Do Not Let Germs Take Over

Imagine your family member falls victim to some disease, but within a short time, that disease attacks everybody in that house. Now you ask, what made it quickly spread? It could probably be overlooked high-touch surfaces littered with lots of microorganisms.

You see how such surfaces breed viruses or bacteria, one aspect of degrading safety around you because of unclean and unkept environments.

Cleaning High Touch Surfaces – Why This is Important

High-touch surfaces are where many people contact the area several times a day. Think about the doorknobs, light switches, remote controls, and smartphone screens. Germs can live for hours, even days, on high-touch surfaces. That means these are one of the main routes through which illness spreads. High-touch surface cleaning and sanitizing is an exercise that involves cleaning up, keeping a place tidy, and taking care of your health and your loved ones.

What Are High-Touch Surfaces?

High-touch surfaces are those areas or objects that people touch frequently. They can be in homes and commercial buildings and are often touched without a thought. Some of the joint high-touch surfaces to keep clean include:

Doorknobs and Handles: Everyone touches the front door, bedroom door, or even cabinet handle whenever they enter or exit a room. This is also one of the most promising germ-building places.

Light Switches: Most people do not spend much time cleaning the light switches, and thus, these accumulate plenty of dirt and fingerprints with bacteria quickly. One of the ways through which high-touch surfaces can be cleaned is to not spread germs between individuals.

Electronics: Items such as phones, tablets, keyboards, and remote TVs are high-touch objects that receive hundreds of touches each day. Because most are near one’s face, they should be washed more regularly.

Countertops and Tables: These exist both in the kitchen and living room. People use high-touch foods in food preparation and as an area where they may consume and place their things, thus making them the ideal haven for germs and bacteria.

Bathroom Fixtures: Toilet handles, faucet knobs, and shower controls are some of the most germ-infested high-touch surfaces in your house.

How to Clean and Disinfect High-Touch Surfaces Effectively

Now that we know what high-touch surfaces require scrubbing attention, let’s explore how to clean them. Cleaning high-touch surfaces is not rocket science, but it does entail the correct approach to ensure that germs are entirely eradicated.

 

 

1. Use the Right Products

The first step towards effectively cleaning high-touch surfaces is the selection of appropriate cleaning products. Ideally, seek disinfectants approved by health organizations, such as alcohol solutions of at least 70%, hydrogen peroxide, or bleach, which kill germs quickly and safely for most high-touch surfaces.

Antibacterial Wipes: Another convenient means of quickly cleaning high-touch surfaces is using antibacterial wipes.

Disinfectant Sprays: Spray disinfectants for large, high-touch surfaces, such as counters and tables.

2. Natural Substitutes:

 For a less chemical approach, you can also opt for natural disinfectants such as white vinegar and hydrogen peroxide, which can effectively disinfect your high-touch surfaces.
Clean before Disinfecting

Clean all high-touch surfaces with soap and water or a mild cleaner before disinfecting. Grime and dirt may harbour germs. Wiping visible dirt from high-touch surfaces will allow the disinfectant to penetrate and work effectively.

3. Follow contact time recommendations

The most common mistake is failing to let disinfecting products dwell on high-touch surfaces for the recommended amount of time. Contact time is when a surface needs to be kept wet with disinfecting products to kill germs efficiently. Most disinfectants take some minutes, so read the label to make sure.

4. Never forget your electronics

Electronics, which are high-touch surfaces, also need special care. Disinfecting wipes specifically designed for electronics must be used to clean high-touch surfaces. Electronics must be turned off and unplugged before cleaning. Do not spray any liquid on electronics.

5. Develop a Habit

Clean, high-touch surfaces should be part of your daily routine, especially during cold and flu season or when the risk of other illness outbreaks arises. A routine implies that germs won’t build up over time, making your home or workplace safer.

How to Clean High-Touch Surfaces

Here is a quick, step-by-step process to ensure that you clean and disinfect your high-touch surfaces efficiently:
Collect all the disinfectants, cleaning cloths, antibacterial wipes, and other needed products.

 

Dust First: Use a dry cloth to dust high-touch surfaces.
Pre-clean: Clean every high-touch surface with soap and water, focusing on removing any obvious dirt.
Apply Disinfectant: Apply your chosen disinfectant and ensure that you allow the disinfectant to contact for the contact time.
Dry the Surface: Use a clean towel to dry surfaces that require disinfection; if the disinfecting solution doesn’t form marks, let it air dry.

Safety Tips For Cleaning High-Touch Places

Even though sanitization and cleaning are effective in high-touch places, ensure they are done safely. Read the following safety considerations for doing the same thing, for example:
Use Goggles: When applying certain cleaning disinfectant drugs, wear gloves and protective eyeglass covers to ensure maximum protection and well-being.
Good Ventilation: Open windows or use fans to ensure the area is well-ventilated, mainly when strong disinfectants are used.
Wash Your Hands: Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds after cleaning high-touch surfaces. This removes any germs or chemical residues.

Effects of Cleaning High-Touch Surfaces on Your Health

High-touch surfaces can be cleaned and disinfected often to significantly reduce the chances of illness-causing germs spreading. This is very important in homes with children, the elderly, or people with a weakened immune system. Regularly cleaned high-touch surfaces help create a safer, healthier environment and may even prevent illness outbreaks in your home or workplace.

Key Takeaways

High-touch surfaces include doorknobs, light switches, and electronic devices, which tend to harbour germs.
High-touch surfaces should be cleaned with a cleaning step that removes dirt and a disinfecting step that kills germs.
Cleaning high-touch surfaces regularly can make a huge difference in maintaining a healthy living space.

Use approved disinfectants and safety precautions such as wearing gloves and ventilating the room for your health.
You know how to clean high-touch surfaces. Cease germs in their tracks and create a safer place for you and your loved ones. Don’t let germs win over; take over and hold on to these high-touch surfaces clean and disinfected.