Cleaning and Disinfecting Tips to Keep Your Home Virus-Free

We are experiencing unprecedented times, and taking extra precautions to protect our families at home. While keeping your family safe, it is important to ensure you are effectively using cleaning products to keep your home virus-free. A recent poll conducted by the American Cleaning Institute (ACI) found that four in 10 Americans do not properly allow disinfectant sprays and wipes to kill the viruses and germs that can make us sick. Many surveyed said that they spray and then wipe the surface immediately after, while others make a quick pass with a disinfecting wipe.

Following a few key tips can ensure you are properly disinfecting surfaces throughout your home:

1. Remove excess dirt and grime prior to disinfecting.
2. Use disinfecting spray or wipe as directed.
3. After disinfecting, let the surface air dry to ensure it?remains wet for the recommended time. This will ensure the proper killing of the germ or virus.
4. When disinfecting toys or surfaces that come in contact with food, rinse with water and then allow to air dry.
5. If using disinfecting wipes, dispose of the wipe after each use (do not flush).

General Recommendations
Cleaning and disinfecting go hand in hand. Cleaning refers to the removal of germs, dirt and impurities from surfaces, while disinfecting refers to the use of chemicals to kill germs on surfaces. To keep your home virus-free, you should clean (once or twice a day) frequently touched surfaces like tables, doorknobs, light switches, handles, desks, toilets, faucets, sinks and electronics with household cleaners that are appropriate for the surface, and follow label instructions. If someone in your home is sick, you may want to wipe down surfaces more frequently. Ensure you are taking the recommended precautions when applying the product, and make sure the area is ventilated while you?re using the product.

Hard Surfaces (Nonporous)
Wear gloves when cleaning and disinfecting surfaces, and discard a pair of gloves after each use. If you?re using reusable gloves, then ensure they are dedicated to cleaning surfaces for COVID-19 only. It is recommended to consult the manufacturer?s instructions for approved cleaning and disinfecting products for the surface. Wash your hands immediately following the use of any cleaning products. ?

Soft Surfaces
When cleaning soft surfaces, such as carpet, rugs and drapes, remove any contaminants and clean those surfaces with products suitable for the material. Next, launder the items per the manufacturer?s instructions using the warmest water setting that is appropriate, and dry items completely.

Don?t Forget Floors
You step on a lot of dirt and contaminants during the day that can transfer to the home when you walk inside. To keep your floors clean and virus-free, the CDC recommends using one cup of bleach mixed with five gallons of water to mop your nonporous floors. If you have porous floors, such as hardwood, bleach can remove the stain. For porous floors, it is best to use a?disinfecting wet mop cloth or combine a half a cup of white vinegar and one gallon of water.

Click on this link for a list of products the EPA considers effective at killing the coronavirus.


Floor Covering is taking extra precautions to protect our employees and customers. We are sanitizing high-touch surfaces like doorknobs, handrails, bathrooms and common areas on a daily basis, and our showrooms are being deep cleaned once a week. We are rotating our staff to ensure we have a minimal number of employees in our showrooms at one time and?practicing social distancing.? We are committed to the health and safety of our employees and customers. We appreciate your trust and the privilege to continue to serve you.