How to keep your home squeaky clean during lockdown

A clean home has become more of a priority for many of us during lockdown. Picture: iStock/PA (Image: PA Features Archive/Press Association Images)

It’s always nice to have a clean home – and right now, home hygiene is more important than ever.

Although it’s unclear exactly how long the COVID-19 virus lingers on surfaces – and the risk of infection depends on lots of things, including the type of surfaces contaminated and the amount of virus shed – keeping aware and on top of cleaning routines is generally a good idea.

The UK Government recommend householders clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces, such as bathrooms, grab-rails in corridors and stairwells and door handles, and use regular household disinfectants to clean surfaces. It’s advised to use a disposable cloth and first clean hard surfaces with warm soapy water – and who better to share some hands-on cleaning advice than cleaners who work in hospitals?

Cleaning experts Donna Williams (left) and Diane Cullen (right). Picture: Donna Williams and Diane Cullen/PA (Image: PA Features Archive/Press Association Images)

Donna Williams and Diane Cullen work as part of the domestic team at NHS Property Services and over the past few months they’ve been on the frontline, undertaking deep cleans and helping minimise the COVID-19 spread in hospitals. But as well as helping keep hospitals germ-free, the pair are keen to ensure householders know how to reduce contamination risk in their own homes too.

Diane says: “As lockdown measures continue to lift, we’ll be coming into more and more contact with people outside of our households. While the house may seem like a safe environment, it’s still good to take precautions. We won’t be able to eradicate all germs or bacteria but it’s still important to be careful and keep up with basic cleanliness around the house, to stop any bacteria we may pick up spreading further.”

Here are their tips…

Places often forget to clean household touchpoints, such as door handles. Picture: iStock/PA (Image: PA Features Archive/Press Association Images)

1. Don’t use cloths

“Our number one piece of advice – which people may find surprising – is not to use cloths when cleaning as they can cling on to germs and bacteria much better than other products,” says Donna. “We expect these will be one of the top items in people’s cleaning artillery, but it’s just as important to think about how and where you might be spreading germs, as well as cleaning them in the first place.”

2. Do use kitchen roll

Kitchen roll is a great alternative for cleaning surfaces to help stop the spread of germs, says Donna. However, remember that once an area’s been wiped, you’ll need to dispose of it – don’t use it to clean more than one area. “It’s also good to clean in one direction, so you’re wiping everything the same way,” she advises.

Cloths are a cleaning no-no according to our experts. Picture: iStock/PA (Image: PA Features Archive/Press Association Images)

3. Don’t forget touchpoints

Places people always forget to clean are regular household touchpoints, such as door handles and handrails on the staircase, says Diane. “They may seem less important than food areas, for example, but they’re places everyone in the house will come in to contact with all the time without thinking. People returning home from a trip outside will be heading into different rooms, or up to the bathroom to wash, and touching various communal points along the way. This will become even more important as lockdown measures continue to ease in coming weeks, and friends and family may be allowed to visit each other’s houses.”

4. Keep surfaces clear

Try to keep surfaces clean and clear where you can, advises Donna. “This is especially important at the moment, as most of us will be bringing in things from the outside, such as shopping, food or parcels and placing them around the house, so keeping surfaces clean and clear will help ensure germs don’t linger.”

5. Disinfect when necessary

Donna says householders won’t always need to use disinfectant – unless someone in the house has, or could have, coronavirus. “If someone in your house does have COVID-19 or is suspected to, ensure you’re thoroughly disinfecting all areas and surfaces,” she stresses.

6. Wash your hands during house-cleaning

“Just as we need to wash hands after being outside or handling things, we recommend always washing your hands after carrying out different tasks in the home,” says Diane. “This will again ensure germs don’t spread to different areas of the house. At work, we always make sure we have some moisturiser at hand, as washing all the time can dry them out.”

7. Take wipes when out and about

If you’re out and about, make sure you’ve got cleaning wipes to hand, as these can be used for anything you take with you so you can clean it before heading home. “Remember to clean any toys you might take out for the little ones too, as they’ll be bringing them back into the home – and, knowing my own grandchildren, might be putting them in their mouths,” adds Diane.