8 Hints for Stay at Home Clean
With the latest advice to stay indoors, we also want to ensure that our homes are comfortable, clean, and not a breeding ground for illnesses. So, to help make sure that your home is not a haven for microorganisms, including bacteria and viruses and to keep your home the sanctuary that it should be this winter, we have put together a few top tips:
FRESH AIR
Making sure that you regularly open your windows to let fresh air into your home to provide plenty of ventilation is essential. Studies have shown that opening windows can prevent viruses and other pathogens from spreading by encouraging air turnover and replacing contaminated air with clean air.
Also, according to Markham Heid, a Health and Science writer “Breathing clean outdoor air may even provide some cognitive benefits: If a space is small and poorly ventilated, there’s evidence that accumulated C02 can cause drowsiness, poor concentration, and other symptoms.”
AIR CONDITIONING/HEATING UNITS
The filters in your A/C and heating units can amass bacteria and allergens which then spreads throughout the home, so clean or replace those filters and stop that dust from spreading.
FLOORS
Carpets can conceal all sorts of nasties; the best way to keep this in check is to get them professionally cleaned. Hard flooring can also harbour bacteria and viruses so wash with an antibacterial product or use a steam cleaner.
SURFACES
Solid surfaces really need to be cleaned on a regular basis as germs pass from hands to surface and back again. So, keep them clean, use hot or cold water (not warm as this can create a breeding ground) and don’t forget to also dry them. These surfaces include:
Door handles
Switches
Benchtops
Phones/Computers/Tablets
Taps
Kitchen appliances
Remote controls
Keys
Handbags/Purses
Toys
Don’t forget that the cloth or rag used to clean your surfaces will also pick up the germs, so swap them over after every use, used new cloths for each area and wash them after use.
TOILETS
Use a bowl cleaner, leave for 5 minutes before scrubbing with a stiff bristle toilet brush, 
then wipe down the cistern, lid, seat and outside of the bowl with an antibacterial product or disinfectant wipes.
Don’t forget the flush button…avoiding the spread of germs can be far more beneficial by regularly cleaning the often-overlooked flush button!
BATHROOMS
Damp surfaces are a favourite for germs so try and keep your bathroom as dry as possible. 
After showering use a squeegee blade to remove access moisture from shower screens, tiled walls and even the shower floor followed by an absorbent cloth to then dry those areas down.
Equally, the bathroom sink will need a daily wipe with a clean, dry cloth. It would be worth putting aside several absorbent microfibre cloths in the bathroom for ease.
LAUNDRY
Germs love warm, moist locations and that includes your linen, towels, and clothing, therefore 
wash them regularly. However, don’t fall into the trap of leaving wet/damp laundry in the washing machine or dryer, remember to follow through with your wash by then drying, folding and put away your laundry rather than let it sit around.
Direct sunlight from the sun’s ultraviolet light can kill most germs, so make sure that you get plenty of it and hang out what you can on the line.
HANDS, HANDS, HANDS
Hands are the most common method of germ transference; therefore, hand hygiene is vital in preventing the spread of 
microorganisms.
Washing your hands regularly with soap and water is the preferred option, also rubbing them with an alcohol-based formulation, is fast and effective as well as less harsh on your hands.
Ensuring that your home is clean does not have to be a full-time job, it is merely a matter of maintenance, not every job needs to be done every day.
You may however, want to take additional precautions should someone in your family have a cold or flu, by more regularly wiping down surfaces that they touch. Have a clean, sterile cloth or wipes to hand and it only takes a few seconds to clean a handle, switch, phone, or countertop.