How to Disinfect Your Home After COVID

Gabby MartinCleaning, Diseases, Residential & Commercial, Sanitization

Cleaning home after COVID

Key-Points

  • Disinfecting Your Home After COVID

  • What You'll Need

  • Do I Need a Disinfectant Fogger?

  • Cleaning Pillows After COVID

  • Disinfecting the Air

  • Professional COVID Cleanup Costs


Disinfecting After COVID

As professionals, we do countless things in an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19 knowing just how dangerous the virus is and the millions that have been affected by it.

Many turn to us with common questions about disinfecting your home after COVID. When you disinfect properly, you not only reduce the chances of further transmission, but also minimize the likelihood of re-infection.

Thus, if you, a family member, or a roommate is recovering from COVID-19 you’ll want to properly disinfect your home. Cleaning alone may leave you with many questions, which is normal. You’re not expected to be an expert. 

Below is a step-by-step guide on how to clean and disinfect your home after COVID that will ensure the safety of all occupants after a member of your family has fully recovered.

What You'll Need

For your safety, you’ll want to follow the guidelines provided by manufacturers of various disinfectants and the WHO. 

  • An EPA registered disinfectant
  • The instructions provided by the disinfectant you’re using (can usually be found on the label)
  • Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):
    • Gloves
    • Masks
    • Goggles (recommended by some cleaning manufacturers)

None of these should not be overlooked as they play a vital role to your safety.

Disinfecting a Room After COVID

It is recommended that you clean your home before disinfecting. For hospitals, the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) recommends cleaning the room before disinfecting it after the patient recovers. Cleaning plays an important role in the disinfection process by reducing dirt. 

It is also important that you wait for several hours before entering the room, and also use the right equipment and chemicals to inactivate the virus. This ensures that the virus-causing germs become less effective, thus preventing further transmission.

Step by Step Home COVID Disinfection Procedure:

  • Clean all surfaces

    Particularly the common ones, with soap and water.

  • Disinfect Your Home With EPA Approved Disinfectants

    In case you have no access to a registered EPA disinfectants, you can use bleach solutions that are recommended for cleaning household surfaces.

  • Leave Surfaces Wet

    For optimized results, it is important that you leave the surfaces wet for some time. This allows the organic matter to be immersed in the disinfectant. In other words, it stops the nasty pathogens in their path, preventing further transmission. 

  • Check the Contact Time

    For accuracy, when using disinfectants, check on the contact time provided by the manufacturer, usually on the label of your bleach solution.

  • Ensure Adequate Ventilation

    After disinfecting your house, ensure that your home is adequately ventilated. This improves air circulation, while also making your house free of the virus that causes COVID.

  • Wash Your Hands With Soap and Water for 20 Seconds

    And finally, clean your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or use a hand sanitizer containing not less than 60% alcohol.

Other Tips for Effective Disinfection

  • Be sure to follow the directions and instructions provided on the disinfectant's label.
  • Avoid mixing different chemicals as you disinfect. According to WHO, mixing may lower the effectiveness of the disinfectants, or cause chemical reactions that may be harmful. 

Too much or inadequate chemical concentration may not yield the expected results, with high concentrations exposing your surfaces to damage.  

Also, highly concentrated disinfecting solutions may cause chemical reactions that can be harmful to you.

Do I Need a Disinfectant Fogger?

Fogging (fumigation) is not recommended for your home after COVID, especially in enclosed areas. According to the WHO, fogging alone cannot effectively remove pathogens. As you spray, surfaces obscured by household items as well as surfaces with complex designs, including folded fabrics, may not be adequately disinfected.

As a result, fogging may not effectively remove contaminants. This calls for additional measures to clean and disinfect such places. In addition, spraying in enclosed places can result in respiratory irritation that may easily affect patients recovering from COVID.

Further, fogging may expose your eyes and skin to the chemicals used, leading to irritation. This may result in adverse health effects such as allergies. So, how do you disinfect the air of a room after COVID?

How Do I Disinfect the Air of a Room After COVID?

Being a respiratory infection, COVID is transmitted through air particles found in the air. It is thus important to disinfect the air in a room after someone recovers from COVID. Given that fogging is not recommended in enclosed places, you have to use environmentally-friendly disinfectants that are also safe for you and your households. 

As such, the United States Environmental Protection Agency recommends the use of air cleaners and HVAC filters to clean the air in enclosed places. HVAC, with a rating of MERV 13 and above, can be a perfect solution for cleaning the air in your room. These air filters can trap even the smallest particles floating in the air, including the virus that causes COVID.

If your HVAC has a lower rating, you should consider upgrading for optimized air filtration. In addition, you may also run your fan for longer periods for effective air filtration. 

How Do I Clean Pillows After COVID?

Cleaning your pillows with soap/detergent and water after COVID should be sufficient enough to decontaminating your pillows. 

In addition, ensure that the pillows dry thoroughly under high temperatures for not less than 30 minutes. It is also important to clean and disinfect your washing machine or basins after cleaning your pillows, as this removes any traces of contaminants.

How Much Does a Professional Cleaning Cost?

Are you a hospital, hotel, or local business interested in consulting professional cleaners? We are licensed and trained to disinfect and sanitize pathogens. Estimates generally depend on the square footage of the property, and can cost an upwards of $1,200. However, property insurance may cover all the expenses.

Need Help?

We recommend residential home and property owners try disinfecting their home via the instructions provided above, as it is a professional cleaning is unnecessary for residential homes. If you'd like more information, please call us directly.

Call Us

Share this Post