If you think your family is falling prey to unseen monsters (read: Germs), then it can be because of a common virus or serious bacterial growth in your house. Falling sick frequently is not a normal state of affairs. It’s time to give your house a good scrub down and learn the basic techniques of disinfecting every room, wall and floor. All you need is a sponge mop, carpet shampoo, gloves, paper towels and spray bottles, and you’re ready to kick those germs goodbye. Here’s how to do it.
Disinfect your bathroom. Take a disinfectant solution, as per the measurement mentioned on the bottle. Wipe all the hard surfaces with it, such as the ceiling and floor. Now, use a bleach solution and clean the bathtub and tiles nicely. You can use the same bleach solution to eradicate germs from the ‘potty’ seats, curtain lines, toothbrush stand and all kinds of plastic and ceramic items. Make sure the sink and vanity are nicely cleaned.
Remember to pay special attention to the tiles and drain in the shower area, as these tend to retain growth that builds due to dampness.
Disinfect the smallest, less-crowded rooms as much as possible. Try and reach for under the tables, corners of side drawers, soft surfaces under any sofas or chairs and the areas around the ceiling lamp shades and fans to make sure no part of the house breeds viruses and bacterias. Vacuum the carpets, drapes, mattresses, furniture and carpets twice in a month so that there is no scope of any infections. Mobile items such as plastic and cotton toys must also be cleaned on a periodic basis.
Disinfect your house’s ceiling. Don’t wait for auspicious festivals like Diwali to clean the ceiling. When one chats about daily household cleaning, one generally tends to talk about cleaning the approachable items and spaces; however the ceiling is one part of the house we tend to ignore. Use a disinfecting wipe cloth attached to a long broom to clean your ceiling. Make sure to cover the floor and furniture when you clean the ceiling.
Disinfecting raw foods. Disinfecting raw foods is one of the most important factors when it comes to make sure you are eating hygienically. Rinse all the fruits and vegetables before using them as this will help in getting rid of the grit and dirt. The best practice would be to rinse them in a water and vinegar/lime mixture for a few seconds, in order to make sure they are fit for consumption. When it comes to cleaning raw meat, poultry or fish, make sure you use salt and lime juice.
Disinfecting processed foods. When it comes to processed foods, you may think there is hardly any need to disinfect them. But the reality is that even processed and packaged foods need to be cleaned at times (even if they are bought in waterproof packs). Make sure when you are storing them your processed food is tightly sealed, so that there is no spillage or moisture. Do not spray any kind of anti-bacterial solution on the packaged food. Food items such as cheese, processed meat, yogurt containers and bottles need to be dried with a clean and a dry kitchen towel before usage.
