same materials that clothing is constructed from. Materials such as nylon and polyester. These substances are inert and most people wear them fairly regularly. However, the substances that people are allergic to get trapped in the carpet fibers and can irritate allergies. Yet, there are ways to control and minimize these allergens.

Carpeting is often treated with chemicals designed to adversely affect the particles that many people are allergic to. By asking about low VOC carpet you can reduce the amount of allergy-aggravating gases that can develop from carpet chemicals over time. And don't forget the other chemicals that can contribute to your discomfort and ask about alternative kinds of glues and padding substances.

Choose a material that is effective at controlling allergy aggravating substances. Nylon is the most effective material for this. However, you might want to stay clear of other fibers that are not as allergen repellent.

Above all, be sure to regularly vacuum your carpet and you might look into a HEPA filter. And of course, have a professional clean your carpet regularly to get the tougher stuff that you will miss with a regular vacuuming routine.