The mission of SanitizeMe is to remove all illness from everyday surroundings and especially more so now that we are amid a world-wide Coronavirus pandemic. Not only does SanitizeMe have clients around South Africa in the commercial, healthcare, education, and hospitality industries, they are also focusing on homes.
Here are some valuable tips to safeguard you and your family during this crisis time:
1. Personal Hygiene
Avoid touching your mouth, nose, and eyes. Remember to always cover your mouth and nose with your elbow or a tissue when you sneeze. Dispose of those used tissues immediately. Always adhere to social distancing. Wash, wash, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water for at least 20-30 seconds – we cannot stress this enough! Wash it after nose blowing, sneezing, using the restroom, when you leave and return to your home, before preparing or eating food, applying your make-up, handling your contact lenses, etc. And yes, you can use cold water for washing hands because hot and cold water are both effective in killing germs and viruses.
2. Cleaning around the house
Make sure that high-touch surfaces such as – tables, chairs, door handles, knobs, handrails, surfaces in the kitchen & bathroom, toilets, taps, the light switches, laptops, desktops, keyboards, remote controls, game controllers and even the children’s toys are regularly cleaned as well as disinfected. Dirty surfaces must first be cleaned with soap/detergent and water. Use a disinfectant that contains at least 70% alcohol or bleach on surfaces. If it is difficult for you to find disinfectant sprays or wipes, clean with soap and water. You can also use diluted household bleach on some surfaces. When you have applied a cleaning solution to a surface, do not wipe it off as soon as you have applied it. Many disinfectant products have to stay wet on the surface for a few minutes to be effective. Always read the instruction and use products as recommended so as not to damage sensitive items such as electronic devices or your mobile phone.
3. Cleaning the clothes
There is still no absolute certainty as to how long the Coronavirus can survive on fabric, but many clothing items have metal and plastic elements on which the virus might live for a few hours or even days. It is best to exercise caution and common sense. A good practice will be to – remove your shoes upon entering the house and change into other clothes if you have been in a crowded place and to wash your hands with soap and water immediately after that. Wash clothes, bedsheets, towels, etc. regularly and wash and disinfect your laundry bag as well.
4. The handling of groceries
Remove unnecessary packaging and dispose of it immediately remove take-out food from containers, dispose of containers, and eat food from a plate. Wipe any cans clean with disinfectant before storing/using unpacked produce such as vegetables or fruit should be washed thoroughly under running water. Remember – wash – wash – wash your hands thoroughly after the handling and preparation of food.
