Coronavirus: Dyson’s microbiologist reveals how to keep your home clean and sanitary during COVID-19

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Vacuuming both sides of the mattress, washing bedding at 60 degrees Celsius, and wiping the walls with a damp cloth once a week will keep your home air pure and clean in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, according to an experienced microbiologist.

Gem McLuckie is an advanced scientific researcher at Dyson, the iconic tech company that makes appliances like vacuum cleaners, hand dryers, hair dryers, and air purifiers.

Ms. McLuckie created a weekly home cleaning plan that specifically improves air purity by reducing dust, fungus, and dead skin particles that are known to trigger and exacerbate many respiratory conditions.

COVID-19 is part of a large family of coronaviruses that cause respiratory infections, and since we now spend more time at home than ever, it is important to increase your cleaning regimen to reduce your chances of contracting the nasty virus.

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Experts say vacuuming both sides of the mattress to remove dust, allergens, and dead skin flakes will keep your home's air clean and clean amid the pandemic (stock image)

Experts say vacuuming both sides of the mattress to remove dust, allergens, and dead skin flakes will keep your home’s air clean and clean amid the pandemic (stock image)

MONDAY

Bedding should be removed and machine washed at 60 ° C on Mondays to remove dust, allergens and any other microbes that have accumulated in the past week.

Sydney virologist Sacha Stelzer-Braid previously told Daily Mail Australia that washing or drying at temperatures above 56 ° C kills all traces of COVID-19 on clothing, cushions, and Doonas.

56 degrees Celsius is the temperature at which the new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) specifically breaks down, according to a recent study by the US National Library of Medicine. USA

Dr. Stelzer-Braid, who studies infectious disease transmission at the University of New South Wales, said cleaning clothes on a regular cycle will cause the virus to disintegrate and die, meaning it is unlikely to contract the coronavirus from soft fabrics if you simply wash loads as usual.

While washing bedding, both sides of the mattress should be vacuumed to remove dust mites, fungi and dead skin particles that can aggravate respiratory conditions such as asthma and cause infections such as bronchitis when inhaled after night. night.

A Dyson-approved cleaning plan

Dyson microbiologist Gem McLuckie created a weekly cleaning plan

Dyson microbiologist Gem McLuckie created a weekly cleaning plan

MONDAY

· Wash bedding in a 60 ° C or 90 ° C wash to help break down and reduce allergens.

· Wash or replace duvets and pillows to reduce the amount of dust mites and skin flakes on your bed.

Vacuum both sides of the mattress to remove dust mites and scales from the skin.

TUESDAY

· Remove dust from the top of kitchen cabinets, using a vacuum cleaner with an advanced filtration system or dusting with a clean damp cloth or cleaning wipes.

· Clean kitchen counters and cabinets to clean thoroughly. Vacuum to remove dust and dirt, then wash with warm water and detergent. Follow up by drying all surfaces.

· Empty the refrigerator and freezer, and clean all surfaces with warm water and detergent or cleaning product. Vacuum around the back and under the refrigerator and freezer, not forgetting the cooler item on the back, as this will improve performance.

WEDNESDAY

· Vacuum places that are not regularly vacuumed, such as under furniture.

· Vacuum your sofa and armchairs, which can harbor large debris along with dust mites, skin flakes, and other allergens like pollen. Wash the linings and cushions to reduce the level of dust trapped inside them.

THURSDAY

· A lot of dust can accumulate on curtains and blinds. Be sure to vacuum them with a soft brush tool or wash them if possible and practical.

· Remove dust from the walls by dusting with a damp cloth, cleaning wipes or using a vacuum cleaner with advanced filtration. Dust on certain types of walls can contribute to mold growth.

FRIDAY

· Dust lights and lighting accessories. Dust can build up on lampshades and lighting fixtures that can burn hot VOC and odor bulbs, and can be moved around the room by the production of hot air around the bulbs.

· Dust behind radiators – a hidden place that is often lost during normal cleaning. Dust collects behind the radiator and can be distributed around the room by the air flow produced by the hot air from the radiator.

Source: Dyson Australia

TUESDAY

Kitchen countertops and cabinets should be dusted and cleaned ‘deep’ on Tuesdays to remove any viruses or bacteria that have been transferred from food, packaging, or air.

What does a microbiologist do?

Microbiologists are scientists who study microscopic organisms that cause infections, including viruses, bacteria, fungi, and algae.

