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With COVID-19, I'm worried about my mother's health. I'm cleaning/disinfecting way more than I used to before ... but still have anxiety that what I'm doing is not enough.


What are your go-to cleaning/disinfecting products?
What does your cleaning/disinfecting routine look like?

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I may seem lax to some, but I use soap and water for hand cleaning and diluted bleach for surface cleaning. I have worked in food service for decades and diluted bleach is what is used in commercial kitchens for sanitizing, so that is what I use at home.

When out and about I use hand sanitizer.
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JoAnn29 Sep 2020
Working for nurses I found that 1 part bleach to 10 parts water is enough to disinfect. I had to clean returned medical equipment.
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Caringcara, each case is different depending on how many are in the household, if anyone work outside the home, if they are around people, etc.

It's just the two of us, so we pretty much just wash our hands with regular bar of soap numerous times a day, always when coming inside after running errands.... we use masks in the store and hand sanitizer in the car.

I use to do a lot more, like wiping down with Lysol wipes the car steering wheel, door handle and keys, but stopped doing that. We use grocery curb-side pickup [order on-line] and I use to spray down the grocery bags before unpacking, but stopped doing that, also. Now we just wash our hands after unloading groceries. So far so good.

Also keep some windows open to get fresh air, and with the cooler weather it is wonderful :)

When I was working at the office, I use to smell of Lysol because I used it so much. Would spray the whole office. Use Lysol wipes on the door handles, the counter tops, the coffee maker, the bathroom keys, the file draw handles, the TV remote, the computer keyboards, the Mouse, the telephones, etc. Whew.

Do what you feel is comfortable for you and your Mom. Don't exhaust yourself.
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Nayners24 Sep 2020
I too used to clean everything daily, but quickly realized it wasn't necessary. As someone else stated, unless there are a lot of people coming and going, you can use any disinfectant spray. For us, washing hands with soap and water at home is sufficient, although I do keep hand sanitizer around the house. I always use disinfectant to clean my bathroom, so that area isn't a problem. I use Lysol spray or a solution of Pine Sol and water to disinfect kitchen counters. So far, so good.
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If Mom is in her own home and there aren't people coming and going, I don't see where you need to clean constantly. I have a tube of Clorox wipes near by for wiping down my kitchen counters. I usually do this when I have brought in groceries from the outside. Having you and those entering her home wash their hands is a good idea. Even wearing a mask. If you want to wipe down the bathroom, clorox wipes are good. There is no way the virus can enter the home if there is no one to bring it in. I used to wipe down pkgs coming in but not so much now. But if u feel better doing it, do it.
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Ya know I have a lot of mirrors and a show once suggested 70% rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle to clean them.

Well guess what, it’s good for everything as far as disinfectant, your cellphone, counter tops etc. my daughter makes fun of me but it’s perfect and basic not full of chemicals. And of course my mirrors are sparkling and streak free! haha
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NeedHelpWithMom Sep 2020
And inexpensive too!
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Get a spray bottle, add 1/4 clorox bleach, 3/4 water. Use to kill germs, spray and wipe. A gallon of clorox will last and works better than any already bottled cleaning product I have tried. I got this recipe from a clean freak.
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DiamondAngel14 Sep 2020
Cap full of bleach is good for a gallon of water ...cap full...not cup
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While raising my family, I learned pretty early on, some simple cleaning tips that helped keep us healthy as well as prevent others from getting ill when one of us (usually the kids) got sick. Chlorox wipes for cleaning surfaces; plus I learned that it was kinder for my hands to wearing disposable gloves while cleaning. Also, start with the cleanest areas of the bathroom and work to the dirtiest. Washing the floors start with the kitchen, end with the bath. When done soak the mop in a water and bleach solution and hang to dry. To prevent illness when one person in the house isn't well, I would crack a window or two open, use Lysol spray in the bathroom after they were done using it, and use a small paper bag for the sick one to stash used kleenexes. The rest is really more about self-care. Eat nutritiously, a little extra Vitamin D, Vitamin C is helpful, good sleep, and fresh air/exercise/laughter everyday.
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I use Dawn for general cleaning...it can be used for so many things around the house. Windex is great to sanitize stainless surfaces, faucets, etc...However, my favorite is the “Wintergreen“ rubbing alcohol. It’s inexpensive and easy to use on doorknobs, etc... and smells fresh.
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Jasmine9 Sep 2020
Can you tell me more about "Wintergreen" rubbing alcohol. I have a mother on hospice, and I'm trying to keep things as clean as possible.................I have Dawn, but so far, usually usually it for cleaning dishes........once I tried to get a stain out of the rug with it.............however, left a bluish discoloration that I am washing to try to get out. Interesting that you use Windes to sanitize stainless steel surfaces.............I have it, but thought it was only a glass cleaner. Any information would be helpful...........thanks.
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I use Clorox wipes or Lysol Spray on most things. For my husbands wheelchair when he comes home from Dialysis I use a water and bleach solution. I clean the bathrooms with a hydrogen peroxide cleaner and Ajax. In the kitchen and bathroom I have antibacterial soap in a pump bottle and hand sanitizer. Also leave a hand sanitizer on my LO bedstand. I also leave some masks for my LO if any family stops by for a minute I put a mask on him.
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We wash hands with soap and water regularly and have used Dawn, white vinegar, rubbing alcohol and hydrogen peroxide in various combinations for cleaning different things. We were using these things pre COVID and continue to because other than the Dawn maybe, they are all natural disinfectants and kill bacteria. I can’t do bleach.
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Keep in mind ... you have to breathe in these cleaning products. Be careful.

Try to stick with the naturals or something mild. (not so harmful)
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