Hygiene queen Aggie MacKenzie reveals her top tips to clean your home and help you stay safe from coronavirus
HOW coronavirus-friendly is your house?
With cases rising in the UK, we all now know we should wash our hands while humming Happy Birthday twice.
But how else can we help limit the spread of germs?
According to industry data firm Kantar, the global spread of covid-19 has led us to spend ten per cent more on cleaning products.
So Kate Jackson asked hygiene queen Aggie MacKenzie, best known for Channel 4’s How Clean Is Your House?, for her guide on how to make sure your homes are spotless.
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Remote controls
THESE are usually passed around so it’s good to give them a wipe regularly with a cloth dabbed in distilled clear vinegar or a probiotic cleaner.
Keep the cloth as dry as possible so that you don’t damage the remote’s workings.
Transport
IF you can cycle or walk to work, that’s far better than sitting on a bus or train with people sneezing and coughing.
If you do have to use public transport, engage your core muscles and stand with your feet fairly wide apart to balance without holding on to a rail. Or wear gloves.
If you share a car with anyone, it’s a good idea to clean the steering wheel at the beginning and end of each journey, as they are often sneezed and coughed on, then we put on our hands on them.
Laundry
THE NHS has long advised washing underwear, towels and bed linen at 60C.
But if you’re using a biological washing powder, then anything above 40C will kill off the dirt-eating enzymes so it’s a waste of time.
Tumble drying on high for more than 28min can kill harmful micro-organisms.
Hanging your washing out on the line in direct sunlight – if you can find any at the moment – will also kill germs.
Crockery and utensils
BILL KEEVIL, a prof in environmental healthcare at Southampton University, says coronavirus can survive for five days on stainless steel, glass, ceramics and plastics.
I would advise washing crockery and cutlery in the dishwasher at the highest temperature to kill as many germs as possible.
If you haven’t got a dishwasher, use a pair of thick rubber gloves and get the washing up water as hot as you can stand it.
Air-drying is safer than using a tea towel. Germs grow quicker on a wet surface but if you’re washing and rinsing dishes in really hot water they should be OK.
Cloths and brushes
THE easiest way to get cloths really clean is by putting them on the top shelf of the dishwasher.
You can also put a damp cloth in the microwave on high for a couple of minutes but it must be damp or it may catch fire.
Be careful when you take it out as it will be very hot.
Brushes and cloths can be placed in a bowl with warm water and bleach and left for a few hours. Rinse afterwards.
Toys
CHILDREN spread germs by sneezing and coughing on their toys then sharing them with others.
Hard toys can be put in the dishwasher and soft toys can go in the washing machine and washed at 60C.
You might think it’s a good idea to avoid play dates and sharing toys with others until the coronavirus numbers start to settle down.
Pens and pencils
JUST as with towels and mobile phones, it’s best not to share pens around.
Keep yours to yourself.
Handles and banisters
IT is believed the virus could stay on door handles for up to nine days, so it’s important to clean them regularly.
I would use a probiotic cleaning spray. It’s the same theory as the probiotics we eat.
These cleaning products contain ‘good bacteria’ that, when used, will colonise the surfaces, which means there is less space for harmful bacteria.
We don’t know enough yet about how the coronavirus spreads, so it’s good to be extra cautious and clean things such as door handles, drawer handles and banisters regularly.
Money
BANKNOTES and coins get passed around a lot and can harbour germs.
Try to use contactless payments as much as possible.
Mobile phones
ONE scientist has referred to our mobile phones as “portable petri dishes” because they can harbour germs from our hands and transfer them to our face.
Don’t share your phone with anyone.
Wipe it at least twice a day with a cloth that has been dabbed in distilled clear vinegar.
Pets and meals
JUST make sure to be extra vigilant.
Wash your hands before cooking or eating anything, whether it’s a meal or a snack, and after you have touched your pets.
Handwashing
AS soon as you get into the house you should wash your hands. Use lots of soap and hot water and fresh towels.
If you’re expecting visitors, maybe have a stash of paper towels that can be binned.
Ideally, each family member should stick to their own towel.
If that’s not possible, then wash them every couple of days at 60C.
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Mopping, dusting and vacuuming
WE don’t know much about whether a virus can be spread from your floor or from dusty shelves. But the coronavirus might encourage you into having a good old spring clean anyway.
To get rid of germs on a hard floor, you need to mop it with a light disinfectant or probiotic cleaner and make sure you get right into every nook and cranny.
Carpets are hotbeds of bacteria, dirt and dead skin cells, so you should vacuum regularly anyway.
If your vacuum cleaner has a bag then make sure you empty it often, as a full bag won’t draw the dirt up as effectively.
For a really thorough clean, you could hire a carpet cleaner, such as a Rug Doctor, which can be hired from a lot of supermarkets.
With a dry duster, all you’re doing is flicking the dust all over the place – you’re just redistributing it.
You need to use a damp cloth to trap all the dust, then wash it once you’ve finished.
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