June 11, 2020 | Coronaviruses are enveloped viruses, meaning they are one of the easiest types of viruses to kill with the appropriate disinfectant product, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Soap and water is one effective way to break that protective envelope. But there are other products you may already have at home or can buy from a store that will kill the virus. Consumers using disinfectants on an enveloped emerging virus should follow the directions for use on the product’s master label, paying close attention to the contact time for the product on the treated surface, meaning how long the disinfectant should remain on the surface. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends using gloves when cleaning or disinfecting surfaces suspected of containing a coronavirus. A list of nearly 200 disinfectants that can help prevent and reduce the spread of the coronavirus can be found at the EPA’s website, www.epa.gov.

June 11, 2020 | Your home may appear to be clean but is it disinfected? When it comes to cleaning and disinfecting your home in an effort to prevent the spread of disease, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends paying attention to the high-touch surfaces. Cleaning refers to the removal of dirt and germs by scrubbing with a cleaner or soap while disinfecting means applying chemicals that will kill or deactivate germs directly. Some of the areas that should cleaned regularly include light switches, doorknobs, faucets, kitchen counters, toilets and flush handles. Cleaning these surfaces first will remove many germs. Any disinfectant you apply afterwards will work best on areas that aren’t visibly dirty. Disinfectant wipes or sprays will serve the purpose, but if you don’t have any of these, diluted bleach, four teaspoons per quart of water, or household hydrogen peroxide or 70 percent isopropyl alcohol will kill the coronavirus.

June 11, 2020 | Your phone and other electronic devices, such as a TV remote, are objects you touch regularly. Research has shown that the novel coronavirus may survive on surfaces for hours or even days. So if you touch your phone constantly, as so many of us do, you’ll need more than the usual microfiber cloth to clean it. For Apple and Google phones, power down your device, then use a wipe with 70 percent isopropyl alcohol to gently clean it. Apple says that Clorox Disinfecting Wipes are also safe to use. Clean screen protectors with plain old soap and water, being careful not to get any moisture into the open ports. You can remove protective cases and wash them with soap and water, too. Just be sure to dry them completely. Avoid using bleach on smartphones, and never submerge your device in any other cleaning agents. And before cleaning a remote, using isopropyl alcohol and a cotton ball or square, be sure to first remove the batteries.

June 11, 2020 | In these days of COVID-19, it’s important to practice safe shopping. When deliveries arrive, avoid a direct hand-off, and tip electronically. Many companies have places on their order forms for you to leave special delivery instructions. Ask for the items to be left at your doorstep. If you’re going to shop in a store, plan on doing a big shop so that you can limit your trips, and pick an off-peak time by going online and typing the store’s name and location in a Google search. A box will often appear showing when foot traffic there is the lowest. And many stores are setting aside special hours for shoppers 60 and older and those with respiratory problems in an effort to help them shop in a less crowded environment. No matter which store you visit or what time you go, make sure to take sanitizer with you to clean your hands and wipes to disinfect your cart before and after you shop. You can also bring a rubber-tipped pen to sign screens at the checkout.

June 11, 2020 | Scientists do not currently have data on how long the new coronavirus can remain on clothes and other fabric, but it can last on other surfaces such as cardboard or plastic for hours or even days. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends washing potentially contaminated clothes and linens as usual, but using the warmest appropriate water setting for the items and dry items completely. The International Scientific Forum on Home Hygiene states that bleach may help inactivate viral microbes in the wash so, if you are washing whites and light colors, you may want to add bleach to the load. Or you could use a detergent that contains a color-safe bleach if it is appropriate for the items you’re washing. Once the washing is done, use a dryer rather than air-drying clothes because the heat may also help inactivate any viral microbes. Moreover, dry fabrics are less likely to transfer germs than wet ones.