Expert Cleaning Tips during COVID-19 pandemic
from CTV news
I am a business that does not promote the use of bleach, for many reason, for disinfecting but kept it in this article to stay true to their reporting on CTV news.
RESOURCES
If you have a cleaner in your kitchen cabinet and wonder if it can help protect your family, check if it a has drug identification number (DIN) on the label, which signals it is approved by Health Canada. Then search that DIN on Health Canada’s list of disinfectants that will work against this virus.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has created a similar list of 357 products here.
Health Canada also has a list of more than 830 approved hand sanitizers here.
from CTV news
I am a business that does not promote the use of bleach, for many reason, for disinfecting but kept it in this article to stay true to their reporting on CTV news.
- It’s important to clean surfaces first. Mop, dust, vacuum and clean appropriate surfaces with soap and water to remove dirt, grime and grease
- Then use a disinfectant (compounds that are bleach, hydrogen peroxide, or alcohol based) that kills microorganisms, including viruses and bacteria
- It’s critical to follow the directions on the label of any disinfectant you are using. The labels indicate whether the product is effective against viruses, what surfaces it can be safely used on, as well as how to properly dilute.
- The labels also contain the formulation’s contact or dwell time, meaning the time the surface must remain wet in order for viruses and bacteria to be killed
- If the surface dries before the prescribed dwell time, which can range from 30 seconds to 10 minutes, reapply the disinfectant
- Disinfect counters, sinks, toilets, tables, and floors and concentrate on high-touch areas, including doorknobs, toilet flushers, fridge and cabinet handles, shower curtains, faucets, remote controls, phones and computer keyboards
- If using a bleach product, open windows, turn on fans and limit your exposure to breathing in the fumes
- Wash towels, bathmats and sheets on hot or sanitize settings and avoid shaking them out
- If your normal cleaner is sold out, use dish soap and water
- An effective all-purpose cleaning solution is 2 cups water, 1/2 teaspoon of dish soap
- Always take your shoes off before entering the house to avoid tracking in dirt and germs.
RESOURCES
If you have a cleaner in your kitchen cabinet and wonder if it can help protect your family, check if it a has drug identification number (DIN) on the label, which signals it is approved by Health Canada. Then search that DIN on Health Canada’s list of disinfectants that will work against this virus.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has created a similar list of 357 products here.
Health Canada also has a list of more than 830 approved hand sanitizers here.
Sanitizing Surfaces During COVID-19 Pandemic
WHAT DOES WORK
Isopropyl alcohol and hydrogen peroxide are recommended by Health Canada and other authorities to disinfect for this novel coronavirus.
WHAT DOESN'T WORK
Common green household cleaners including vinegar, lemon juice, and baking soda. These ingredients are not considered effective in the fight against COVID-19 and are not registered disinfectants by Health Canada, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or the CDC.
WHAT DOES WORK
Isopropyl alcohol and hydrogen peroxide are recommended by Health Canada and other authorities to disinfect for this novel coronavirus.
WHAT DOESN'T WORK
Common green household cleaners including vinegar, lemon juice, and baking soda. These ingredients are not considered effective in the fight against COVID-19 and are not registered disinfectants by Health Canada, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or the CDC.
Anti-Bacterial and/or Anti-Microbial Microfiber Cloths
These words might have compelled you to purchase your microfiber cloths to help in the fight against coronavirus
'capable of "trapping and removing" 99.9% of bacteria from hard surfaces'
the coronavirus is not a bacteria but a virus therefore anti-bacterial and/or anti-microbial microfiber cloths will not be what removes the coronavirus from your non-porous hard surfaces.
Soapy water and rigorous scrubbing will.
Using any of the Health Canada approved disinfectants will help against the fight against the coronavirus (Click here to find the natural and Eco-friendly ones)
Ensuring your dusting cloths are always damp (not dry) to trap the coronavirus and not spread it around will help.
Soaking all of the cloths you have used in soapy water for a time (I do overnight) will help
Anti-bacterial and/or Anti-Microbial microfiber cloths will not unless you use them in harmony with all of the steps above. Save your money and use what you already have along with the steps above.
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What is a Non-Porous Hard Surface?
When you read the important information attached to the disinfectant you are going to be using in your clients' homes and businesses you will see these words many times and if you don't you should
NON- POROUS HARD SURFACES
the disinfectant you are using is only disinfecting (if used properly) surface that are hard and non-porous. What are these surfaces
Stainless and other processed metals
Glass
Leather and vinyl
Plastics including acrylic
Corian
Quartz
That's it...that is what your disinfectant works on
Dry Dusting is Now a No-No
SO IS SWEEPING THE FLOOR!
NO MORE
hand held dry dusters (and yes that means Swiffers too)
dry cloths (you may not be polishing those areas to perfection like you are used to doing)
dry paint brushes (my favourite tool to use)
dry flat mops
brooms
to protect yourself and your clients you must use a damp cleaning method throughout the entire home and business such as damp clean cloths, and/or a wet mop. Do not dust or sweep which can distribute virus droplets into the air.
From John Hopkins Hospital - NEVER shake used or unused clothing, sheets or cloth. While it is glued (the virus) to a porous surface, it is very inert and disintegrates only
-between 3 hours (fabric and porous),
-4 hours (copper and wood)
-24 hours (cardboard),
-42 hours (metal) and
-72 hours (plastic).
But if you shake it or use a feather duster, dry cloth, broom, hand held duster, swiffer product, dry flat mop, the virus molecules float in the air for up to 3 hours, and can lodge in your nose
SO IS SWEEPING THE FLOOR!
NO MORE
hand held dry dusters (and yes that means Swiffers too)
dry cloths (you may not be polishing those areas to perfection like you are used to doing)
dry paint brushes (my favourite tool to use)
dry flat mops
brooms
to protect yourself and your clients you must use a damp cleaning method throughout the entire home and business such as damp clean cloths, and/or a wet mop. Do not dust or sweep which can distribute virus droplets into the air.
From John Hopkins Hospital - NEVER shake used or unused clothing, sheets or cloth. While it is glued (the virus) to a porous surface, it is very inert and disintegrates only
-between 3 hours (fabric and porous),
-4 hours (copper and wood)
-24 hours (cardboard),
-42 hours (metal) and
-72 hours (plastic).
But if you shake it or use a feather duster, dry cloth, broom, hand held duster, swiffer product, dry flat mop, the virus molecules float in the air for up to 3 hours, and can lodge in your nose
