The year is over. 2020 was hard for all of us as we have faced the COVID-19 pandemic. While we’re happy the year has ended, the pandemic’s second wave is still going strong. Case numbers are rising to record highs across the nation. The news of a vaccine coming in 2021 brings us hope that this time of strife may soon be over, but until the vaccine is widely distributed, we must all be careful.
One of the lessons we have all learned this past year is the importance of proper cleaning and disinfecting. Many people realized that our regular cleaning habits were not enough to ensure adequate protection. The CDC released a guideline for proper cleaning practices, including a list of disinfectants that can be used to kill COVID-19 virus bacteria. Check out their recommendations here.
But even with all this updated cleaning information, many of us still make mistakes. Some of our cleaning habits may actually be part of the problem. Here are a few that you may be making.
- Using the same cloth to wipe down everything. This one is a no-brainer, but we’re all guilty of doing it. You can’t use one cloth to wipe down the bathroom and then attack the kitchen. That’s not really cleaning. That’s just transferring bacteria from one location to another.
- Cleaning in circular motions. The circular wiping motion is actually terrible for cleaning. It just moves the dirt and bacteria in one direction. Instead, wipe in an S shape from left to right. This will pick up the dirt without transferring it to another location.
- Not cleaning out your vacuum. The vacuum is the powerhouse of cleaning, but if you neglect to clean this tool, you’re just pushing dirt from one location to the other. Make sure to regularly clean your filters, change bags, and wipe down your vacuum regularly.
- Not cleaning your sponges. Sponges are great for cleaning, but they’re also breeding grounds for bacteria. Make sure to disinfect your sponges regularly. You can do this by soaking the sponge in water and then microwaving it on high for one minute. When sponges collect dirt and grime or begin to smell, switch them out for new ones.
- Using a feather duster. Unfortunately, this is another cleaning tool that is guilty of just moving dirt from one location to the next. Try microfiber cloths or dusters instead.
We’ve all learned to step up our cleaning game this past year. If you are still making these cleaning mistakes, it’s time to stop. We need to work harder to disinfect and keep our surfaces, homes, and workplaces cleaner than ever before.
