A healthy home is a clean home

Some types of germs can live on surfaces for several days. A few simple cleaning and disinfection tips can help protect your home by reducing the spread of these germs.

Disinfection & cleaning: what to know?

Some germs can survive for days on household surfaces like kitchen counter tops, sinks, and phone receivers. When you disinfect, you are reducing/killing germs on these surfaces. It is really important to disinfect household surfaces frequently, especially after handling raw food and when someone in your home is unwell. Try to make disinfection part of your daily routine by using antibacterial cleansing wipes on kitchen countertops and bathroom faucets, handles and sink surfaces.

Top 10 dirty sites in your home

• Sponge or tea towels
• Kitchen sink and drain
• Kitchen Floor
• Kitchen taps
• Chopping board
• Kitchen bench
• Bath, shower and drains
• Toilet Bowl (under the rim)
• Toilet Floor
• Sink

For cleaning and disinfecting and reducing allergens on a wide range of hard household surfaces, including surfaces where food is prepared, spray directly onto surface, let it stand for 10 minutes and wipe over with a clean damp cloth and allow to dry.

Note - with electrical equipment, spray onto cloth before wiping.

Tip - Dettol Surface Cleanser Wipes are also a handy option when cleaning and disinfection on a wide range of hard household surfaces. It's as simple as peeling back the re-sealable cover and pull out a wipe. Re-seal the pack to prevent the remaining wipes from drying out.

Note - check the surface is compatible with the product and then wipe down the surface.

Kitchen cleaning tips

• Clean and disinfect food preparation surfaces just before using them to prepare food and immediately after contact with any raw food (eg: poultry, meat, fish, eggs). After touching raw food, you should also clean and disinfect any surfaces that you have touched (eg: fridge, door handles, taps).
• Clean your refrigerator regularly too. Wipe up spills promptly, then clean and disinfect any contaminated surfaces. Remember to clean and disinfect the fridge handle and door seals regularly.
• Sinks need cleaning regularly using products that can remove soap scum and scale. If the sink is contaminated (eg: with germs from raw food) you need to clean and disinfect promptly. Since you cannot clean drains very easily, you may need to use a suitable disinfectant regularly to reduce germs and odours.
• Empty, clean and disinfect your kitchen bin regularly. Use a bin with a lid. Keeping your rubbish covered will help limit the possibility of an insect or rodent infestation.
• Remove food debris from tables and high chairs, and then disinfect them before meals.
• Change hand towels and tea cloths regularly, and consider using paper towels as an alternative, throwing germs away. Cleaning with dirty cleaning cloths could potentially spread germs, so if you are using cloth towels, use hot water and/or a sanitising laundry rinse when laundering them.

 

Bathroom cleaning tips

The greatest risk of infection in the bathroom comes from surfaces that are frequently touched — like the toilet handle, toilet seat, taps, and door handles.

You can help reduce germs on bathroom surfaces and help stop mould and mildew growing by following these simple steps.

• Keep bathroom surfaces as dry as possible and keep the bathroom well-ventilated to help prevent the growth of mould and mildew.
• Clean and disinfect the toilet bowl as often as necessary to prevent the buildup of dirt and scum like rust and lime scale that can harbor germs and cause nasty odors. Use a disinfectant toilet bowl cleaner. If you use a toilet brush, make sure it is stored clean and dry after use.
• Clean and disinfect hand contact surfaces such as the toilet handle, toilet seat, taps and door handles frequently.
• Clean up spills of body fluids immediately and disinfect these surfaces.
• Rinse baths, sinks and showers with clean water after use, and clean them regularly by using a product that will remove soap scum and scale, then rinse the surfaces thoroughly and leave them to dry. You only need to use a disinfectant on these surfaces if they are used by someone who has been sick or if they are contaminated with body fluids.
• Germs can grow in showerheads. If you haven't used yours for a while, let it run on full power on a hot setting for a minute or two to flush any germs away before using.
• Store personal items (like toothbrushes) where germs are unlikely to splash onto them. Rinse them after each use and store them dry. Never share personal items.
• Wash your hands thoroughly after using the toilet and after cleaning the bathroom.
• Consider replacing bathroom carpets with hard surface flooring, such as linoelium, tiles or laminate. These are easier to clean and will not collect debris in the same way carpets can. Use an all purpose disinfectant cleaner to help clean and disinfect hard flooring. If your floors are wood, use a product that is safe on wood surfaces.

Special tips for kids rooms

• Choose soft toys that are washable. Launder them regularily on a hot wash (at least 55C) to remove dust mite debris.
• Clean and disinfect play surfaces and plastic toys. Be sure to rinse them thoroughly after disinfection.

 

Information in this article supplied by Dettol.