COVID19 may have changed the way we celebrate, but it doesn’t mean we should stop having fun on special occasions.

As of now, gatherings of up to five people are allowed by the Singaporean government, which means at least two households can come together for the holidays. Isn’t that good news?

If you’re planning to celebrate with people outside of your household this coming Christmas, you should practice proper precautions to keep everyone safe.

There are proper disinfecting procedures that all of us can implement according to the Environmental Protection Agency or EPA, that teach us how to disinfect homes and small offices effectively.

Today, we’re giving away four effective ways to sanitize your home for the coming holidays. But before that, let’s learn the difference between cleaning and disinfecting.

Cleaning vs. Disinfecting

One thing to take note of is that cleaning is different from disinfecting. Cleaning means removing germs and impurities from surfaces, which is a good way to lessen their number and lower the risk of infection. However, cleaning alone doesn’t kill germs. Disinfection is the key to doing that.

Disinfecting is done by using chemicals and disinfectants to completely eliminate or kill surface impurities. This process does not necessarily “clean” dirty surfaces, so don’t expect a fragrant or squeaky clean area after disinfecting. Disinfection is the process of killing germs that stubbornly stick on the surface even after cleaning.

It’s obvious that when germs are killed, the risk of spreading infection also lessens.

Take note that you have to do both cleaning and disinfecting of your home to make it a safe place for your family and for the few visitors that you’re inviting for the holidays.

Here are the four effective steps that we’ve gathered to clean and disinfect your home in preparation for the coming season.

Prepare your cleaning needs

The first step that will ensure the effectiveness of cleaning procedures is to get the right cleaning materials.

We recommend using disinfectant fluids with chlorine or bleaching powder. Disinfectant tablets and peroxides are also great options for cleaning and disinfecting of different surfaces, and they’re available almost everywhere.

In choosing disinfectants, get those that contain around 70% alcohol or bleach. Some disinfectants are required to remain on the surface for several minutes before wiping.

Aside from disinfectants, cleaning fluids, and cleaning powder, you also need cloth and disposable towel for surface wiping.

You may also want to use steam cleaners that are effective in killing 97% of viruses and bacteria by using hot vapor to cleanse home surfaces.

Clean and disinfect your home

Now we go to the actual cleaning and disinfection part. The first thing you need to do is to list down the parts of your home that need to be cleaned and disinfected.

The important spaces to include are windows, doors, floors, walls, ceiling, shelves, household items, and high-touch surfaces.

Make sure that there are no damp corners on the floor, walls, and ceiling to eliminate breeding grounds for viruses and bacteria. You may need water pipe and drain cleaning too, including disinfection of some parts of your home plumbing system.

High-touch surfaces should be a priority because these are the places where impurities can be easily transferred. High-touch surfaces include:

• • Door handles
  • Tables
  • Chairs
  • Handrails
  • Tap
  • Kitchen countertops
  • Bathroom sink
  • Toilet flush
  • Toilet covers
  • Toilet seats
  • Light switches
  • Mobile phones
  • Computers, tablets, laptop keyboards
  • Remote controls
  • Game controllers
  • Kids’ toys

The best way to thoroughly sanitize almost all home surfaces is to use cleaning powder, liquid, and detergents to wash away impurities. Follow it up with disinfectant products that contain alcohol or bleach to kill the germs that remain on the surface. Follow the instructions for all the products that you’ll use.

Take note of your clothes, cushion, and laundry baskets as well. They also need to be cleansed and disinfected.

As for the parts of your home that are too old to be cleaned, you may need the help of professionals to replace them. Handymen can help install new shelves and similar home features while plumbers are the best people to call for help regarding repairs or installation of plumbing fixtures.

Disinfect the air too

Home ventilation also requires thorough inspection, cleaning, and disinfection. This part of the house can cause respiratory droplet transmission of viruses if not taken care of.

Check the exhaust fan and air conditioner in your home and see if they need cleaning. Schedule ventilation cleaning at least twice a year.

Establish a strong and consistent personal hygiene

Last but not least is establishing strong personal hygiene. It’s important to always wash your hands after touching something that was brought to the house from the market or anywhere outside.

Avoid touching your face especially after coming in contact with someone or something from outside of your home.

It’s also a must to take a bath upon arriving home from going out. Here are some other personal hygiene tips that you can keep for you and your family’s safety.

Remember that human beings are the main carriers of the COVID-19 virus, therefore, everyone should practice strong and consistent personal hygiene to lessen the risk of transmission.

Now that you’ve learned the four effective ways of sanitizing your home and keeping the virus away from your household, you can have peace of mind to celebrate this coming holiday! Don’t forget to enjoy, because there’s still goodness despite the challenge that we faced this year.