In an apartment, it can be tough to stop the spread of germs.
Shared, confined, living spaces allow viruses to thrive. Enclosed areas allow bacteria to blossom unless they’re dealt with using disinfectants.
To stay healthy this summer, take these steps to keep your apartment as germ-free as possible:
Cover sneezes and coughs
Be considerate to those around you and remember to cough or sneeze into your arm. Viruses are spread easily by respiratory droplets. If you or a roommate is coughing excessively, it is advisable to wear a mask – this will prevent germs from entering the air.
Isolate sick household members to one room
If your space allows for it, confine any sick roommates to a single room. Quarantining sick people will prevent them from spreading their virus throughout the apartment. By reducing contact, you’ll reduce your chances of getting sick. Use separate bathrooms if possible.
Practice a healthy lifestyle
Staying healthy is the best preventative method to avoid getting sick. Stop germs from entering your apartment in the first place by maintaining a balanced and healthy lifestyle. That way, even if you get sick, you’ll stand the best fighting chance against it.
Use green cleaning products
Beware of the harmful effects of hazardous products. The chemicals that you are using to clean may have adverse consequences for the environment and your health. Avoid unwanted pollutants by choosing environmentally friendly products.
Don’t share cutlery and dishes
Separate your kitchenware from other household members to reduce the spread of germs. Sharing can be useful and cost-effective, but it’s also one way for germs to spread easily. Keep your apartment clean by designating specific dishes to each person, preventing cross-contamination.
Frequently wash your hands
Stop outside germs from entering your home by washing your hands frequently. Whenever you enter or exit your apartment, wash your hands with hot soap and water to reduce the spread of flu-causing viruses.
Avoid touching your face
Germs enter your body through areas like the mouth, nose, and eyes – that’s why it’s important to avoid touching your face. If you have to, make sure to clean your hands thoroughly before and after doing so.
Clean often
It might seem obvious, but consistent cleaning is the best way to prevent the spread of germs. Cleaning does more than benefit your apartment – it also benefits your body, too. . Keeping your apartment clean will reduce germs and the stress of living in a messy space.
Stay up-to-date on vaccinations
Cold and flu season is no joke. One of the best ways to prevent the spread of germs is by receiving your flu shot each year. The vaccine changes year-to-year, so stay current on flu shots to prevent germs from entering your body, and your apartment. If you live with others, it’s a good idea to encourage them to get flu shots, too. And take your temperature often!
Clean high-touch surfaces often
Some areas of your apartment see more use than others – places like door handles, handrails, countertops, light switches, and tables. Any common-use items are breeding grounds for bacteria. It’s important to keep frequently touched areas clean because these areas are where germs are most concentrated.
Use a disinfectant
There’s a difference between cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting – the latter is the only way to kill viruses that cause diseases like COVID-19. To disinfect your apartment, choose products that contain at least 70% alcohol. Other options are a bleach solution, chlorine, or hydrogen peroxide.
Dispose of used tissues immediately
Rather than letting tissues pile up on your nightstand, put them in the garbage immediately. Leaving them exposed will allow the germs to spread through your apartment, so be sure to change the garbage often to get rid of any unwanted viruses.
Open the windows. A cross-breeze will allow for better ventilation in your apartment. As long as the weather is permitting, open some windows to allow outdoor air to enter your apartment. Not only will it smell fresher, but it’ll help flush out germs that are hanging in the air.
Wash your bed sheets
Germs can stay on linens for weeks; wash your sheets often to reduce the chances of catching a bug. If not, you risk getting sick just by sleeping in your bed at night. Think about how much time you spend sleeping – is that a place you want germs to hide? Prevent this problem by doing laundry every week.
It can be challenging to sanitize small, shared, living spaces like apartments – but it’s all the more important in the face of a pandemic. To keep you and your roommates safe, follow the suggested guidelines to reduce the spread of germs in your apartment. It will help your space look better and you’ll feel better for it, too.