Cabinet lids and the inside of presses should be vacuumed to remove loose debris and then cleaned with soap and warm water.

Surfaces must be completely dried to prevent mold growth. Mold can grow on any material when moisture is present.

Refrigerators and freezers should be carefully emptied and cleaned with soap and warm water or cleaning spray, taking care to focus on common “touch points”, such as door handles and the plastic vegetable drawer at the bottom of the refrigerator .

COVID-19 has been shown to survive on hard surfaces such as glass, plastic, and stainless steel for up to 72 hours. Hard, shiny materials are not porous, meaning that water, air, and steam cannot pass, but rather rest and accumulate on the surface.

How soap destroys SARS-CoV-2

Most viruses consist of three basic components: ribonucleic acid (RNA), proteins, and lipids.

The fat-like substances in soap ‘loosen’ the connections between these three basic components, breaking them and ‘killing’ the virus, or rendering it inactive.

Simply washing with water is not strong enough to loosen the connections, so soap is such a useful protector.

WEDNESDAY

Hard-to-reach spaces under couches and behind refrigerators, where large amounts of germs and debris accumulate, should be vacuumed on Wednesdays.

Vacuuming couches and sofas is also a good practice to remove dust mites and dead skin cells that may have curled up on upholstery.

Soft furniture like cushion covers and covers should be washed at over 56 degrees Celsius to remove all traces of viruses and bacteria.

Researchers from the World Economic Forum have discovered that the coronavirus can live up to 24 hours in soft, porous fabrics.

Hard-to-reach spaces under couches and behind refrigerators, where large amounts of germs and debris must be vacuumed once a week (stock image)

Hard-to-reach spaces under couches and behind refrigerators, where large amounts of germs and debris must be vacuumed once a week (stock image)

THURSDAY

Curtains and blinds should be brushed or vacuumed on Thursdays to remove dust and airborne germs that have settled there.

The walls should be sprinkled with a damp cloth or antibacterial cleaning wipes to remove particles that promote mold growth, which, as discussed above, causes and exacerbates respiratory infections.

The walls can also be vacuumed with any device that has an advanced filtration system, such as the new Dyson V11 Outsize.

The vacuum has a built-in digital motor that drives the stiff nylon bristles on the carpet to remove ingrained dirt and carbon fiber filaments that capture and collect fine dust that other machines lose on hard surfaces like hardwood walls and floors.

Walls should be dusted with a damp cloth or antibacterial cleaning wipes to remove dust particles that stimulate mold growth, causing and exacerbating respiratory infections (file image)

Walls should be dusted with a damp cloth or antibacterial cleaning wipes to remove dust particles that stimulate mold growth, causing and exacerbating respiratory infections (file image)

FRIDAY

Lights, lamp shades, and radiators should be thoroughly cleaned on Fridays to improve the purity of the air circulating throughout the home.

The hot air generated by electricity carries large amounts of dust that collects behind radiators and on top of lamps.

The backs of televisions, which are often lost during standard cleaning, also need to be cleaned and dusted.

HOW MUCH CAN COVID-19 SURVIVE ON SURFACES?

In the air: Infectious disease researchers have found that COVID-19 remains infectious in air-contaminated respiratory droplets for at least three hours, however, they have not determined whether humans produce enough disease in a single cough or sneeze to infect another person. .

On soft and porous surfaces: COVID-19 can survive on porous surfaces like cardboard, paper, clothing, and soft furniture like pillows and Doonas for up to 24 hours. Porous surfaces allow air and water to pass through, making it much less likely to contain infectious volumes of the virus compared to non-porous objects such as door handles, faucets, and phone covers.

On hard and shiny surfaces: COVID-19 has been shown to remain active on hard surfaces such as glass, plastic, and stainless steel for up to 72 hours. Glossy, hard materials are not porous, meaning water, air, and steam cannot pass through and instead rest and accumulate on the surface.

World Economic Forum researchers have confirmed that the virus degrades over time, reducing the likelihood of infection as the longest contaminated droplets have settled on a surface, but you should still avoid touching handles, buttons, and other objects in spaces. public. If unavoidable, you should avoid touching your face until you have thoroughly washed your hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds.

Frequently touched household surfaces, such as faucets, door handles, computer keyboards, and toilets, should be cleaned with bleach or alcoholic solutions of at least 70 percent alcohol.

In the hair: There is no evidence to suggest that the coronavirus can be transported in tufts of beards or facial hair.

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