High-touch surfaces are those that are most-frequently touched by people throughout the day. These surfaces are more prone to catch germs and viruses and cause infections in your body.
Therefore, it’s necessary to clean and disinfect them properly. Cleaning would remove the dust and germs and disinfection would kill any remaining germs on the surfaces, minimising their growth.
However, the process of cleaning and disinfecting the high-touch surfaces could be a bit challenging because of the layers of germs accumulated on these surfaces.
This article would explore the key steps involved in cleaning and disinfecting the high-touch surfaces in your home easily and efficiently.
What are High-Touch Surfaces?
High-touch surfaces are the most frequently used surfaces, located in areas where people spend a lot of time like in the kitchen, living room, bedroom, etc. These surfaces are more prone to infection because they can transfer germs from one person to another either through direct or indirect contact.
Direct contact occurs when someone directly touches the contaminated surface, while indirect contact occurs when someone touches the object that was intact with the infected surface, such as a cloth or sponge, etc.
This infection could even lead to respiratory problems, when someone eats something without washing his contaminated hands.
What are some Examples of High-Touch Surfaces?
There are a lot of high-touch surfaces in our homes that need our attention. Some of them include;
- Doorknobs
- Light switches
- Faucets
- Countertops
- Remote controls
- Phones
There could be some other examples as well like chairs, tables, windows, railings, toys, magazines, books, ornaments, etc. There could be a long list of surfaces that we do not even notice, but are prone to severe attacks of germs and viruses. It would be best practice to make a list of high-touch surfaces and pay attention to those surfaces on a daily or weekly basis.
How to Clean and Disinfect High-Touch Surfaces? A Step-by-Step Guide
To ensure the deep cleaning of these surfaces, you should follow these 5 steps to ensure that your spaces are free of microorganisms or contaminants.
Step 1: Gather the Necessary Supplies
The very first step to clean or disinfect anything is to ensure that you have all the required thighs beforehand in order to make the cleaning process smooth. Some of the things that you may need while cleaning and disinfecting high-touch surfaces at your home include;
- Disposable gloves
- Cleaning towel or cloth
- Detergent
- Water
- Disinfectant product
- A spray bottle
- A trash bag
Make sure to wear the gloves while disinfecting the contaminated surfaces to avoid any kind of infection that may be caused by the harmful germs present on those surfaces.
For disinfectants, you should go for the ones that are registered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). However, some of the most common disinfectants include;
- Bleach solution
- Alcohol solution (at least 70% a;lcohol)
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Peroxyacetic acid
Do not forget to follow the instructions on the label of disinfectant products for proper usage.
Step 2: Clean the Surfaces
Before disinfecting any surface, it’s a good approach to clean it first with soap and water. This would remove the dirt, dust or grease that could affect the disinfection process. You can use a spray bottle to apply soap and water and then wipe it away with a damp cloth.
However, some surfaces might need special approach to cleaning, like;
- For carpets, rugs or upholstery, you should use a vacuum and a steam cleaner.
- For electronics, it’s better to use the alcoholic solution.
- For wooden products, using damp cloth is more effective than water that could damage the wood.
Step 3: Disinfection
Disinfecting the high-touch surfaces is mandatory after cleaning. This would kill the germs that could lead to severe infections or respiratory diseases. For disinfection, you should use the EPA registered products and follow the instructions labelled on that product for proper application.
After applying the product, keep the doors and windows open for sometime in order to exhale the inhaling fumes that could lead to severe respiratory problems, skin irritations or eye infections.
Step 4: Waste Disposal
After disinfecting the surfaces completely, dispose of all the materials that you had used in the cleaning and disinfecting process including gloves, clothes, paper towels, or any other material. Improper waste disposal could pose a risk to your health.
Do not touch your face, eyes, nose or mouth while b handling the waste.
Step 5: Maintain a Regular Cleaning Schedule
In order to keep your home clean and germ-free, devise a regular schedule to clean and disinfect your home. This would help you protect the health and well-being of yourself and your family members.
Looking For Professional Cleaners to Clean and Disinfect Your Home?
Perfect Clean can help you to clean and disinfect the high-touch surfaces in your home. They have a team of highly trained professionals who use high-quality products and follow the devised guidelines to ensure a smooth and efficient cleaning process.
Whether you need a one-off deep cleaning or specialised cleaning of your carpets, windows or oven, they could handle it all. Hire Perfect Clean today to clean and disinfect highly contaminated surfaces at your home and enjoy a clean home that is free from germs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it important to clean and disinfect the high-touch surfaces?
It is essential to prevent the spread of germs, viruses or bacteria that could harm your health.
How often should I clean and disinfect the high-touch surfaces in my home?
Cleaning and disinfecting at once a day is recommended, doing more often would be better.
What should I use to disinfect the high-touch surfaces?
Use EPA-approved disinfectant products to kill the germs and bacteria on the surfaces.
What are some high-touch areas in my home?
Most common high touch areas in your home include door handles, light switches, faucets, countertops, tables, chairs, remote controls, and keyboards.
