Combating COVID-19 (Coronavirus) in Your Home

Like many of your fellow Iowans, you probably have concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic that is sweeping the world. At the moment that this blog was written, there are nearly 900,000 cases worldwide and almost 200,000 cases in the United States alone. The COVID-19 pandemic has created an unprecedented impact on businesses, the economy, and our daily lives. While cities around the country go into mandated lockdowns and the large majority of the population practices social distancing, it has allowed us to spend more time in our homes than most of us ever could have ever imagined (small wins!). Although the shelter-in-place and stay-at-home orders help drastically reduce your odds of contracting the coronavirus, it certainly does not make you or anybody you live with immune to it. Here are some things you can do to help keep your home as safe from COVID-19 as possible.

Cleaning & Disinfecting Surfaces

One of the most prominent ways that COVID-19 spread is through contacting surfaces that have the virus on them. A daunting thing about this virus is that it can survive for hours to days on a variety of surfaces, which highly increases the chances of someone contracting it. Simply cleaning a surface is not good enough when it comes to keeping yourself safe. These are some things to keep in mind as you wipe down surfaces.

Use Real Disinfectants

Getting a rag wet with warm water and adding soap to it will not help you out when it comes to disinfecting surfaces. Make sure you use EPA certified disinfectants that are meant to combat viruses and diseases. Attempting to make your own concoction with cleaners can cause severe damage to both your home and your health. You can view the EPA’s disinfectant list here.

Clean Surfaces Thoroughly

Not only is it important to use proper disinfectants when cleaning the surfaces in and around your home, it’s a necessity that you take a methodical approach to doing it. Make sure to thoroughly disinfect areas where people commonly touch (doorknobs, light switches, handrails) and horizontal surfaces, such as tables and countertops.

Optimize Your Indoor Air Quality

The other way that coronavirus spreads from person-to-person is through airborne particles that are discharged when someone coughs or sneezes. Once those microscopic airborne particles are inhaled, you are at risk of being infected. The best way to reduce the potential of airborne droplets infecting you or your family is to make sure that your indoor air quality is top-notch. We strongly recommend the use of a REME Halo Ionized Hydro-Peroxide Air Purifier to get the most out of your indoor air quality. You can also take other precautions such as replacing your air filter and having your air ducts cleaned will greatly decrease the odds of the virus spreading within your home. 

Minimize Foot Traffic Through Your Home

With the state of Iowa having over 500 confirmed cases of COVID-19 at the moment, we are fortunate enough to be on the lower end of cases in the United States. However, that does not make us any less susceptible to contracting the virus from a neighbor, friend, or family member. If you are not already doing so, we strongly suggest that you follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendations for protecting yourself from the disease. The stronger that we implement social distancing and staying home in this stage of the pandemic, the better our odds are of flattening the curve sooner.

Contact Us About Indoor Air Quality During & After COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic is unfortunately only in its early stages. As much as we would like to all see this pandemic come to an end in the next two weeks, that is highly unlikely with the way things are trending. During this time, we are more than happy to help you and your family out with any indoor air quality, heating & cooling, and home remodeling needs that you might need to be addressed. Get in contact with our team today to see how we can help you out!