Now, more than ever, it is important to clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces including doorknobs, handles, chair backs, faucets, light switches, etc. Cleaning simply means to remove germs or dirt from a surface. Cleaning does not kill germs. It lowers the amount of germs present on a surface by removing them. Disinfecting means to kill germs by using chemicals such as bleach solutions, alcohol solutions with at least 70% alcohol, or other EPA registered household disinfectants.
People can lower their risk of getting sick by first cleaning surfaces and then disinfecting them. When cleaning, use soaps or detergents and water to physically remove dirt and germs from surfaces. Follow by disinfecting. If you don’t have an EPA-registered household disinfectant on hand, you can make your own. Start with regular, unscented bleach, and wear protective gloves. Mix 5 tablespoons bleach to one gallon of water or 4 teaspoons bleach to one quart of water. Only use bleach solutions if appropriate for the surface. Do not use on soft surfaces such as carpet, furniture, drapes, or clothing.
Best practices include cleaning all visible dirt from surfaces or objects and following with disinfection. EPA-registered household disinfectants are commonly available in sprays and wipes. You can find them at large retailers including grocery stores, hardware stores, drug stores, and many convenience stores. Be sure to follow all instructions on the label. The label will tell you whether you need to dilute the product, what surfaces you can use it on, drying time, and any precautions such as wearing gloves and making sure there is good ventilation when using the product.
Laboratory studies have shown that our cell phones can be breeding grounds for bacteria and viruses. Most of us have cell phones, and most of us are touching them all the time! So, if we touch our germy cell phone with our clean hands, what happens then? As part of our efforts to control the spread of viruses, cleaning our cell phones is a good way to help.
Consult your device’s product manual for its recommended cleaning guidelines. Your manufacturer’s instructions might differ from these general suggestions.
What you CAN use: • Clean, lint-free cloth or microfiber cloth• Disinfecting wipes (phone manufacturers have recently OK’d these)• Disposable cotton swabs, cotton balls, or cotton pads• Small pump-spray bottle filled with equal parts of distilled water and 70% isopropyl alcohol
What you CAN’T use: • Bleach• Ammonia• Hydrogen peroxide• Aerosol sprays• Abrasive materials
Follow these steps for cleaning. • Avoid getting moisture into the openings on your cell phone. • Wash your hands before you begin cleaning your phone.• If you use a cell phone case, remove it. If you have a semi-permanent screen protector, it’s best to keep the screen protector on so it isn’t damaged. If your screen protector has specific cleaning guidelines, follow those guidelines.• For your phone:• Use either a disinfecting wipe or a clean cloth sprayed with the solution of distilled water and 70% isopropyl alcohol to wipe all areas of the phone. For hard-to-reach areas or stubborn dirt, try using a cotton swab or cotton ball dampened with a small amount of the water and alcohol solution.• Let your phone air dry for at least 15 minutes before touching it.• For your phone case:• If it is made of a plastic or silicone material, you can submerge your case in warm soapy water. You also can wipe it well with a disinfecting wipe or use the solution of distilled water and 70% isopropyl alcohol.• If you have a cell phone case made of leather or other material that can’t be submerged, wipe it with a disinfecting wipe.• Allow your case to dry thoroughly before replacing your phone.
• Wash your hands again when you are done.• Clean your cell phone about once a week or any time it has been touched by someone who is ill.• Avoid sharing your cell phone or using another’s cell phone.• Be aware of where you put your phone. So often, we set our phones down in restrooms or public places, such as restaurant tables or checkout counters, and our cell phones can easily pick up germs that are then transferred to our hands and faces.• If you still have a landline phone, don’t forget to clean that, too!
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Contact Lora Pullin, Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences in Greenup County at 606-836-0201 or lora.pullin@uky.edu. Educational programs of Kentucky Cooperative Extension serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability, or national origin.
