What doesn’t help is misinformation. Too many sources are claiming ridiculous notions with no science to back them up. Before you take stock in something, check with the CDC. As of now, they are the only true outlet for up to date information about the novel coronavirus. In general, follow these guidelines to keep you and your family safe and stop spreading potential germs.
At Home: The number one thing you can do at home is to keep people out. If they don’t live there or are performing an essential service, they shouldn’t be visiting. This is what makes the lockdown so difficult right now, our social interactions are incredibly stunted. If someone does come into your home, be sure to disinfect items or surfaces they may have come into contact with.
You should be cleaning AND disinfecting high touch areas of your home daily. This will help kill anything that hitched a ride in from outside. When coming in from the outdoors or from being out in public places, immediately wash your hands before touching anything. The point is to limit possibilities of germs spreading around your home.
Dog Walking And More: Sadly, this is the time to pause your household services. Not only does it make things harder on you but puts small businesses in a bind, it’s always better to be safe than sorry. If you feel that proper precautions are being taken and it’s okay with you, perhaps you can keep your nanny during quarantine but everything else should be paused.
In the case of dog walking, you should definitely pause this service and handle it yourself during the quarantine. This is mainly due to the fact that, if your dog walker is infected and doesn’t know it, they can pass the virus to the dog’s leash or even the fur itself.
Essentials: Sometimes you simply need help with something right away and have to call in a professional service, like an HVAC company. There are certain things that can pose an emergency situation and can’t wait until lockdowns are lifted. In this case, when you call to schedule, request the technician wear gloves, a mask and observe proper social distancing practices. Most companies are stringently following CDC protocols but requesting it is a great way to ensure no misunderstandings. If someone in your home is sick (Covid-19 related or not), tell the service so they can protect their workers as well.
The Sick: When someone in your home is ill, handle the situation with care. When laundering towels, linens, pillowcases, blankets or clothes they’ve used or handled, be careful not to shake these items out. This can disperse the virus. You CAN wash a sick person’s laundry with other laundry but be sure to disinfect the hampers, baskets they were sitting in or use disposable liners. Use gloves when handling a sick person’s laundry and be sure to toss them out after wearing them once. Do NOT use them for other things. If you don’t have gloves, immediately wash your hands.
Make it a habit to disinfect everything that comes out of a sick person’s room or that they use, such as dishes. Always wash your hands after coming into contact with them.
Masks: This seems to be the most confusing aspect of all. You don’t wear a mask to protect yourself, you wear it to protect others. Masks don’t prevent you from catching something – they keep your respiratory drops inside your mask if you are sick or carrying the virus and don’t even know it. This stops you from getting those drops onto others who may then catch it. Those drops can land on your face, clothes, etc. so wearing a mask can prevent you contaminating someone else and their stuff.
In the end, washing your hands well and constantly as well as cleaning and disinfecting your home and high-use items is the best way to keep your space clean and safe. When the time is right and you’re ready, DM Industrial Janitorial Services is ready to completely deep clean and disinfect your home, giving you a fresh start to the new quarantine-free year. With eco-friendly products and latest innovative cleaning strategies, we tackle all materials and surfaces the right way to make sure they are germ-free.
Remember, the quarantine won’t last forever so stay safe and practice great cleaning habits!
