Mountain Pacific Blog

The repeated advice for avoiding the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has been to practice good hand hygiene. Simply: wash your hands a lot. But what about when it comes to your “stuff?” Is COVID-19 on your clothes? Your cell phone? A counter? A doorknob? The answer is – it certainly could be. So here’s what you should do.

How long can the new coronavirus last on surfaces?

A new study found the virus can stay on surfaces for several hours and maybe even days, including up to 24 hours on cardboard and two to three days on plastic and stainless steel. This means you could get sick by touching contaminated objects and surfaces and then touching your face.

How can you clean surfaces to get rid of the virus?

First, it’s important to note there is a difference between cleaning and disinfecting.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cleaning gets rid of germs, but it doesn’t kill them. Cleaning does lower your risk of spreading infection. However, what you really want to do to further lower your risk is kill the germs. How?

1. Put on some gloves. If you think the virus may be present (for example, someone in your home is sick), wear disposable gloves so you can throw them away when you’re done. If you use reusable gloves, only use them for cleaning and disinfecting surfaces for COVID-19 and do not use them for any other household cleaning purposes.
2. Clean surfaces before disinfecting them. If a counter or other surface is visibly dirty, get rid of any dirt or grime with soap and water or a detergent.
3. Use a disinfecting cleaning product. The active ingredient in bleach (sodium hypochlorite) seems to be effective in killing the virus. Using a diluted household bleach can destroy the virus’ protein. However, be careful. Bleach can damage some surfaces. Many household disinfectants are also effective against the new coronavirus. Follow the directions on the label to ensure you’re safely and correctly using the product.
4. Focus on high-touch surfaces. These include doorknobs, light switches, tables, countertops, desks, toilets, faucets, sinks, remotes and keyboards. If you are cleaning toys, rinse them with water after the disinfectant has dried before giving them back to children.
5. Wash your hands. Even if you wear gloves while cleaning and disinfecting, immediately wash your hands after you are done (removing the gloves first, of course!). Use soap and water for 20 seconds.

What about laundry?

It is possible the virus can live on clothes, towels and sheets. Again, if someone in your house is sick, wear gloves while handling the laundry. Follow the directions on the tag, using the warmest temperature of water you can. Dry everything completely. You don’t have to worry about separating clothes if someone in your house is sick. Everything can still be washed together. However, if infected clothes were in a hamper, be sure to disinfect it using the instructions for cleaning and disinfecting surfaces.

What about cell phones?

According to Apple, it’s ok to clean your phone with a disinfecting wipe, if you’re gentle. Harsh chemicals can wear down covers and coatings. Do not use bleach and try not to get liquid into any openings or ports. Some experts recommend wiping down your phone daily.

Can you get sick from your mail?

Probably not. The CDC says anything shipped typically takes at least a couple days to arrive in your mailbox. The new coronavirus won’t survive the trip, making your risk of infection very low.

For more tips and information about how to clean and disinfect against COVID-19, visit the CDC website. You can also learn more my visiting the CDC’s webpage with COVID-19 frequently asked questions.

Read our other COVID-19-related articles for more information on this topic:

• Four Ways to Help Prevent the Spread of COVID-19
• Coping with Stress during the COVID-19 Outbreak
• The Mental Health of Health Care Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic
• Alcohol Awareness Month: Battling Alcoholism during COVID-19
• Watch Out for Scams during the COVID-19 Pandemic
• Your Pharmacy Is Still Here for You

This information is brought to you by Mountain-Pacific Quality Health, the Medicare Quality Innovation Network-Quality Improvement Organization (QIN-QIO) for Montana, Wyoming, Alaska, Hawaii and the U.S. Pacific Territories of Guam and American Samoa and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, under contract with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Contents presented do not necessarily reflect CMS policy.
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