People around the world are working hard to stay safe during the global COVID-19 pandemic, and for many of us, that means working harder on keeping our living and workspaces clean and disinfected.
The environmental services team at McLaren Greater Lansing is cleaning commonly touched surfaces throughout their hospital at an even greater frequency than their typical stringent protocols, and they have some expert tips you can use in your own home.
"First and foremost, make sure you're using the right disinfectant," said Tony Yeo, Environmental Service Department manager at McLaren Greater Lansing. "It's important to use a disinfectant wipe or spray instead of a multipurpose cleaner."
When you're cleaning, make sure you're putting enough pressure on the surface you're wiping down. "You need to put some elbow grease into it to make sure you're pushing hard enough on the surface to kill the bacteria," said Yeo.
It's important to remember that any disinfectant that is strong enough to kill coronavirus is also strong enough to take a toll on your hands. "Our housekeeping team always wears gloves when cleaning," said Yeo. "When you're wiping a dirty surface, you don't want to get any debris on your hands, and the cleaners can be abrasive and dry out your skin."
Yeo says knowing how to take off and dispose of your gloves properly is a key some people at home may miss. "Our team always uses hand sanitizer or washes their hands after removing gloves," said Yeo. "There can be a false sense of protection when someone has gloves on, so it's important to remember not to touch your face, even if you have hand protection on.