In these uncertain times of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, being proactive with your health is more important now than ever. You should already be implementing frequent handwashing with soapy water for 20 seconds (enough time to say the ABC’s or sing Happy Birthday twice). Also, be sure to read our Sanitize Safely post for more details on the most effective hand sanitization as well as a DIY recipe that’s easy and affordable. Here are a few more essential tips to stay safe:
1.) If you don’t have access to a respirator mask and are in need of one, you can make your own using a HEPA vacuum bag (who knew?) using these instructions for a homemade N95 mask.
2.) We have created a quick video on IGTV (Instagram TV) that you can watch to keep your home and your family healthy while under quarantine.
3.) Per the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the recommended procedures for cleaning surfaces include:
- Clean AND disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily. This includes tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, and sinks.
- If surfaces are dirty, clean them: Use detergent or soap and water prior to disinfection.”
In addition, you should wear gloves (nitrile or polyethylene are the Center for Environmental Health’s (CEH) recommendations) and open windows or turn on fans if possible so you get good ventilation.
4.) Our friends at the CEH have created this handy infographic with tips recommended by the CDC for you to reference and share with friends, family and your community.
Stay healthy and safe, friends! We are all in this together and we are here for you.
I never really knew why we have to wash our hands for 20 seconds… but I learned recently it’s because it takes 20 seconds for the soap to break down the outer lipid coating of the virus! Knowing this like really made me get serious!
Yes, we just learned this was the reason as well 🙂 I guess we can thank the coronavirus for that one thing, oy! Stay healthy + safe!!
I’m always cleaning… I just hope I don’t run out of soap and disinfectants!
I was just going to make a mask from a bandanna, but I LOVE the idea of using a HEPA vacuum bag to make a homemade N95 mask!! This is awesome!!
Isn’t that fabulous, Danica?!!! Who knew??? It’s great b/c many are just making fabric masks which – although better than nothing – don’t compare to an N96 when it comes to protection. Stay safe 🙂
I hope Amazon restocks on some cleaning supplies soon. Any tips for getting packages in the mail? I’ve been washing my hands like crazy if I open the package, and I let the contents sit out somewhere in my home for 3 days before I touch them (I think that’s how long the corona virus can live on surfaces). I’m just a little concerned because I want to get some produce delivered and I wonder if the virus can survive on the produce in the refrigerator and will it be washed off if I just run it under wash like some sites suggest? I asked my friend and she said I was “thinking too much about it” but I want to be safe as I’m extremely high risk due to my autoimmune issues.
Thanks for this post and spreading the word on how to be safe during the corona virus pandemic, and also thanks for the mask tutorial link, will have a look at that now.
Hi Jo,
Got this from Dr. Ann Shippy and wanted to share – super helpful info in regards to your question:
‘According to the New England Journal of Medicine, each item you bring into your home may carry the live coronavirus from 1-4 days, depending upon the surface upon which it resides. The SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) coronavirus can survive up to four hours on copper, up to 24 hours on cardboard (Amazon boxes!), and up to two to three days on plastic and stainless steel. It’s also detectable for up to three hours in an aerosolized form. We must act accordingly.
A doctor in Michigan made a video that has already over 22 million views, and his analogy is this: Anything that is introduced to your home from the outside world needs to be imagined as having “glitter” all over it, which represents potential SARS-CoV-2 contamination. Everything that enters your home is covered with “glitter,” and your goal is to have no “glitter” on your face or on the surfaces of your home. I don’t agree with using toxic chemicals like Lysol on your bare hands or eating fast food like he is demonstrating in this video—but the spirit and message of this video is very on-target for considering the potential SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus contamination of the items that are brought into your home from the grocery store or take-out deliveries.’
Hope this helps!
P.S. If you want a safe spray product, I do like this “Force of Nature” cleaning spray which is completely non-toxic and EPA-approved for killing this specific COVID-19 virus—but note that it does require 10 minutes of contact to be effective on surfaces.
Link: https://www.forceofnatureclean.com