Keep It Clean and Stay Healthy – Tips for Sanitizing Your Space

Image of person cleaning a door handle
Wiping down doorknobs, car steering wheels and your tech are just a few things you can do to stay safe and healthy. (iStock / Getty Images Plus)

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Aug. 28, 2020) Cleaning is not anyone’s favorite chore, but never has it been more important than during a pandemic. Regularly cleaning and sanitizing your dorm, apartment and car can keep you and your roommates safe and healthy.

1. Sanitize your tech. We touch our phones, laptops, and tablets hundreds of times each day. Use isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) on a paper towel and wipe down your gear. Be sure to remove any protective cases to give your devices an extra thorough cleaning. If you’re unsure how to clean something, check the manufacturer’s recommendations.

2. Wipe down high-touch surfaces. We’re all pretty wary of door handles, elevator buttons and stair handrails, but there are other surfaces we touch without thinking about. In your dorm or apartment, use a disinfecting wipe on areas such as light switches, refrigerator door handles and sink and toilet handles. The most commonly-touched but least-commonly cleaned surface in your home is your TV remote. In your car, wipe down your steering wheel and door handles, especially after coming out of a crowded store.

3. Be careful with cleaning products. Always check the labels on your cleaning products before using them. Never mix products that contain bleach with products that contain ammonia - it can have a potentially deadly result. Turn on a fan or open a window and use gloves and eye protection when working with chemical cleaners.

4. Never skip laundry day. Wash your clothes, towels and bed linens on the warmest possible setting to ensure a thorough cleaning. Towels should be washed after no more than three uses and bedsheets should be washed once a week.

5. No Lysol? No problem. It can be hard to find the right cleaning products right now, but you can make your own. The CDC offers guidance on how to make a diluted bleach solution that can be used on a number of surfaces. Just be sure to follow safety guidelines when mixing.