Hygiene Tips Whilst Working from Home

Many of our colleagues are working remotely during the coronavirus pandemic. Being at home throughout the day means that your living environment can become dirty quickly, especially if you have children and pets. To help you keep your home clean and hygienic, we’ve popped together some practical tips.

Put at least one hour aside each day

Allocating a time slot in your daily diary for cleaning makes keeping on top of the main jobs very easy. Even better, split this time into two sessions – one in the morning and another in the evening. By washing the dishes, vacuuming and cleaning the bathroom regularly, you’ll find that hygiene problems aren’t given a chance to build up, therefore reducing the likelihood of bacteria and the COVID-19 virus spreading throughout your home.

Wash your hands before and after cleaning

We’re now all used to cleaning our hands for at least twenty seconds, but it can be easy to forget to do it before and after cleaning the house. The reason for doing this is so that any bacteria or traces of virus on your skin are removed before touching the cleaning products and furniture. They are then sanitised again after you’ve touched a range of household surfaces. This needs to be done even if you use rubber gloves when cleaning the house.

Focus on high-touch surfaces

High-touch surfaces are those that receive large volumes of contact throughout the day. They include doorknobs, drawer and cupboard handles, light switches, the backs of chairs, the toilet seat, remote controls, kitchen and bathroom taps, the doors on the microwave, fridge and oven, plus all of your computer equipment. Even if you live alone, you need to keep on top of these surfaces and ensure that they’re properly sanitised on a regular basis.

Keep your kitchen spotless

Kitchens can quickly become breeding grounds for bacteria and viruses. Even if leftover food hasn’t started to smell, it’s very likely to already be a home for nasty germs that can spread quickly. Make sure to thoroughly wash all crockery and cutlery, clean all cooking equipment and utensils, immediately throw away scrap food and packaging (recycling where possible), and keep the interior of the fridge in top condition.

Give the bathroom lots of attention

Due to the nature of bathrooms, it’s easy to think that they’re hygienic as long as they look clean. However, coronavirus can remain on wet surfaces for longer, plus damp towels can gather bacteria rapidly if they’re not straightened out and left to dry. If you have a bathroom bin, also make sure to empty this daily along with other household bins.

Do more laundry

Usually, waiting until you have a full load of laundry before washing it is a good move for the environment because it uses less water. However, coronavirus sticks to fabrics, so as soon as you come inside, it’s time to pop that outfit in the washing machine. It’s a wise move to clean the washing machine with suitable disinfectant more frequently too, as this will prevent the growth of germs.

Seeing how you’re now working from home, it’s also a good idea to clean other fabrics that may not get much attention during the year. These include curtains, cushion covers, small rugs, carpets, blankets, throws, and of course any bedding.

Don’t forget the pets

Cats and dogs that go outside may pick up the virus whilst playing, roaming and enjoying themselves, so make sure to keep them clean as well. This way, other germs and bacteria that they pick up will be removed, helping you to stay healthy during these difficult times.

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