Health is everybody’s main priority nowadays because of the current global health threat that is the COVID-19 pandemic. The coronavirus severely hit many countries across the world, with medical experts giving their best efforts to find a cure. This may be uncertain times but there are things we can do to stay safe and protect others such as taking care of ourselves by practicing proper hygiene.
While current research is still ongoing about the disease, previously published ones about this new strain of the coronavirus indicates that it can be transmitted from person-to-person by coughing or sneezing, which releases droplets that can enter our eyes, nose, and mouth and also stay and live in our hands. Thus, various health authorities from around the world are strongly advising everybody to observe simple hygiene measures in order to avoid contracting this deadly virus. This means protecting ourselves begins from our households through routine cleaning and practicing normal hygiene.
Our lifestyle can help us greatly to combat this pandemic. Being clean and sanitary is one of the simplest ways to get us out of this massive pickle. Practice good hygiene with these tips to keep COVID-19 away from your home.
Wash your hands frequently
Standard, normal, hygiene practices such as washing your hands is your best line of defense to prevent contracting the coronavirus. But, you don’t just have to wash your hands, you have to do it properly.
Regularly wash your hands with soap and water or disinfect using hand sanitizer and rubbing alcohol after touching surfaces outside of your home, coughing, sneezing in tissue, before and after taking care of a sick individual, using the restroom, and before and after any other chores or errands that we generally do. The hand sanitizer that is recommended for you to use must contain at least 60% alcohol for it to effectively kill the virus on your hands.
A quick rinse or scrub will not kill the virus on your hands. Eliminate all the traces of the coronavirus that you might have acquired by following these steps in proper handwashing:
Wet your hands with running water.
Apply enough soap to cover your wet hands.
Scrub all surfaces of your hands, including your fingers, under nails, and the back of your hands for at least 20 seconds.
Rinse hands thoroughly with running water.
Dry your hands using a clean cloth or a single-use towel.
When you cough or sneeze, make sure that you don’t use your hands to cover your mouth. If you do, avoid touching your face. When using hand sanitizer, make sure that you rub your hands for about 20 to 30 seconds until they feel dry and also see to it that the product that you are using is composed of at least 60% alcohol for it to eliminate the virus.
For additional protection, wear protective masks and practice social distancing by keeping a safe distance from people should you need to go to a public place to keep yourself and others around you safe.
Clean and disinfect your home
Aside from personal hygiene, it’s also recommended to clean and disinfect your home as the coronavirus can live on surfaces that we touch frequently. This means it’s time for you to subject your home to some regular deep-cleaning.
Make sure to clean and disinfect doorknobs and light switches, as various hardware stores such as Magnificent Hardware suggests, since these are the commonly-touched surfaces in our homes.
If dirty, rid the surfaces of contamination using soap or detergent and water. Use disinfectants containing around 70% of alcohol or bleach to remove traces of the virus on surfaces. Be sure to follow manufacturer instructions on how long you should leave the disinfectant be, as it varies with different products.
Vinegar and other natural products are not recommended substitute disinfectants. In case you don’t have enough disinfectant that you can use, continue to clean surfaces with soap and water. You can also use diluted bleach solutions on some surfaces.
Remember to wipe the surface dry with a dry, clean cloth after disinfection. Observe proper handwashing afterward.
Takeaway
Keeping your health uncompromised is of the utmost importance, especially during these times. Take care of yourself and protect others by following these hygiene tips so you can help flatten the curve which will lead to finally eliminating the COVID-19 pandemic.
Author’s Bio:
Rosette has a knack for anything DIY. She spent her younger years learning about the different hardware tools and equipment in the hopes of establishing a hardware business in the future. Her career options may have changed, but today, she continues to write so passionately about her first love.