Effective cleaning around the home is an important part of keeping you and your family healthy. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) continues to update their guidance on the best ways to disinfect and clean to maintain a safer home environment.

With increased social interaction and the start of a new school year, it’s the perfect time to take a look at some of the common sense suggestions and best practice recommendations offered by the CDC. For more information, check out this CDC website page on disinfecting your home.

• Clean High Touch Surfaces Daily
  The CDC recommends daily cleaning of surfaces that are touched often, such as doorknobs, tables, hard-back chairs, remote controls, toilets and sinks. What’s the number one surface you should be disinfecting each day, and probably aren't: your cell phone! Which take us to our next tip.
  
  
• Don’t Forget to Clean Your Electronics
  Your phone, tablets, computers, video game consoles and controllers – all need to be disinfected regularly. And the more you use them, the more often you should clean them. If your product provides manufacturer’s instructions on how to clean and disinfect, follow them. If not, the CDC recommends using alcohol-based wipes or sprays containing at least 70 percent alcohol to disinfect touch screens.
  
  
• Know the Difference Between Cleaning and Disinfecting
  According to the CDC, cleaning should be relegated to dirty surfaces and should be done before disinfecting. You can clean these surfaces using a detergent or soap and water and then use an EPA-approved disinfectant to sanitize the area against COVID-19. Be sure to read the directions for your disinfectant, some will kill bacteria in 30 seconds, while others can take 10 minutes or more.
  
  
• Do Not Shake Dirty Laundry
  One of the common home mistakes made is to give your clothes a shake before throwing them in the washer. What most don’t realize, is that shanking dirty laundry could actually spread the coronavirus. According to the CDC, tossing in dirty clothes without a shake could minimize the possibility of dispersing the virus through the air.
  
  
• Wash Items in the Warmest Water Possible
  While we’re talking about washing machines, the CDC also recommends that you use the "warmest appropriate water setting" to wash items in, as hot temperatures can help sanitize and kills germs. For more laundry tips, check out these 7 Coronavirus Laundry Tips You Need to Start Following.
  
  
• Don’t use Disinfectants on Packaged Food
  While you may be determined to sanitize everything that enters your home, you could be doing more harm than good. The CDC says you should not use disinfectants designed for hard surfaces, such as bleach or ammonia, on food packaged in cardboard or plastic wrap.
  
  
• Don’t Wash Your Produce with any Chemicals
  The CDC also tells you to gently rinse fresh fruits and vegetables under cold, running tap water. Do not try to clean them with soap, bleach, sanitizer, alcohol, disinfectants, or any kind of chemical.
  
  
• Use Gloves When Cleaning
  Many cleaning products will recommend you wear gloves while using their product, but the CDC also specifically recommends doing so when cleaning and disinfecting surfaces for the coronavirus. It’s a safe practice worth turning into a regular habit.

Keeping a virus-free home is another way we can all help contribute to the safety and well-being of our families and loved ones. For more information, check out this article from Best Life.

Stay well.