In today’s world, cleanliness is more than just about having a tidy home—it’s about maintaining a safe and healthy living environment. High-touch surfaces, like doorknobs, light switches, countertops, and mobile devices, are hotspots for germs and bacteria. These surfaces often accumulate dirt and microorganisms, especially in busy households with kids, pets, or regular visitors. Regularly cleaning and sanitizing these areas helps prevent the spread of germs and ensures that your home stays safe for everyone.
In this blog post, we’ll guide you through safe and effective methods for cleaning and sanitizing high-touch surfaces. With a bit of care and the right techniques, you can maintain a spotless home that also safeguards your family's health. Let’s get started!
Understanding High-Touch Surfaces
High-touch surfaces are areas that are frequently handled throughout the day. Think of all the objects you touch regularly, sometimes without even realizing it. These can include:
Doorknobs and handles
Light switches
Faucets and sink handles
Remote controls
Tabletops and counters
Handrails
Phones, tablets, and other tech devices
Cabinet and drawer handles
Toilet flush handles
These surfaces are prime spots for the transmission of bacteria, viruses, and allergens. Simply touching these areas and then touching your face can spread germs. That’s why regularly cleaning and sanitizing these surfaces is so important.
Cleaning vs. Sanitizing vs. Disinfecting: What's the Difference?
Before diving into the cleaning process, it’s essential to know the difference between cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting.
Cleaning involves removing dirt, dust, and debris from surfaces. This process doesn’t necessarily kill germs, but it reduces their numbers and lowers the risk of spreading infections.
Sanitizing lowers the number of germs on surfaces to a safe level, as determined by public health standards. Sanitizing can be achieved using a cleaner that kills germs or using high heat (like in a dishwasher).
Disinfecting kills most of the germs on surfaces. This process uses chemicals like bleach or alcohol to kill bacteria, viruses, and fungi on hard surfaces. Disinfection is particularly important for preventing the spread of infectious diseases.
Each step plays a role in keeping your home safe, but for high-touch surfaces, you’ll want to focus on both cleaning and sanitizing/disinfecting for the best results.
Step-by-Step Guide to Cleaning and Sanitizing High-Touch Surfaces
Gather Your Supplies
First, make sure you have the necessary cleaning products and tools:
Soap and water for basic cleaning
Microfiber cloths or disposable paper towels
Sanitizing spray or wipes with at least 70% alcohol content
Disinfecting solutions (bleach or hydrogen peroxide) if needed for deeper cleaning
Rubber gloves to protect your hands
Trash bags for disposing of used wipes or paper towels
For cleaning electronics, you’ll also need special wipes or sprays designed for tech devices to avoid damage.
Start with Cleaning
Before you sanitize or disinfect, it’s important to clean off any visible dirt, grime, or debris. Using a damp microfiber cloth and a bit of soap, gently wipe down each high-touch surface. Microfiber cloths are especially effective for this because they capture particles, bacteria, and viruses without scratching surfaces.
For larger surfaces like countertops or tables, use a general-purpose cleaner. For smaller areas, like light switches or doorknobs, a damp cloth with soap will do the trick.
3. Time to Sanitize
Once the surfaces are clean, you can sanitize them. Sanitizing sprays or wipes are widely available and can be used on most hard surfaces. Pay extra attention to areas like doorknobs, remote controls, and light switches, as these are touched many times throughout the day.
Make sure to read the label on your sanitizing product and follow the instructions carefully. Some products need to remain on the surface for a specific period to effectively kill germs. Let the surface air dry to ensure that the solution has time to work.
4. Disinfect If Necessary
For areas that need a deeper clean, such as kitchen counters or bathroom fixtures, you might want to use a disinfectant. This is especially important if someone in your household is sick or if you’re cleaning up after handling raw meat or other potentially harmful substances.
Bleach or hydrogen peroxide are common disinfectants, but make sure to follow the instructions on the product. Some disinfectants need to be diluted with water, and certain surfaces may require extra care to avoid damage.
When using bleach, mix one tablespoon of bleach in a gallon of water, and use it to wipe down surfaces. Let the solution sit for about 10 minutes before wiping it off with a clean cloth. Be sure to wear gloves and ventilate the room while disinfecting to avoid breathing in fumes.
5. Don’t Forget Electronics
Your phone, tablet, and other electronic devices are likely among the most touched items in your home. Since these can be damaged by liquids, it’s important to clean them safely. Use a microfiber cloth slightly dampened with water and soap, or choose wipes that are specifically designed for electronics. Avoid spraying any liquid directly onto the device.
If you’re using an alcohol-based sanitizer on electronics, ensure it contains at least 70% alcohol and apply it carefully to avoid moisture entering the device’s ports.
Tips for Maintaining a Clean and Safe Home
Create a Cleaning Routine: Regularly cleaning and sanitizing high-touch surfaces can feel overwhelming, so it helps to develop a daily or weekly cleaning schedule. Focus on sanitizing the most-touched areas daily and leave deeper cleaning for once or twice a week.
Use the Right Tools: Microfiber cloths are great for cleaning because they trap dirt and germs, reducing the risk of spreading bacteria from one surface to another. You can also use disposable paper towels for convenience, especially when sanitizing bathroom fixtures or kitchen counters.
Stay Safe with Cleaning Products: Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for any cleaning or disinfecting products. Wear gloves if necessary, ventilate the area, and never mix cleaning products unless the label specifically says it’s safe to do so.
Encourage Good Hygiene Habits: One of the best ways to keep germs at bay is to ensure everyone in your household is practicing good hygiene. Encourage frequent handwashing, especially after using the bathroom, preparing food, or coming home from public places.
Delegate When Needed: If you find it challenging to keep up with cleaning and sanitizing all the high-touch surfaces in your home, consider outsourcing the job to a professional cleaning service like Premium Clean.
Get Professional Help from Premium Clean
Maintaining a clean and healthy home is vital, but we understand that life gets busy. Whether you need a one-time deep clean or regular cleaning services, Premium Clean is here to help. We specialize in residential cleaning and can ensure that your high-touch surfaces and the rest of your home are spotless and sanitized.
Ready to enjoy a cleaner, safer home? Get started with a free online quote from Premium Clean today and let us take the hassle out of your cleaning routine. Your family’s health and comfort are our top priority!
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