Parents are heading back to the office, kids are heading back to school, interstate travelling is now allowed and it seems like our life is going back to a somewhat ‘normal’ state where soon to come international border will also be opening soon for travelling.
This means that chances of being exposed to the Covid-19 virus is much higher and it could be lurking in our home too.
From our children’s toys, to door knobs, couches, curtains and even walls, keeping our home clean and safe should be incorporated into our daily lives as a new norm. Different surfaces require different ways of cleaning. So let’s dive into the right way to clean and disinfect different types of surfaces to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
The Right Way To Clean & Disinfect Different Types of Surfaces
Soft Surfaces – Carpet, rugs, plushies, drapes etc.
When it comes to soft surfaces such as your carpets, rugs, drapes, your children’s toys and cushion covers, it’s best to clean with soap and water or with cleaners made for use on these surfaces.
You can also launder them in the washing machine (if possible) using an appropriate warm water temperature setting and be sure to completely dry these items to prevent any unwanted bacteria lurking around.
It’s also best to disinfect these surfaces frequently as and when needed and vacuum often to prevent the build-up of unwanted dirt, dust mites and bacteria.
Electronics & Gadgets
Scientists at the University of Arizona found that your phone is ten times dirtier than most toilet seats. Just think about that the next time you press your phone up against your face to make a phone call! Our phones and mobile devices are exposed to everything we touch. Imagine how many times we retouch our phone when we’re out and about scanning and entering different premises such as shops and restaurants. To make things worst, we then go home and our children tend to use our phones too, which means they might be exposed to whatever bacteria and virus that might be on the surface.
The CDC recommends putting a wipeable cover on electronics (for example, phones, tablets, touchscreens, keyboards, and remote controls) to make cleaning easier. You can also use UV disinfection boxes that are made for electronics or a desktop sanitation light.
Alternatively, you could also use a disinfectant spray or wipes that you can keep handy in your handbag or pockets. Make it a habit to disinfect your electronics regularly to ensure that it doesn’t harbour harmful bacteria and viruses.
Your Laundry
Our clothes, bedding and other laundry can harbour bacteria. Use the warmest appropriate water setting when doing your
laundry and ensure that your items are completely dry before folding or hanging them up in your wardrobe.
According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC), it is safe to wash dirty laundry from a person who is sick with other people’s items, but it is best to wear gloves and a mask when handling their items.
Since our children are going back to school, it’s important that we make sure to clean and wash their uniforms appropriately to ensure their uniforms are bacteria-free. Don’t forget to wash your hands after handling dirty laundry too!
Walls
One of the most overlooked surfaces when it comes to cleaning and disinfecting are our walls. This makes it the perfect surface for the spreading and growth of viruses and bacteria, which could be dangerous since our children are in constant contact to the wall.
It is recommended that we dust our walls from top down and wipe our walls with warm water and an all-purpose cleaner. Be sure to always test an inconspicuous area, like a section of the wall that’s behind a painting or piece of furniture, to make sure it won’t damage the material.
But instead of just cleaning your walls more often, take a step further and increase wellness in your home by picking a more proactive paint for your home.
Nippon Paint Anti-Viral & AntiBacterial Range
Nippon Paint Malaysia (NPM), Malaysia’s No. 1 total coatings solution provider recently launched an antiviral and anti bacterial range with improved formula that are proven effective in preventing the spread of infectious diseases including COVID-19 (SARS-Cov-2).
The coating range includes:
- VirusGuard – A mid sheen paint, that resists mold and fungus growth while providing ultra-low VOC, superior washability and long lasting colours.
- Spot-less Plus – An excellent low sheen indoor stain repellent paint
- Vinilex Fresh Plus – A smooth matt finishing paint with low odour and good washability properties ideal for interior walls.
Formulated with Silver Ion Technology, the newly improved antiviral and anti-bacterial coatings can destroy microbes with high efficacy and proven from lab-test reports by Antimikrop R&D and Biocidal Analysis Laboratory to be 99.9% effective
against harmful viruses and bacteria on painted surfaces.
The technology inhibits the spread of viruses and bacteria through a three-step approach – destroying the viruses and bacteria cell wall or membrane making them non-functional, reducing their reproduction capability, and inhibiting their survival which ultimately causes the death of the viruses and bacteria.
This environmentally-friendly coating range also offer other functional benefits such as:
- Anti-fungal
- Low odour
- Ultra-low VOC,
- Stain repellant
- Superior washability
- Long-lasting colours
- Easy maintenance
By coating your walls with Nippon Paint’s Anti-Viral & Anti-Bacterial range, you’ll have increased wellness in your home and have less to worry about, especially when our children are constantly touching our walls.
For more information on Nippon Paint’s anti-viral and anti-bacterial coating range, please visit Nippon Paint’s authorised dealers to confirm your colour choices, or browse www.nipponpaint.com.my
