Now more than ever, homeowners have to disinfect their homes frequently to prevent diseases. Not only viruses like the COVID-19 are threats to your health, but many bacteria can also be found indoors, like germs in the bathroom or foodborne bacteria in the kitchen. If you want to make sure no germs are lurking inside your home, follow these easy steps for disinfecting your home.

Prepare your tools

Get your cleaning supplies ready

Before disinfecting your home, you need to clean it thoroughly. Get your cleaning tools and supplies ready to wipe, dust, and wash the surfaces you want to disinfect. If you are dealing with microbes, using different microfiber cloths for each area can reduce cross-contamination. 

Consult the EPA-approved disinfectants

Effective disinfectants are approved by the Environmental Protection Agency. You can consult the approved products by browsing this list. Consider the amount, dilution, type of surface, and contact time before using it! 

Wear protective gear

When you disinfect your home, you should wear gloves and a face mask at least. Many household disinfectants are harsh chemical compounds that need to be handled with care. Wear protective gear to minimize exposure to disinfectant products and germs.

Clean your home

As we mentioned earlier, cleaning comes before applying the disinfectant products. The CDC recommends frequent cleaning as a preventive countermeasure for COVID-19 spreading. Dust fixtures and appliances, wipe down hard surfaces, and vacuum upholstered furniture. If you have washable rugs, curtains, or pillowcases, throw them into the washing machine. Cleaning and washing alone can remove most pathogens inside your home. However, it is important to distinguish between cleaning and disinfecting.

The difference between cleaning and disinfecting

Although these two processes are necessary for a safe and healthy home, it’s crucial to know the differences. Cleaning your home means physically removing dust, debris, grime, and microbes. Removing some bacteria and viruses doesn’t necessarily mean a surface is germ-free, but it lowers the number of pathogens on a surface. Disinfection comes after cleaning the surfaces. It consists of applying a disinfectant product, which is a chemical that kills or deactivates viruses and bacteria, as long as you follow the respective instructions. 

Disinfect the surfaces

After cleaning your home, use the disinfectant according to the label’s instructions. Depending on the pathogen, you need to apply the disinfectant for a specific time (contact time) to ensure the best results. In fact, there are many things to consider when disinfecting. The type of surface, germs, dilution, and other factors could alter the product’s effectiveness. When disinfecting your home, pay special attention to high-touched surfaces like light switches, doorknobs, and appliance handles. 

Also, consider that many disinfectants are chemicals that need to be handled with care. For example, chlorine bleach evaporates into dangerous fumes, and most disinfectants are harsh on contact with the skin. As we mentioned already, you must read thoroughly and follow the label’s instructions and precautions. If you have small children or pets, double-check if the products are safe to use when they are around. To protect your family and pets, we only use pet-friendly and eco-friendly cleaning supplies and disinfectants in our cleaning and disinfection services. 

The whole disinfection process seems too complicated? Hire Maids à la Mode cleaning services, and we’ll disinfect the high-touch surfaces in each visit! Our cleaners only use EPA-approved products for disinfecting, and our process is thorough and detailed. We clean first, then we disinfect. That’s how we ensure our clients are safe and healthy! Book with the top-rated Mobile Bay’s house cleaners!