As the lockdown in the UK begins to ease, our thoughts are beginning to turn to social gatherings again. As much as we can’t wait to have our family and friends around again, Maid App thinks it is wise to proceed with a little caution, and make sure your home is as clean and germ-free as possible before they arrive. And even more so when they leave.

So, let’s take a closer look at how to clean and sanitise your home before and after your first gathering with family and friends after lockdown eases.

How to disinfect your home properly

Due to the global health crisis, house cleaning in general has been taken to a new level in recent months. So, just dusting here and there, and quickly running the vacuum over the place just won’t do anymore. You will need to use antibacterial detergents and proper disinfectants so that both you and your visitors feel safer in your home.

If this sounds like too much hassle, let’s not forget that for your elderly relatives this may be the first time they have been out for months of self-isolation, so you want to make sure they are safe. You can always download our app to find a maid service near you to help.

What should you use to sanitise surfaces?

Each individual bacteria and virus will have different lifespans on different surfaces, and so will need different cleaning fluids to get rid of them, depending on the structure and type of their pathogen. However, strong substances such as alcohol-based solutions and bleach will kill most types of germs.

The easiest way to kill germs on kitchen surfaces is to fill a spray bottle with your chosen disinfectant, spray and wipe – whereas for floors a traditional mop and bucket works better.

• Alcohol. A 60 to 70% alcohol-based disinfectant should be used for surfaces that are touched frequently, such as door handles, work surfaces, taps and so on. Alcohol has been proven to be especially effective against cross-contamination.
• Bleach. A bleach solution, mixed with water, should be used to clean bathroom fixtures and floors
• Hydrogen Peroxide. You can use a 3% solution can be used neat, and again works as a great disinfectant on high-touch surfaces such as countertops and furniture

Now that we have talked about what you can use to sanitise your surfaces, let’s take a closer look at how to sanitise them properly.

1. The first thing you need to do is to get rid of any dust or other foreign particles, by wiping them with a cloth that has been soaked in hot water and soap or sprayed with the relevant detergent.
2. Grab your spray bottle of disinfectant and holding it 20cms away from the surface spray until the surface is covered in a fine mist
3. Make sure you keep the room well ventilated, if you are using bleach as a disinfectant

How to sanitise your Kitchen

If you have friends and family coming round, it is highly likely you are going to be offering them some food and beverages – so it is really important that your kitchen is thoroughly cleaned to avoid any build-up of bacteria and germs.

This means you should clean and disinfect the following areas on a daily basis (preferably before AND after each use):

• Appliances. Sanitise your fridge, microwave and oven well, as your guests won’t feel comfortable eating food that was prepared in a messy looking space
• Countertops. Clean with a cloth soaked in hot water and detergent and follow it by spraying with a disinfectant of your choice
• Cutting boards. You can clean plastic and wooden boards in exactly the same way – by washing very thoroughly with soap and hot water. If your chopping board is very old, with lots of cuts on it, then either sand it back (if it is wood) or get rid of it as germs will grow and multiply in these cuts
• Floor. Vacuum it thoroughly and then mop it with bleach. Also ask your visitors to take off their shoes at the front door.
• High touch surfaces. All of the areas within your home that are touched frequently – such as door handles, taps, window handles, bannister rails and so on, should be wiped with a cloth dipped in disinfectant regularly

Some other things you might want to think about include replacing your sponges and dishcloths with new ones more often, changing your tea towels at least once a week, and always washing your hands before and after prepping food. You may also want to keep a pack of disinfectant wipes handy to help you keep on top of things in between deeper cleans.

The other important place in your home to sanitise before your guests arrive is the bathroom.

How to sanitise your bathroom

Bathrooms are the most common place in the home to find bacteria and mould, especially if they are not cleaned and ventilated on a regular basis, as they tend to be damp and humid places at the best of times.

When it comes to visits from family and friends, they will no doubt want to visit the bathroom at least once.

So, make sure you make the right impression, by safely disinfecting every surface in there, before and after their visit.

You should pay special attention to:

• Bath towels. Have a fresh one for guests and then wash it after they have left
• Floor. Bleach the entire floor, paying special attention to the area behind the toilet
• Sink. Clean it and then spray with a disinfectant
• Toilet. Clean and disinfect the exterior, paying particular attention to the handle. Then finish off by popping some toilet cleaner in the bowl.

Once lockdown is lifted and you have a set date for inviting your family back to your home, why not search our free Maid App to find cleaners near me who can help you prepare your property for that long awaited first visit?