Keeping your home clean is not only a matter of pride, it’s also highly important for everyone’s well-being. When guests come around, we all want the place to look spotless to make a good impression. It’s also a nice feeling for any of us to return to a clean and shiny home after a long day outside of the house. Nonetheless, the most essential reason to keep the home clean is our health.
With people coming and going, in and out of the house each day, the presence of germs will inevitably start to build up. Much of the time, this happens in the areas where people put their hands, areas we like to call ‘high-touch surfaces’. If you leave bacteria alone, it will only grow. That’s why cleaning those surfaces is an absolute must. There’s no need to worry! At El Milagrito, cleaning is our area of expertise. So join us and read on to find out How to Clean and Disinfect High-Touch Surfaces in Your Home.
What are high-touch surfaces?
Before you can get started with cleaning those high-touch surfaces, it’s important to know where they are. These are the areas that people touch most with their hands, leaving large traces of bacteria to pile up over time if left uncleaned. Some of the main ones include the following:
- Door handles
- Light switches
- Remote controls
- Game console control pads
- Electronic devices (Laptops, tablets, and computer keyboards)
- Faucets
- Desks
- Worktops
- Stair bannisters
The best cleaning supplies for cleaning the home
It’s crucial to have the right cleaning supplies in order to clean and disinfect those high-touch surfaces as effectively as possible. Some of the essentials for this include the following:
- A degreaser
- A polisher
- Disinfectant wipes or spray
- Microfiber cloths
- Disposable gloves
- A bucket or container for mixing solutions
- A soft-bristle brush an old toothbrush for scrubbing
To clean or to disinfect? Knowing the difference
Cleaning and disinfecting are different procedures, but both are essential to maintaining a clean and hygienic home.
To clean – Get rid of dirt, dust, and grease from surfaces. It’s usually a straightforward process that can be done with soap and water or an adequate cleaning product.
To disinfect – The process of eliminating germs and bacteria, which typically requires chemical products. Doing so plays an important role in stopping the spread of illnesses and infections.
How to clean and disinfect the house in simple steps
By following the steps below, you can eliminate dirt in the most effective way possible.
1- Degrease – Areas in the house that accumulate grease are easy to notice. Those most visible include the areas in the kitchen, such as the stove and the tabletop. The most effective way to remove this grease is to do so with a degreaser.
At El Milagrito, we offer a range of degreasing products in various size and container varieties. Apply the degreaser to the greasy surface and leave it to sit there for a few minutes. Then wipe the surface with a microfiber drying cloth.
2- General cleaning – For other kinds of surfaces, the most basic method of cleaning them is with water, soap, and a cloth. Be sure to keep a close eye on surfaces that accumulate little black marks or even fingerprints. Cleaning these early on will prevent the problem from growing.
3- Polishing surfaces – Once you have cleaned the high-touch surfaces in your house, the next step is to use a polish agent to polish them. This is more necessary than many people think. Why? Because a polished surface is better protected against accumulating dirt stains. Furthermore, it brings a visual freshness and shine to your home.
If you’re wondering where you can find a good polishing agent, we can help! El Milagrito offers several products for this kind of task.
4- Disinfecting surfaces – Once all is clean, you can start disinfecting. Disinfectant products come in various forms with some of the most popular for cleaning houses being sprays and disinfectant wipes.
Disinfectant wipes: These provide you with a quick and easy option when it comes to disinfecting surfaces in your home. Simply remove from the packet, wipe, and within a couple of minutes the surface will be both dry and disinfected.
Disinfectant sprays: If instead you use a spray, allow the liquid to sit on the surface for a couple of minutes. Then use a microfiber drying cloth to wipe the surfaces dry.
5- Regular maintenance – All too often, it is easy to leave the home for a few days or longer before giving it the clean it needs, but regular cleaning is the best way to maintain a hygienic and germ-free house.
Daily – Rather than do everything at once, give yourself small, daily cleaning tasks. Perhaps, each day can be limited to one room and spread the rest of the tasks out throughout the week.
Weekly – If you haven’t had time to divide cleaning tasks up into different days of the week, it is highly recommended to have a thorough clean of the house at least one day of the week. Leaving it any longer than that can create potential health and hygiene hazards.
After illness – After someone in the household has been ill, it is essential to give the surfaces of the house a good clean in order to prevent the spreading of germs which, in turn, may spread the illness to other people.
How El Milagrito products can help
Our range of products can help you to keep your house clean, hygienic, and shiny. Be sure to visit our shop to see what you can bring to your home to make it sparkle. Also remember that here on our blog, you can find all you need to know about cleaning the home in the best way possible.