Keep Your Home Virus Free by Clean & Disinfect High-Touch Surfaces in Your Home

3/20/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Bear/New Castle is here to help

The Centers for Disease Control recommends we all take steps to clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces in our homes. Below, are facts on how long the virus might last and surfaces that should be cleaned and disinfected daily.

COVID-19 STABILITY

Coronaviruses may survive on surfaces for just a few hours or several days, although many factors will influence this, including surface material.

• In Air - 3 Hours
• Copper Surfaces - 4 Hours
• Cardboard Surfaces - 24 Hours
• Plastic Surfaces - 2 to 3 Days
• Stainless Steel Surfaces - 2 to 3 Days

Clean vs. Disinfect

Cleaning and Disinfecting are two very different things. The CDC recommends we all do both, even if nobody in your home is sick.

• Cleaning refers to the removal of germs, dirt, and impurities from surfaces. Cleaning does not kill germs, but by removing them, it lowers their numbers and the risk of spreading infection.
• Disinfecting refers to using chemicals to kill germs on surfaces. This process does not necessarily clean dirty surfaces or remove germs, but by killing germs on a surface after cleaning, it can further lower the risk of spreading infection.

High Touched Surfaces in Your Home

Transmission from person-to-person is a much greater risk than transmission via surfaces, but the CDC recommends we clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces in our homes at least once daily just to be safe, assuming we have had contact with the outside world in some way, either a person leaving and returning or goods coming in.

High-Touch Surfaces to Clean and Disinfect Daily:

Everyone’s home is a little different, so just think about the surfaces you interact with most.

• Doorknobs
• Light switches
• Table surfaces
• Hard dining chairs (seat, back and arms)
• Kitchen counters
• Toilets, (seat and handle)
• Bathroom counters
• Faucets, faucet knobs
• TV remote controls
• Game controllers
• Mobile devices
• Soap Dispensers

Clean Then Disinfect

1. Clean the surfaces, removing any contaminants, dust, or debris. You can do this by wiping them with soapy water (or a cleaning spray) and a hand towel.
2. Apply a surface-appropriate disinfectant. The CDC recommends usage of a labeled hospital-grade disinfectant with claims against similar pathogens to the coronavirus.

SERVPRO of Bear/New Castle Is Here to Help

SERVPRO of Bear/New Castle has years of experience in dealing with biological contaminants. We’ve have been recognized nationally as a leader in helping to clean and disinfect homes exposed to coronavirus. We operate under the highest standards established and expected from the leader in the industry. It is our privilege and honor to be able to help our citizens of New Castle County in this time of great need.

Call the Experts at SERVPRO of Bear/New Castle Today for a Proactive Cleaning!