COVID-19: A Guide to Deep Cleaning Your Household Surfaces

The coronavirus outbreak continues to grow worldwide. The President of the United States has called the virus a national emergency. Currently there is no cure for COVID-19, however, public health officials have recommended an appropriate household plan that can help protect your health and the health of those you care about. Some preventative measures include practicing good personal health habits, such as:

• washing hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
• When washing hands is not an option, use hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol
• Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue
• Avoid close contact with others, especially those that are sick
• Stay home when you are sick, unless you need to seek medical attention
• Launder clothing, towels and linens on a regular or daily basis (wear gloves while handling laundry items or immediately wash hands afterwards)
• Regularly clean and disinfect laundry baskets and hampers
• Clean frequently touched surfaces and objects (tables, countertops, doorknobs, handles, light switches, remotes, toilets, sinks, etc.)

For dirty surfaces, clean with detergent (soap) and water prior to disinfection.

For disinfection, the following is an appropriate list of products that should be effective:

• Diluted household bleach solutions
• Alcohol solutions (at least 70% alcohol)
• Common EPA-registered household disinfectants

Transmission of the coronavirus occurs via respiratory droplets (spread from person to person). It has not been documented whether or not the transmission of coronavirus occurs from (contaminated) surfaces to persons. However, it is suggested that the virus can live on surfaces for hours to days. Therefore, it is important to take the appropriate measures and regularly clean all surfaces in order to limit the survival of the virus within your home environment.

Cleaning does not kill germs. Instead, cleaning refers to the removal of germs, dirt and impurities. By removing them, it lowers the risk of spreading infection.

Reduce the risk of contamination and transmission! Here’s what we know so far...

Detailed household cleaning helps avoid the accumulation of bacteria and microbes. When cleaning and disinfecting your household, it is important to follow label instructions for safe and effective use. Also, take precautions when using such products. For example, wear gloves and be sure you have good ventilation when using strong cleaning products.

By keeping the interior of your household clean, you reduce the risk of getting infected. Taking the necessary safety measures in your own environment will help keep you and your loved ones as healthy as possible.

Though the discovery of coronavirus is recent and still unfamiliar, we do know that there are some people who are at higher risk of getting very sick once they’ve been positively tested for the virus. This includes older adults and people with underlying medical issues. Those with serious chronic medical conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes, or lung disease need to be extra cautious, which will help to reduce the risk of getting infected with the virus.

This is why we advise you to take extra measures to further reduce the risk of being exposed to coronavirus. One way in particular is to utilize a regular cleaning service, intended to protect you and your family members.

What are the benefits to using a cleaning service?

Maintaining a clean living environment is crucial to maintaining good health. However, properly and thoroughly cleaning one’s household can be easier said than done. It is laborious and stenuous, even challenging! Now more than ever, it is essential to keep your home hygienic as COVID-19 remains a serious concern. One of the best and most effective ways in attempting to control your environment is to hire a professional cleaning service.

Cleaning companies will provide you with qualified professionals. Such pros are experienced in carefully cleaning the entire home from top to bottom. With your instruction, a cleaning service is able to get to those hard to get to areas and will use the appropriate cleaning products so they are able to detail specific surfaces and/or spaces within your home.

Hiring a cleaning service is beneficial to sustaining good health especially if it is a physical burden on you. Comprehensive cleaning may require bending, reaching, and standing for long periods of time. It also requires good eyesight. For some, this is a taxing and exhausting job that can easily be handled by a professional cleaner. Cleaning companies not only clean residential spaces, but they also service commercial spaces, like office space, retail stores, daycare centers, etc. There are major advantages to bringing in professional assistance, especially when trying to reduce the risk of serious infection.

So you’ve decided to look into junk pickup companies to help you declutter. Good move. Now make sure you find a junk removal service whose emphasis is not only on junk removal but also on service.

Does that sound like a tall order? It doesn’t have to be -- not if you follow these 5 basic guidelines to get the best junk removal service possible.

• Look close to home. There’s a reason why consumers love to google for home service companies “near me.” And it’s not just convenience. Local companies tend to have a stake in the community, and pride themselves on earning great reviews from you and your neighbors. They are decluttering experts, with insider knowledge of nearby donation and recycling outlets.

• Look for professional companies. “Near me” should never be confused with “second rate.” The sign of a reputable junk removal service is that they are fully licensed and insured. They have a fleet of roomy, well-maintained trucks and a team of employees who are uniformed, courteous, fast, efficient and cheerful.
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Look for service. The best junk pick up companies in Chicago Ridge are there to serve you, the customer. This includes all those special touches: offering free estimates on junk removal service, setting an appointment quickly, providing same day service (if that’s what you’re looking for) and honest all-inclusive pricing. They’re happy to answer your questions, and are flexible and sensitive -- even when dealing with stressful situations such as estate cleanup or junk removal after a tenant eviction. 

• Look for responsibility. You can tell the top companies because they care about getting rid of your things responsibly, in the most eco-friendly manner. They strictly adhere to all applicable laws and regulations regarding junk disposal. They will do their utmost to send a minimum amount of garbage to the landfill (sometimes as low as 40 percent); the rest is carefully donated or recycled, as appropriate.

• Look for excellent reviews. When you’re searching for junk haulage companies online, a great way to narrow down your choice is browsing through their customer reviews. But you can’t rely on just any anonymous write-ups. Be sure to find unbiased, detailed reviews from people who’ve actually used the junk removal service.