How To Fight Coronavirus Transmission At Home

As we all do our part to help slow the spread of coronavirus, one of the most important areas to take care of is your home. With no current vaccine, the only way to prevent illness is to avoid or limit exposure. Wearing face masks, social distancing, and washing your hands are all part of our new normal, and regularly disinfecting your home is just as imperative.

Know How Coronavirus Spreads

COVID-19 is known to spread between people who are in close contact with one another. Respiratory droplets from coughing, sneezing, or talking are produced and then carried on to the next person. A person can also contract the disease by coming in contact with surfaces the infected person has touched. COVID-19 can also be transmitted by a person who is not showing symptoms. Because it is so easy to transmit, frequently disinfecting your home is a priority and recommended by the CDC and health professionals worldwide.

Cleaning vs Disinfecting

While many people use these words interchangeably, they are actually two different things. To avoid coronavirus transmission in your home, you must do both.

Cleaning

Cleaning removes dust, dirt, and debris from surfaces. This is done by scrubbing, washing, and rinsing.

Disinfecting

Disinfecting destroys bacteria and viruses on hard, nonporous surfaces. This is completed by using a disinfectant spray and wiping down the surfaces. Disinfectants are the only types of products that are approved by the EPA to kill bacteria and viruses. You can access a list of approved disinfectants here.

If you need to disinfect large areas or outdoors, our Battery Powered Backpack Sprayer is perfect for covering hard to reach spaces in a short amount of time. Once you are done disinfecting, you can use our backpack disinfectant sprayer for other uses, such as pest control.   

Address Frequently Touched Surfaces

Cleaning and disinfecting are the most vital pieces to limiting any transmission within your household. Begin by cleaning and disinfecting the areas and surfaces your household touches the most. The CDC recommends focusing on these areas daily:

• Tables
• Doorknobs
• Light switches
• Handles
• Desks
• Toilets
• Faucets
• Sinks
• Remote controls
• Telephones
• Keyboards
• Countertops

Be sure to wear disposable gloves and throw them away immediately after. If you have reusable gloves, do not use them for any other purposes. Thoroughly wash your hands after cleaning and disinfecting.

Wash Your Hands

The CDC states that frequent and proper hand washing is crucial to help stop the spread of coronavirus. While washing hands seems like a mindless task, it’s important to understand when to wash and how to correctly clean.

When:

• Entering your home
• Before leaving your home
• Before, during, and after preparing and consuming food
• Before and after
  • Entering a healthcare facility
  • Encountering an exposed person
  • Taking medication
  • Using public transportation
  • Touching your phone
  • Going to the grocery store, running errands, and shopping
• After coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose
• Handling money
• Getting gas
• Using ATMs, elevator buttons, or pedestrian crossing buttons
• Using the restroom
• Touching animals

How:

1. Wet your hands with running water.
2. Apply soap – enough to cover all surfaces of your hands and wrists.
3. Lather and rub your hands together, scrubbing all surfaces of your hands, fingertips, fingernails, and wrists.
4. Continue washing for at least 20 seconds.
5. Dry your hands using a clean towel.

Monitor Your Health Frequently

In order to keep you and your household safe, be alert for any symptoms. Coronavirus is known to produce the following:

• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea

If symptoms do develop, take your temperature, call your doctor, and follow CDC guidelines.

Fighting the transmission of coronavirus in your home requires effort from the entire household. To receive more information on disinfecting using our backpack sprayers, subscribe to our newsletter.