Before the coronavirus pandemic, most people didn’t think too much about disinfecting their homes and surfaces. Clean was good enough. But with a highly contagious novel coronavirus spreading quickly, most people need to step things up and start disinfecting daily.

Elder Home Care in West Bloomfield MI: Properly Using A Disinfectant

You’ve Probably Been Using Disinfectants Wrong

Believe it or not, most people don’t use disinfectants properly on a daily basis. If you’ve ever sprayed a disinfectant and then wiped the item dry immediately, you’re definitely doing it wrong. The good news is that you can always learn and do better, especially when it comes to disinfecting your senior’s home properly.

Cleaning and Disinfecting Are Two Separate Things

Something else you need to know is that cleaning and disinfecting are two very different activities. You can never really disinfect a dirty surface because the dirt is still there. That’s why you have to clean first and then disinfect afterward. Plain old soap and water is still the best cleaning combination out there, for your hands and for your home.

Disinfectants Have to Stay on the Surface

The biggest mistake that people make with disinfectants is that they don’t realize that the product you’re using must remain in contact and even stay wet for the disinfectant to kill off all the germs on the surface. If you’re using a spray, that means spraying liberally and allowing the product to sit on the surface and do its work. With a wipe, that might mean that you have to go back over the surface two or even three times to get the job done.

Some Cleaning Products Are Better than Others.

The EPA has a list of approved cleaning products that are expected to kill the coronavirus, but if you’re a do-it-your-selfer on the cleaning product front, you may be surprised. While hydrogen peroxide, bleach, and isopropyl alcohol, each used alone or diluted with water, are all effective against coronavirus, cleaning products like vinegar are not. So, if you’ve been relying on vinegar to clean, you’re going to need something else to disinfect. Always be careful not to mix cleaning products because they can create new chemicals that can be incredibly hazardous.

It’s a lot of work to keep a home disinfected during the coronavirus pandemic. If you’re not able to do that for your senior, you may need to get some extra help from elderly care providers. They are able to take over and help your senior with minimal risk of exposure for her.

  • If you or an aging loved-one are considering Home Care in Bloomfield Hills, MI, please contact the caring staff at Alliance Senior Care today. Call (248) 274-2170.