Getting sick can really take a toll on your home. Germs and bacteria can easily spread to surfaces and objects, making your home feel dirty and contaminated. Thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting your home after an illness is important to help get rid of lingering germs and prevent reinfection or spreading illness to others. Here is how I effectively clean my home after being sick:
Supplies You Will Need
- Disinfectant cleaners: Look for EPA-registered disinfectants that are labeled as effective against viruses, bacteria, and other germs. Some good options are bleach solutions, alcohol solutions with at least 70% alcohol, and other disinfecting cleaners and wipes.
- Cleaning supplies: It’s best to use disposable supplies like paper towels, disposable gloves, and disposable mop heads to clean when sick. This prevents recontamination. Also have hand soap, sponges, mops, vacuum, laundry detergent, and other cleaning tools.
- Trash bags: Stock up on trash bags to dispose of used tissues, contaminated items, cleaning supplies, etc. Use a lined bin for tissues.
Cleaning High Touch Surfaces
Focus disinfecting efforts on high touch surfaces that are hot spots for germs. These include:
- Doorknobs and handles
- Light switches and remote controls
- Phones, tablets, keyboards
- Faucets and sinks
- Countertops
- Toilets and toilet handles
- Cabinet and drawer handles
Follow directions on disinfectant labels and allow proper contact time to kill germs. Wipe the surface thoroughly until no liquid or dirt remains. Doing this daily helps prevent germ spread in high traffic areas.
Deep Clean Your Home
In addition to disinfecting high touch spots, do a deeper clean of your whole home after recovering from illness.
- Launder items: Wash bedding, towels, clothes, pillows, and other fabric items in hot water cycles. Add bleach if recommended. This kills germs lingering in fabrics.
- Vacuum and mop floors: Use a vacuum with a HEPA filter and clean any carpets, rugs, and hard floors. Follow up by thoroughly mopping hard floors with a disinfecting cleaner.
- Disinfect bathrooms: Give extra attention to sinks, showers, bathtubs, and toilets. Scrub and disinfect all surfaces.
- ** sanitize kitchen**: Disinfect counters, sinks, appliances, and thoroughly clean dishes.
- Clean electronics: Carefully wipe down phones, remote controls, screens, controllers, keyboards and other electronics. Don’t submerge in liquid; use disinfecting wipes.
- Disinfect garbage bins: Empty all garbage bins and spray or wipe down with disinfectant. Use a fresh bag.
- Clean soft surfaces: For upholstered furniture, car seats, and other soft, porous surfaces, spot clean stains and then use a disinfectant spray. Allow to fully dry.
Doing a thorough deep clean of your whole home helps remove germs missed by daily surface cleaning.
Continue Precautions After Cleaning
It takes continued effort to keep a home germ-free after sickness. Here are some extra precautions I take:
- Open windows regularly to circulate fresh air.
- Wash my hands frequently with soap and hot water.
- Use hand sanitizer often when out and about.
- Avoid close contact with vulnerable people until fully recovered.
- Change air filters in HVAC systems.
- Continue washing laundry in hot water cycles.
- Take out garbage frequently so it doesn’t accumulate germs.
- Keep disinfecting high touch surfaces daily.
Staying diligent with these cleaning and hygiene habits helps prevent recontamination or spreading the illness to others. Maintaining cleanliness takes work, but it gives me peace of mind that my home environment is fresh and healthy. With the right supplies, techniques, and consistency, I can effectively sanitize my home after being under the weather.
