The COVID-19 virus is usually spread through direct contact, airborne transmission, or droplets. However, the coronavirus can also spread through surfaces.
Although the risk of infection through a surface is relatively low, disinfecting and sanitising surfaces is highly recommended to stay safe and reduce transmission of the virus. As a result, people have been cleaning more frequently since the outbreak of the pandemic.
What Can You Do?
It’s best to clean and sanitise your home more regularly to protect you and your family from COVID-19 and other viruses, using antibacterial and antiviral cleaning products. There are numerous suppliers of wholesale cleaning products online that can provide the necessary products to keep workplaces Covid free.
Clean Frequently Touched Surfaces
Clean each surface in your home once it becomes dirty. You should clean door handles, bannisters, tables, chairs, countertops, and light switches most often. It is especially important to clean regularly touched surfaces after you have guests in your home.
Disinfect Your Home
You may be more cautious if you or someone in your household is more vulnerable to the coronavirus. In this case, you may want to consider using disinfectant as well as cleaning your surfaces more often.
When choosing a disinfectant cleaning product, ensure that it is suitable for the material of the surface.
The Covid Risks of Different Surfaces
While it is relatively unlikely that you will contract COVID-19 from touching a surface, there is still a risk. According to lab studies, the virus may stay much longer on some materials than others. WebMD offers us a guideline.
- Metal: doorknobs, jewellery, silverware – 5-9 days
- Wood: furniture, decking – 4 days
- Plastics: milk containers and detergent bottles, Tupperware – 2 to 3 days
- Stainless steel: refrigerators, pots and pans, sinks, cutlery, some water bottles – 2 to 3 days
- Cardboard: shipping boxes – 24 hours
- Copper: pennies, cookware – 4 hours
- Aluminium: drinks cans, tin foil, water bottles – 2 to 8 hours
- Glass: drinking glasses, measuring cups, mirrors, windows – Up to 5 days
- Ceramics: dishes, pottery, mugs – 5 days
- Paper: post, newspaper, books – The length of time varies. Some coronavirus strains live for only a few minutes, while others can live up to 5 days
- Food – Coronavirus doesn’t seem to spread through food
- Water – Coronavirus hasn’t been found in drinking water
- Fabrics: clothes, bed linen – Uncertain, but not as long as on hard surfaces
You can also take certain precautions to reduce the likelihood of surfaces becoming contaminated by COVID-19:
- Follow guidelines for fully vaccinated people where you live
- Ensure that everyone in the household washes their hands frequently, especially after returning home
- Keep people at home with the virus isolated and avoid meeting with people who have recently tested positive for the virus
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Make sure that anyone with symptoms after travelling gets a covid test (Source: Tests2Go)
Cleaning With Covid in Shared Spaces
There are some extra things to consider if you clean shared spaces. Public buildings, shared living areas or meeting rooms are some of the higher risk areas for spreading the coronavirus.
There are three useful steps you can take to reduce the risk of infection:
Identify common areas ? First, identify the common areas that are used by various people and need more regular cleaning. These may include entrances, reception areas, laundry rooms, toilets, kitchens and stairs
Deep clean ? You should deep clean in between groups using the space
Devise ‘clean as you use systems’ ? Put in place ‘clean as you use systems’ for high contact areas. Provide disinfectant wipes and sprays for high contact surfaces and encourage people to clean after themselves while the communal space is in use
Top Tips For Cleaning With Covid
You can make the sanitisation of high-risk areas easier by taking specific measures to reduce how often you need to clean. Here are some top tips for cleaning communal spaces during Covid.
- Keep surfaces free of objects to reduce contamination
- Open doors and windows to allow for ventilation
- Reduce access to certain parts of the building to a certain number
- Ensure hand washing facilities are available with soap
- Provide hand sanitiser at entrances and exits
- Use posters to remind people of good hygiene and cleaning methods
