It’s been a tough year for those of us who love family and friend gatherings, and now that the holidays are here, how can we do it? Well, we’re here to help.
First, know that maintaining proper hygiene is the key to curbing the spread of the virus, so it’s the first thing on your list before you do anything at home, whether outside or inside.
Here are tips for keeping your home clean and safe from COVID if you’re getting ready for Thanksgiving.
Personal Hygiene
To protect your family’s health and that of everyone who’ll be visiting:
- Avoid touching your face (or eyes, mouth, and nose to be precise).
- When sneezing, cover your nose and mouth with tissue or elbow – and dispose of the tissue immediately in a lockable waste bin.
- Maintain a social distance of at least three feet while you have guests at home– especially from people showing flu-like symptoms.
- Wash your hands regularly with soap and running water for 20 seconds. Note, 20 seconds is equivalent to singing the “Happy Birthday” song twice, which is a fun way to have young one’s clean hands thoroughly.
- Use a sanitizer with 60+ alcohol if need be, and apply to all parts of the hand while rubbing the hands together until they feel dry.
- Ensure that everyone coming to your home this Thanksgiving observe a similar personal hygiene routine.
Ideally, wash your hands before/after:
- Sneezing into tissue
- Blowing your nose
- Using the restroom
- Preparing/eating food
- Handling contact lenses
- Leaving/returning to your home
And yes, both cold and warm water are effective in killing viruses and germs – when used in conjunction with soap.
Cleaning Around the Home
To keep your home clean and safe from COVID:
- Clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces in the home at least once a day. Such surfaces include doorknobs, light switches, handles, tables, chairs, handrails, taps, sinks, toilets, regularly-used electronics, and kitchen and bathroom surfaces.
- Wear gloves, protective gear, and follow the cleaning instructions provided by the manufacturer for each item.
- Clean dirty surfaces with soap or detergent and water, then cleanse with an EPA-approved and surface-appropriate disinfectant. Ideally, the disinfectant should contain 70%+ alcohol. Alternatively, use a bleach solution diluted in the ratio of 1:50.
- Leave the bleach or disinfectant wet on a surface as long as directed by the manufacturer. Be careful when cleaning electronic devices to prevent water and chemical-related damages.
- Clean your hands immediately afterward.
Handling Food
While there’s no current evidence linking food to the transmission of COVID, you still need to observe the regulations for cleaning unpackaged produce and other foods.
To that end,
- Cook meals at home if you can.
- Clean hands before and after preparing meals.
- In cases of delivery, remove and discard packaging materials.
- Wipe or spray reusable packaging with approved products.
And for premium cleaning services in Baltimore, contact Kelly Green Club, where we clean in a bid to give you back your free time and enjoy the Thanksgiving celebrations more calmly.
