Our homes are our sanctuary. For many of us, coming home means escaping the worries and woes of the world around us. But, if we’re not careful we might be bringing the world home with us when we track different germs and bacteria through our doors.
Did you know that cold and flu virus-laden droplets may remain infectious for several hours, depending on where they fall? Some viruses generally remain active longer on stainless steel, plastic and similar hard surfaces than it does on fabric and other soft surfaces. For example, the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) can live on stainless steel surfaces for up to 72 hours, cardboard for up to 24 hours, and on copper for four hours and therefore can still be contagious.
So, how can you keep your home clean and germ-free? Here are a few tips to help you keep each room in your home sanitised.
The Entrance/Veranda
Your front door or grill is probably the first surface you touch when you get home. Using disinfecting wipes, clean off doorknobs, handles, locks and grill latches before entering your home. Having a pair of “inside” shoes is also good practice so that you can avoid tracking in all the germs your shoes would have stepped on throughout the day. Here’s a tip: Have a small rack or basket at the entrance with a pair of slippers that you can slip on as you get home.