By Ensuring that you have a clean home is something at the top of everyone’s mind, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic. People are now more educated on how easily viruses can be transmitted just by touching surfaces and the importance to disinfect homes.
Infographic: Different types of “cleaning”
The importance of keeping clean is further supported by Singapore’s Government when the National Environment Agency (NEA) launched the SG Clean campaign in February 2020. The campaign seeks to rally stakeholders and members of the public to play their part in safeguarding public health. This is done through good personal habits as well as social responsibility. It doesn’t stop there.
These hygiene habits are even more important in your homes where you spend the majority of your time in. Think about the pool of germs, microorganisms, and pathogens that are sitting on your carpet, sofa, mattress, and your child’s baby cot. A sofa, for example, is a place where you welcome your guests to sit not knowing where they have been sitting or what germs they may be bringing to your home.
Regular cleaning of such surfaces in your home prevents the spread of germs that can make you sick (i.e. norovirus and Shigella). Cleaning helps keep you and your family healthy. Sanitizing and disinfecting on the other hand helps reduce the spread of diseases at home and is usually done when there are sick individuals or if you are just looking to thoroughly cleanse your home.
Cleaning as Part of Daily Housekeeping
Clean Regularly and Clean First. Sanitising and disinfecting come after.
To ensure that you get rid of the majority of germs from surfaces in your home, cleaning is a crucial first step. Cleaning surfaces in your home with products that contain soap or detergent will get rid of dirt and germs and lower the risk of infection. Most dangerous viruses or bacteria can be removed from surfaces by cleaning alone.
Prior to applying sanitizers or disinfectants, surfaces should be cleansed since contaminants like dirt may make it more difficult for the chemicals to penetrate and eradicate germs.
When should you clean surfaces in your home?
- Clean after you have visitors in your home. Prioritise high-touch surfaces (i.e light switches and doorknobs)
- Clean regularly if you have individuals in your home who have weak immune (i.e babies, elderlies)
Sanitising as an Additional Step
It might not be essential to sanitize every day if surfaces and objects are cleaned thoroughly after usage. Use a milder bleach solution or sanitizing spray to sterilize a surface or object.
When should you sanitize your home?
- Sanitise when objects and surfaces are being used by an infant or child. This includes items such as feeding utensils, toys, play mats, and baby bottles.
- Sanitise when you’ve stored a recalled food item inside your refrigerator.
For nonporous objects like baby bottles, you can sanitise through boiling or steaming. Allow to air dry. Do not rub or pat items as germ transfers may happen through this action.
For hard surfaces such as kitchen counters, you can first clean countertops with hot, soapy water. Sanitise using bleach solutions that are safe to use for cleaning.
Disinfecting to Eliminate Higher Levels of Pathogens Present
Manual disinfection of door handle | Image: FREEPIK
Disinfection aims to kill infectious pathogens thoroughly. We are referring to those that are able to spread swiftly on surfaces and can live for a few hours to a few days. Disinfecting these types of pathogens is especially important in high-traffic areas. High-risk settings include offices, schools, and shopping malls.
The spread of harmful microorganisms on surfaces will cause cross-contamination and sicken you or anyone else. While regular cleaning can get rid of the majority of germs, surface cleaning is not enough to completely get rid of active viruses. Thus, hiring a disinfection professional is recommended in ensuring that these pathogens are rid off safely.
When should you disinfect your home?
- Disinfect when someone is sick at home
- Disinfect if your household has individuals who are at higher risk of getting sick due to a weakened immune system
Here are some benefits of our disinfection services:
Infographic: Benefits of our disinfection services.
Why hire us?
Disinfect homes need not be a stressful affair. De Hygienique is a disinfection service provider with an NEA license that provides services for cleaning things like carpets, mattresses, and couches.
De Hygienique disinfection service
Our disinfection specialists are professionally trained and equipped with approved disinfection solutions by NEA. It has been demonstrated that our disinfection solution eliminates 99.999% of germs and viruses. A wide variety of bacteria, such as MRSA, Coronavirus, HFMD, Salmonella, etc., can be warded off by this disinfectant.
It takes time and attention to detail to disinfect thoroughly. It is also convenient and efficient to have professionals carry out this arduous task of disinfecting your home.
For more information on our disinfection services and other cleaning services, contact us today.
