Things You’re Forgetting To Sanitize

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Though the CDC says that the coronavirus is predominately spread person-to-person via droplets, they do say it is possible for someone to become infected by touching a surface where the virus has been, and then touching their face, indicating that the virus can survive on inanimate surfaces. Hopefully we’re all doing our best to social distance, wash our hands often, and use hand sanitizer when we’re in a position that restricts us from being able to wash our hands. Hopefully we’re all being conscious of when we’ve recently blown our noses or sneezed into our hands, and doing an extra-long, hot hand-wash after that. But even still, hopefully we are all sanitizing surfaces.

I never paid such close attention to all of the things we touch on a regular basis before now. I just watched that movie “Contagion” (which, by the way, if you haven’t seen it, is an exact replica of our current COVID-19 situation) and was acutely aware of who touched what. When Gwyneth Paltrow is coughing in the beginning, I think of the bowl of bar nuts she’s eaten from and the glass she’s touched and how the bartender and then dish washer will touch that same glass before touching other people’s glasses—hundreds of other customers’ dishes in that very day, perhaps.

As busy humans, we are incredible transmitters of disease. We’re always moving around and using and touching and lifting and eating and feeling things. And with a virus around now that can, perhaps, live on some surfaces for hours or days, we have to be extra cautious of what we touch, what we clean, and when we touch others or our faces related to when we’ve touched certain things. You’re probably covering the basics and the essentials, like refrigerator door handles, but what about the sneakier places? Here are things you’re probably forgetting to sanitize.

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Microwave door

If you’re making food in large batches to have leftovers right now—as many of us are—then you’re probably putting your microwave to work a lot when reheating said leftovers. In fact, your entire household is, so make sure to sanitize the microwave door handle and the buttons.

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Oven/stove knobs

There’s a lot of cooking at home going on right now, since many of us can’t afford to take restaurants up on all the takeout or delivery they’re offering (but if you do, tip your drivers and cashiers well—they need it!) If you have multiple people making multiple meals in your home each day, that’s a lot of hands touching the oven and stove controls. Clean those.

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Toilet flusher

The flusher on your toilet gets a lot of action, and sometimes, not from the cleanest of hands. People tend to flush the toilet before washing their hands, and right after putting their hands somewhere less-than-sanitary. Give that flusher a good wipe down a couple times a day if you can.

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Wallet

Though your wallet may not be getting too much action right now as you mostly stay indoors, whenever it does, it’s probably because you left the house and touched groceries or gas pump handles. Then you opened your wallet. Wipe down your wallet and even your frequently used credit cards.

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Your pets

Don’t forget to give Fido and Cupcake a wipe down. Everyone in the house is petting, kissing, and snuggling these pets for comfort right now. But you don’t know where else their hands have been. Invest in some antibacterial yet hypoallergenic wipes and wipe down your furry friends.

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Broom/mop handles

The very things you use to clean your house can also carry germs. You likely don’t wash your hands before grabbing your mop to clean up a mess. I bet nobody else in your house does, either, quickly turning those handles into little germ environments. Wipe them down.

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Spray bottle handles

Once again, the items you’re using to sanitize your home can carry germs. Use antibacterial wipes to clean off the handles for your bleach spray, windows spray, counter spray—you name it. If hands grab it to spray things, wipe it down. On that note, wipe down your soap dispensers.

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Sponges

It’s important to sanitize your sponges right now, since you run these over the plates containing the food that was touched by the forks that went in the mouths of your family. See how the chain of germs travels quickly? Mix one cup of hot water, ½ a cup of white vinegar, and three tablespoons of salt in a cup. Soak your sponges in there overnight.

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Spatulas

Between flipping pancakes, stirring sauces, tossing stir fry, scrambling eggs, and sautéing vegetables, your spatulas are seeing a lot of play. And while you and your loved ones hopefully wash your hands before cooking, you may handle things like raw eggs or meat while cooking, and then grab the spatulas.

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Washer/dryer handles

You’re throwing any clothes or linens that you think may have been exposed to the virus—or that are just getting grimy—in the washer and dryer on high temperatures. That’s good—that kills bacteria. But did you wash your hands before opening that dryer drawer or setting the washer? Clean off those handles and controls.

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Light switches

We touch light switches so many times a day between our various activities. And we don’t wash our hands before doing that. We touch light switches when walking in from a grocery store trip and before washing our hands. Clean off all your light switches. And don’t forget lamp switches.

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Throw blankets

Those cozy, decorative throw blankets you keep around on couches and chairs are comfortable. They’re also communal. And you don’t know if someone is doing a good job keeping her face off of these. Or if people are washing their hands before cozying up to these. Wash these often.

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Accent pillow covers

The covers on your couch accent pillows are also seeing a lot of play, and people do put their faces directly on these. And then you do the same. Either pull these for now, to minimize the chances of virus transfer, or wash their covers regularly. You could just buy a few cheap sets of covers so you can change them often, too.

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Trash bin lids

Trashcans are naturally nasty places. And, unless you have one of those fancy, automatic-opening trash cans, you have to touch the lid to open these. Remember that all sorts of things can fall on that lid when others empty plates and trash in there, and then you touch it.

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Curtain/blind rods/handles

The blinds go up, the blinds go down. The curtains open, the curtains close. This happens several times a day. Are you sure everyone is washing their hands before adjusting the shades? Or tying up those curtains? Make sure to wipe down the strings, rods, and handles that control these items.