The coronavirus has sent many Americans home to ride this pandemic out. All the increased food preparation, laundry and cleaning puts family members — as well as houses and apartments — under increased stress.

Good household hygiene means cleaning and disinfecting the same areas you tackle in normal times. Pay attention to food preparation surfaces and other high-touch surfaces, including light switches, faucets, remote controls, doorknobs, refrigerator door and microwave handles, and your computer keyboard. You don’t need to panic-clean. Smart, targeted hygiene throughout the day and week is the best way to go.

HOW TO DISINFECT?

Before disinfecting, remove any visible dirt and grime; this will help the disinfectant do its job. It is recommend using tried-and-true disinfectants such as bleach (sodium hypochlorite), hydrogen peroxide (hydrogen peroxide expires six months after opening but can last up to three years unopened), grain alcohol (ethanol, found in beverages) and rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol. If you purchase any over-the-counter products that say “disinfectant” on the label, they are required to meet government specifications; to be sure that the product has met all government requirements for effectiveness, look for an EPA registration number on the label. You must follow the product label instructions exactly for the disinfectant to be effective. Look for any product that has an alcohol content of 60 percent or higher. 

WHAT TO USE IN KITCHEN?

If you don’t use a dishwasher, you’re likely to choose a kitchen sponge. But sponges are ideal breeding grounds for bacteria, given the amount of food residue that can stick on and inside the porous surfaces, and the numerous moist havens that lure the bugs and provide fertile ground for them to breed. “The sponge never really dries,” says Leslie Reichert, a green cleaning expert and author of Joy of Green Cleaning. “It’s the perfect environment for bacteria, you never totally rinse the food out of the sponge.”

The good news is that the bugs residing in these sponges aren’t generally the ones that can make you sick. Still, it’s possible that these disease-causing bugs were simply overwhelmed by the sheer number of other bugs; if researchers look hard enough, they would find them in some sponges.

 Brushes tend to stay drier when they’re not used, and they don’t have as many deep crevices as sponges where water and bacteria can grow. “You can stand brushes up, or put them in a caddy where they are likely to dry out,” says Carolyn Forte, director of the home appliances and cleaning products lab at Good Housekeeping Institute. “The material is not as porous as a sponge is, and if something is stuck to the brush, you can see that and rinse it out.” They’re also easy to clean; you should run them through the dishwasher once a week or so. Use a bamboo brush the best and sustainable cleaning.

HOW TO WASH DISHES BY HAND?

Prep – scrape off food, Fill – get some clean, hot, soapy water, Wash – scrub them, under the water, Rinse – wash off all suds and residue, Dry – air dry or towel dry

1. PREP

Scrape dishes to remove leftover food – use a rubber spatula or paper towel. For stuck-on foods, soak dishes/cookware before washing: add detergent or baking soda to the sink/dishpan (or soiled pot) and fill with hot water; soak for 15 to 30 minutes, then drain and proceed with Step 2.

TIP: never pour grease down the drain — it can cause a clog.

2. FILL

Fill sink or dishpan with clean, hot water. Add dish soap to the water (read the label for dosage; some concentrated dish detergents require a smaller amount). Stack a few dishes in the sink at a time – this allows a few minutes of soaking time while you work on washing.

TIP: Throughout the process, drain the water and start over if it becomes greasy, tool cool, or if suds disappear.

3. WASH

 Wash “in order,” starting with lightly soiled items. This usually includes glasses, cups, and flatware. Take your bamboo dishwash brush and start up. Wash these items first followed by plates/bowls and serving dishes. In general, dishes wash easily if you keep them under the water while scrubbing them; as you work, pull each dish out of the water to check for missed spots. End with cookware/pots and pans; if you soaked pans with baked-on foods, washing will be easier. Don’t forget to wash the bottom of the pan.

TIP: Be extra careful when handling kitchen knives! Don’t pile them in the sink; instead, wash them one by one and immediately place them handle-up in the drying rack (or flat to dry).

4. RINSE

Rinse suds and residue with clean hot water. Rinse by dipping in a rinsing sink or pan, passing under a stream or spray of hot water; or, by placing them in a drying rack and pouring or spraying water over them. If you have a double sink, use the second sink to rinse off washed dishes.

TIP: Be sure to rinse inside cups, bowls and glassware.

5. DRY

Air drying is easier than towel drying. However, wiping with a clean towel is helpful when glassware or flatware is spotted or filmed. Make sure the towel is clean, and change the towel when it becomes damp. Paper towels work well for drying pots and pans, especially if they contain traces of grease.

TIP: Remember to clean up when you’re done. It’ll make tomorrow’s task easier! Rinse and wipe down the sink, dish drainer, and dishpan. Rags, dish cloths, and sponges should be left out to air dry, or laundered in the washing machine. Remember to replace sponges and rags frequently.

WHY USE A BAMBOO SCRUBBER? 

 This ecofworld pot biodegradable scrubber has 3 pieces Bamboo Dish Brushes, enough quantity for your daily cleaning. These bamboo scrubbers are not only used for dishwashing but also for daily household cleaning. These household cleaning brushes can be applied for various occasions, such as cleaning your dishes, pots, pans, bowls, sink, stoves, kitchen utensils, also nice for cleaning bathroom, countertop, wall, floor, window and so on, a nice helper in your daily life. The following are some feature of bamboo vegetable brush:

• DURABLE MATERIAL: These mini pot scrubbers are made of coconut sisal and bamboo, safe to clean cookware and tableware, can be applied for a long time.
• ERGONOMIC HANDLE DESIGN: The bamboo scrub brush features a sleek groove in the middle part, fits comfortably in your hand, makes it easy to apply pressure for tough scrubbing, lightweight and portable to hold and control, good assistant for your daily household cleaning. Also, the round shape design combining good fiber bristles helps to reach corners and crevices, it is flexible to handle heavy cleaning work and no worry about hurting the coating of your pots or pans.
• HEAT RESISTANT: Not easy to deform: these cleaning scrub brushes feature heat resisting, they are safe to use in boiling water and no easy to deform, good helpers for cleaning bowls, baking trays, pots, pans, cans, food storage containers and vegetables, basic tools in daily life.
• WIDE USAGES: These practical scrub brushes can be applied in kitchen, bathroom, laundry room and garage, also can clean floors, showers, tile, toilets, carpet, upholstery, counter-tops, sinks, bathtubs and stove tops.
• PLASTIC FREE PACKAGING: Don’t let your efforts to help the environment go to waste by purchasing reusable scrubbers that are packaged in harmful plastic. Unlike the competition – we make sure to only use eco-friendly Hemp Fiber bag in our packaging.