We’re under a proper 24×7 lockdown now. But most of us have already been self-isolating within our homes for a few weeks now. And although you may feel like your home is the safest place on the planet right now, experts say you should sanitize and disinfect your house to reduce the spread of Covid-19.

“Why do I need to disinfect my house?”

You barely get to step out these days, and obviously don’t have any guests coming in. So why is it important to disinfect or sterilize your house?

  • Many of us are relying on all sorts of home deliveries – Food, groceries, medicines and other essential supplies. Now these are all supplies from outside being delivered by an outsider – Are you sure they aren’t contaminated?
  • Researchers have found that the Coronavirus can survive on surfaces like cardboard for up to 24 hours, and on plastic for nearly two to three days.
  • You may need to step out for essentials (with a permit, of course) or are required to go to work (if you work in a vital or support sector). And you could be bringing back the virus into your home. So, it’s not just important to sanitize yourself, but all high-touch surfaces in your home too.

“How do I keep my home virus-free?”

Simple – Just follow this step-by-step guide…

Target all high-touch surfaces

Make a list of all the surfaces in your home that you touch most frequently. This should include door knobs and handles, kitchen and bathroom countertop, dining table and chairs, light/AC switches and toilet handles. Oh and don’t forget the TV remote and your smartphone!

Clean the surfaces first

The first step should be to dust off, clean and decontaminate the surfaces. You can go over high-touch surfaces with a washcloth or hand towel that has been soaked in soapy water.

Then wipe down with a disinfectant

You can use a readily-available disinfectant like the Dettol disinfectant liquid or Clorox disinfecting wipes to wipe down all your target surfaces. You can also use an alcohol solution, with at least 70 percent alcohol content. If using disinfectant liquid, you can transfer the solution into a spray bottle for ease of use. Remember to wear disposable gloves while cleaning and disinfecting, and discard them once you’re done.

If store-bought disinfectants are out of stock

There’s nothing like a pandemic to leave shelves of toilet paper, hand sanitizers and disinfectants empty! According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) in the United States, a home-made bleach solution would work just as well. You can prepare this solution by mixing one-third cup of bleach with one gallon of water. Leave it on surfaces for at least one minute.

Great news for all our users! We have partnered with JustMop to get you AED 40 Off Disinfection & Sanitization services for your home when you buy your Car Insurance from Souqalmal.