During the coronavirus outbreak, enhanced cleaning methods and precautions are recommended to reduce the risk of infection.
1. Gather your usual cleaning supplies, plus a disinfectant product and disposable gloves & shoe covers
Research conducted on other coronaviruses indicates that a number of widely available disinfectant products are effective against COVID-19.
We recommend Dettol Surface Cleanser, which kills 99.9% of germs. A full list of disinfectant products shown to be effective against coronaviruses can be found here.
The rest of your cleaning equipment should include:
- Hand soap
- Bathroom cleaner
- Floor cleaner
- Glass cleaner
- Kitchen cleaner
- Limescale remover
- Microfiber cloths
- Sponges
- Toilet cleaner
- Washing-up liquid
You should also bring disposable gloves, disposable shoe covers, and optionally a disposable apron.
2. Upon entering the property, avoid physical greetings, remove your shoes or cover them with disposable covers
Wearing outdoor shoes inside the home can contaminate floors. Remove shoes or put on shoe covers upon entry.
Once inside, avoid physical greetings and try to stay more than 2m away from anybody else in the property.
3. Wash your hands with warm water and soap for 20 seconds and put on disposable gloves
Wash your hands with hot soapy water for at least 20 seconds. You can find a NHS guide to washing your hands here.
Once you have washed your hands, put on your disposable gloves, and optionally an apron.
4. Open windows and turn on extractor fans for ventilation
Before cleaning, open any windows that you can for ventilation, and turn on extractor fans.
5. Clean surfaces with warm soapy water, paying extra attention to ‘high-touch’ surfaces including door handles and light switches
When cleaning, pay extra attention to ‘high-touch’ surfaces that are contacted frequently in daily life, including:
- Door handles
- Cupboard handles
- Light switches
- TV remotes
- Tables
- Countertops
- Stair rails
- All bathroom surfaces including the toilet
A two-step process is recommended for these surfaces, consisting of cleaning followed by disinfection. Cleaning with soap and water removes germs from the surfaces, while disinfection reduces the risk of infection by killing remaining germs.
To clean hard surfaces, use warm soapy water and a clean microfiber cloth to wipe down the area.
Be careful when cleaning electrical sockets and light switches. Use as little moisture as possible by applying a small quantity of product to a cloth and using this to clean these surfaces.
Start cleaning the high surfaces, working your way down and out of each room, to avoid contaminating areas that you have already cleaned. Leave a bathroom until last, as this is where you will clean yourself and your tools at the end of the clean.
6. Disinfect ‘high-touch’ surfaces using a product that ‘kills 99.9% of germs'
Once you have cleaned the ‘high-touch’ surfaces, they should be disinfected with a suitable product. A full list of household disinfectant products shown to be effective against coronaviruses can be found here.
We recommend the Dettol Surface Cleanser, which is widely available and kills 99.9% of germs. This product can be sprayed directly to the surface, wiped over with a clean, damp cloth and left to dry.
Some disinfectants require rinsing, or are most effective when left on the surface for a few minutes before wiping. Always check the label to ensure you are using products as recommended, to maximise effectiveness.
If you are disinfecting sensitive stone surfaces such as marble or granite, check the product label to ensure it will not damage the surface. Optionally, you can use a disinfecting stone spray such as Cleanly Marble and Granite Spray.
7. Clean soft furnishings, clothes and bed linen
Avoid shaking soft furnishings (mats, rugs cushions etc). These items can carry germs, and shaking them can contaminate areas you have already cleaned.
Vacuum these items with the soft brush attachment. If soiled, delicately place them in the washing machine. Check the labels carefully and wash items at the highest recommended temperature.
Follow the same process for any clothes or linen - delicately place these items in the washing machine, and wash at the highest recommended temperature.
8. Vacuum all floors
Before cleaning the floors, any visible dirt and debris should be vacuumed. Ensure that floors are cleaned right to the edges and into the corners.
9. Mop hard floors, using warm water and a regular floor cleaning product
To clean hard floors, fill a bucket with warm water and a product that is suitable for your floor’s surface.
Mop in a figure of 8 motion and work your way out of the room, to avoid contaminating previously cleaned areas of the floor.
10. Rinse or machine-wash your mop head and cloths at a high temperature
Machine-washable equipment including cloths and mop heads should now be cleaned at a high temperature (ideally 60C or above). Check the labels carefully and wash items at the highest recommended temperature.
Hand rinse the mop head if it is not machine washable.
11. Dispose of your gloves and shoe covers
Discard disposable cleaning products, gloves and aprons in the household waste and immediately wash your hands with warm soapy water for 20 seconds.