How To Disinfect Your Home, Kill Germs & Avoid Contracting Coronavirus
Practicing cleanliness is the best prevention
getty The Coronavirus epidemic, so far, has spread to more than 70 countries. In the United States alone, there are cases of Coronavirus in at least 13 states, including California, Oregon, Washington, Florida, Arizona, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin.
The number of states definitely sounds alarming, but we must remember it's only 13 out of 50 states. And everyone within those states aren't infected either. In fact, the majority of American citizens are Coronavirus-free.
Still, a good way to protect yourself against Coronavirus is to know how to disinfect your home. That means a full, top to bottom house cleaning.
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Before you start panicking and disinfecting everything but the cat, it's important that we know all the facts.
Believe it or not, Coronavirus didn’t just come out of nowhere. Scientists first encountered the virus in the 1960s, so it's been around for a long time. It’s just never been as widespread prior to the exposure of the new strain.
What is COVID-19, better known as Coronavirus?
Coronavirus is actually a common respiratory virus that has crown-like spikes on its surface. The strain of Corona currently causing the growing epidemic is the COVID-19 virus. This is a new strand that was first detected in 2019 in China.
Symptoms of Coronavirus include fever, cough, and shortness of breath, and it's mainly spread through person to person contact. If you're in close proximity with someone who is infected, that greatly increases your likelihood of contracting the disease.
The entry points of the virus are the nose, mouth, and eyes. That means it’s best to limit touching your face. Also be mindful of the surfaces you touch, because if they are infected with the virus, it can be spread that way.
When we hear the numbers regarding the number of those infected or died because of Coronavirus, remember that there are over 7 billion people on Earth. This means the likelihood of you contracting the virus are extremely slim. Granted, some of the odds are higher in areas that have a higher number of infected people, so the likelihood varies.
In addition to disinfecting your home, there are other important steps to take to make sure you are protected. The most important thing is to not panic, practice good hygiene, and stay vigilant. Here are a few ways.
1. Keep your hands clean.
The best way to stop the spread of bacteria and viruses is to wash or sanitize your hands. When washing your hands, make sure you wet them under running water. Then, apply soap; whether it’s antibacterial or not doesn't matter. They both kill germs.
Work the soap into a lather between your fingers. For handwashing to be effective, lather for 20 seconds. A helpful way to wash your hands for that long is by singing "Happy Birthday."
2. Leave your face alone.
The virus enters your body through your nose, mouth, and eyes. So, that means avoid touching those areas unnecessarily to keep your likelihood of contracting Coronavirus low.
Since you touch many surfaces each day, every hour, especially your phone, you're essentially putting that bacteria right on your face. Either wear a pair of gloves, wash your hands frequently, or avoid touching altogether.
3. Steer clear of sick people.
Try to limit your exposure to those who are sick, since Coronavirus is spread from person to person. That makes it imperative that you remain aware of who you're around.
Also make sure you're able to detect the symptoms of those who could potentially have Coronavirus, all so you can avoid them. In cases where you can’t avoid others, wear a face mask temporarily to protect yourself.
4. Build up your immunity.
Those with weaker immune systems are more vulnerable to disease. That’s one of the reasons why the elderly and infants tend to be the most susceptible to disease during epidemics.
We can’t change our ages, but we can reduce our chances of contracting Coronavirus if we build our immunity. The simplest way to build your immune system is to practice a balanced, healthy lifestyle. That means getting the recommended about of sleep (which is about 7-9 hours a night), having a nutritious diet, and making time exercise for at least 30 minutes daily.
You won’t see results instantly. Building your immunity is a process, but is well worth it because it allows your body to fight off germs and viruses more effectively.
5. Finally, disinfect your home.
It’s really important that you deep-clean your home. You can practice all the other ways to prevent Coronavirus, and still come home to a germ-infested house. You probably won’t catch Coronavirus from having a dirty home, but it certainly doesn’t hurt to take extra precautions.
Disinfecting your home will surely kill other viruses as well, so take the time to wipe as many surfaces as you can with disinfectant wipes to eliminate viruses and bacteria. For areas that can’t be wiped down, try using a disinfecting spray.
One easy way to make a cheap disinfectant is to use cleaners you already own. Just mix 3 teaspoons of bleach with 1 gallon of water, then spray the mixture on the surface and leave it on for up to 5 minutes. You can also make another homemade cleaner with white vinegar or hydrogen peroxide, but be careful to never mix the two.
And don’t forget to clean those doorknobs— they’re probably one of the dirtiest things in a home!
Tamara Sanon is a writer with a passion for covering topics about health and wellness, lifestyle, astrology, and relationships.