Cleaning after having a Sick Child

29 Jun Cleaning after having a Sick Child

Use Disinfectants

Cleaning after having a sick child is an important step in keeping the rest of the family healthy.  Disinfectants are products that kill microorganisms on surfaces such as countertops. Bleach, alcohol, quaternary ammonium chlorides, phenolic compounds, pine oil, and hydrogen peroxide can be used as disinfectants.

Findings from a study conducted by the University of Minnesota indicated that the most effective cleaners for reducing microbial contamination in the bathroom and kitchen were chlorine-based cleaner, vinegar, and pine disinfectant cleaner. Use any of these products to disinfect after an illness. A spray bottle filled with white vinegar is one of the more environmentally friendly and economical disinfectants.

Get High Traffic Areas First

In your living room, great room, and all other areas frequented by the sick person keep in mind places your hand’s touch- doorknobs, light switches, remote controls, and computer keypads. For items that are less likely to be harmed by getting a little wet, spray on a fine mist of disinfectant and leave it without wiping. For more sensitive electronic items, spray disinfectant on a cloth and wipe.

The Kitchen

In the kitchen think about areas hands touch. Again, clean the light switches, doorknobs, the refrigerator door handle, and all other places of hand contact. Don’t forget the coffee maker and the buttons on your microwave. Make sure all dishes are thoroughly dry before putting them away after washing either in the dishwasher or in hot soapy water.

Don’t Forget Bedding

Change the sheets as soon as someone’s well again and wash them with hot water. If you’re going through a particularly tough round of sickness and you feel too weak to change sheets, changing the pillowcases is a good temporary solution until you feel well enough to go all out and change everything. Thoroughly dust and vacuum (this goes for every room of the house). Leave your pillows in the sun for natural disinfecting.

Clothes and Linens

All clothes and bed linens from the sick person should be washed with the hottest water possible. If there have been vomiting issues, be sure to wash those items separately with bleach, if the items can be bleached, or with non-chlorine bleach. Non-chlorine bleach, containing hydrogen peroxide will also kill bacteria in the laundry. Dry on the hottest possible setting as well.

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