The Best Tips for Deep Cleaning Your Home During COVID

iStock-919768790

With lots of confusion and misinformation surrounding COVID-19, it’s difficult to know how much longer we’ll be stuck indoors. However, one thing we know for sure is that social distancing and federal guidelines are here to stay for at least another year.

Taking proper health protocols is important if we’re going to beat this thing, which extends to keeping your home as clean as it can be. And now is the time to rise to the challenge.

If you’re starting to get sick of the indoors, why not put some of that energy to good use? You can help flatten that curve and can keep COVID out of your home with these reliable cleaning tips and product recommendations.

Your home is probably due for a deep cleaning, anyway!

Best Household Cleaning Products

Whether you live alone or with multiple people, your house could likely use a deep clean. It can be time-consuming to choose from the hundreds of products on the shelf at a large store. And it could take additional weeks (or even months!) to test out and find the perfect product for the right job.

If you’re on the search for the best disinfecting wipes or wet mops, look no further than this handy list, which includes items from laundry detergent to kitchen cleaners.

Want to reduce your carbon footprint or just have fewer chemicals in your house? From all-purpose, toilet bowl, and biodegradable cleaners, there are lots of products on the market that are kind to mother nature.

And did you know that vinegar is a disinfectant and can even remove stubborn carpet stains? Or that dryer sheets can help loosen food stuck to your pans? If you’ve always wanted to opt for homemade cleaners, you came to the right place.

Practice Proper Mask Hygiene

What if you end up needing to go outside for errands or essential travel? Adding to the list of keys, wallet, and phone — masks are a must-have before leaving the house.

Making sure you have the right mask and keeping it clean can increase your chances of staying safe and COVID-free.

  • Be sure to wear your mask tightly to your face, or consider double-masking to stay safe.
  • Make sure you have a backup mask. Having an extra mask is good if you lose one or are waiting for the other one to dry after washing.
  • There’s a lot that goes into choosing a mask, like aesthetics and adherence to guidelines. But depending on the type you choose, be sure to replace (throw away) or wash your mask based on the manufacturer’s recommendations.
  • Hot soapy water is one of the best ways to clean cloth masks. You can also throw most masks in with the rest of your laundry!

Properly Clean Your Electronics

Electronic use is on the rise because we’re staying indoors so much. Because we are using them constantly, they get dirty pretty fast. For this reason, it’s important to ensure that your electronics are staying clean and germ-free to keep others safe.

As you can imagine, keeping your electronics clean requires extra care. Here are a few things to keep in mind as you clean your devices:

  • Be careful of how you use water! Always make sure to unplug anything from the outlet before cleaning. To use less water, consider a disinfectant or alcohol-based wipe.
  • Many electronics have specialized products to clean them with. If you’re not interested in taking that route, you can try a niche cleaning product.
  • If you’re in doubt, try a solution of rubbing alcohol and water as a base for a cleaner. You can also use the cleaning spray you use on your eyeglasses for marks and other light stains.

Cleaning and Disinfecting Furniture

Spending more time indoors means you might be on the floor doing yoga or relaxing on the couch to binge-watch your favorite show with some takeout. Mistakes are bound to happen, especially if your kids are running about. Be sure to clean spills right away to avoid permanent stains on your carpet or furniture.

It’s also recommended that you vacuum and dust as often as possible. Not only does this help allergy sufferers by clearing out dust and dirt from the air, but COVID-19 symptoms can be like allergy symptoms. Keeping the air clean in your home can also ward off pesky cold and flu seasons.

There are sometimes, though, when cleaning is best left to a professional. If a stain is too complicated or stubborn to remove with home remedies, you might consider finding a local cleaner with the right tools.

Checking on Home Ventilation

One of the best ways to keep COVID out of your home is by improving your air ventilation. Whether you’re in a studio apartment or large family house, increasing the airflow in your home can reduce illness.

If your home has central heating and air condition, you’re probably relying on that during the chilly winter months. You’ll want to make sure your home is properly equipped, especially if you have lots of fuel-burning appliances.

If your home doesn’t get a lot of air ventilation, you might want to invest in an air detector for humidity and mold. Too much humidity in an enclosed space can lead to mold, which can be dangerous and costly down the line.

If you’re familiar with centralized heating and cooling, you’ll know that upkeep is very important. Inspecting and cleaning your unit frequently can have energy benefits, in addition to cost benefits, like not having to replace or fix things as often.

In addition to keeping functional smoke and carbon monoxide detectors around the home, improving the ventilation in your home will keep you and your family safe year-round.

Stay Safe and Clean This Winter

As COVID cases and guidelines continually evolving, it’s important to stay ahead of the curve. This includes adopting healthy practices and keeping your home as clean as possible.

And chances are, your home could use a deep clean anyway! You can always push spring cleaning up a little earlier this year. Or why not plan to keep up the cleaning all year long?

Now that you’ve deep cleaned and COVID-proofed your home, why not reward you and your family with these outdoor fun winter activities >