The COVID-19 pandemic has made us more aware than ever of the importance of keeping our homes clean and sanitary. Between the need to kill germs and the amount of time that many of us are spending in our houses, it’s especially important to keep household spaces clean and functioning. This article is here to answer some common questions on keeping your kitchen and bathroom clean and what to do if your spaces aren’t looking or functioning at their best.
What’s so important about keeping my kitchen and bathroom clean during the Coronavirus pandemic?
When it comes to cleaning areas in your home, the most important spots to clean are high-touch areas, or those that are touched most often. This can include TV remotes, the computer mouse, light switches, door knobs or pulls, toilets, faucets, countertops, sinks, and electronics.
You’ll probably notice that many of these areas are in kitchens and bathrooms. And if you’ve been able to stay at home, you’ll likely notice the large amount of time you’ve spent in these rooms. Kitchens and bathrooms, because of their frequent use and many high-touch areas, always harbor germs and are prime areas to target when cleaning.
Kitchens are also where you might set down groceries or carry-out food. If you’re showering after coming home from public places, then bathrooms too, might have a high number of germs being brought in from outside the home.
How can I best keep these areas clean?
First, let’s talk about the difference between the words cleaning, disinfecting, and sanitizing. Cleaning is when you use soap and water to remove germs from a surface. When handwashing for Corona Virus safety, you’re cleaning your hands by removing germs from the surface.
Disinfecting is when you use chemicals to kill the germs on a surface. When you use hand sanitizer, you’re disinfecting by killing germs, without necessarily removing them. Sanitizing means that you are lowering the number of germs on a surface, either by cleaning or by disinfecting.
To clean and disinfect high-touch areas in your home, the CDC recommends that you wear disposable gloves and begin by using soap or detergent if the area is dirty. Then, use an EPA-registered household disinfectant to disinfect the area, making sure to follow the package instructions carefully.
How can I know which disinfectant is right for my surfaces?
The right procedure for your space depends on what the surface is made from. Kitchen countertops are often granite, quartz, marble, or laminate. To clean your countertops, it’s often advisable to use warm water and mild dish detergent. Use a clean cloth, rather than a sponge used for washing dishes—this can spread germs around.
To disinfect your countertops, different materials call for different cleaning solutions. Most countertops can be disinfected with a mixture of water and isopropyl alcohol—simply mix, spray on, and leave for several minutes before wiping off. Cleaners like Lysol, Clorox, Pine-Sol, or others can wear down the sealant on granite countertops, though they are usually safe on sealed materials. You can also find disinfectants made specially for granite, quartz, or marble countertops.
Make sure that you read the package directions of any disinfectant that you use—when sanitizing for Corona Virus protection, the cleaning agents often require you to keep the surface wet for several minutes, rather than immediately wiping off the solution.
Can I clean my countertops with bleach?
With many cleaning products in short supply, you may be wondering if you can use bleach to clean your countertops. The answer is yes and no. Bleach can wear down the sealant on granite countertops, which means that you may have to re-seal your countertops sooner than you planned. And if your countertop sealant is compromised—through wear or damage—the countertops themselves might be damaged by the bleach.
But diluted bleach can be used on many hard, non-porous surfaces. Make a solution from a ratio of 5 tablespoons of bleach per gallon of water. This will be safe for most sealed and non-porous kitchen and bathroom surfaces.
What if my bathroom or kitchen isn’t functional?
While spending more time at home, you might have noticed that your kitchen or bathroom space isn’t functioning at its best. Chips, cracks, or other damage to tubs, sinks, or countertops might make a space look less-than-appealing, and cleaners or water can get under the surface of the damaged area and cause further problems in your home—think water damage or damage to the fixtures.
You might be thinking that this isn’t the time for bathroom remodel ideas—after all, if you’re spending more time at home, you probably don’t have the space to give up your bathroom for days on end and likely don’t want the extended social contact that comes with weeks of remodeling.
But the good news is that if your kitchen or bathroom isn’t functioning at its best to keep your home safe and working well for your family, there are other options! If your sink, tub, shower, or tile is chipped, cracked, rusty, or otherwise damaged, then bathtub or shower reglazing might be for you. In this process, the surface of the fixture is sanded down, any damage is repaired, and a new, high-gloss coating applied.
If you’re looking for options for safe access to your bathtub or shower, then the Safeway Step or Door might be an option for you. And if your countertops aren’t looking their best—if they’re discolored, cracked, chipped, burned, scratched, or worn—then refinishing them can get your kitchen back up and running in no time.
Best of all? The refinishing process only takes a few hours, plus a few more for the new coating to set. Your kitchen and bathroom can be functional again within a day, making it easier for you to clean and enjoy your space.
Where can I find bathtub reglazing near me?Look no further than The Tub Pros! In these uncertain times, we’re here to get your spaces functional and aesthetically pleasing. As an essential service provider, we are available to help you, your home, and your family stay clean and healthy. Give us a call at (901) 871-TUBS / (901) 871- 8827 or use our online contact to find out what your options are to renew and improve your kitchen and bathroom.
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