Written by Katie Green, BCBSMS Wellness Coach

With the pandemic and growing number of those diagnosed internationally and nationally with the coronavirus, there has been an eminent need to disinfect areas where we work, play, and live to avoid getting sick or coming into contact with germs. 

Recently, access to common cleaning products has been scarce but you might be surprised to learn that you can create your own disinfectants with items you might have sitting in your pantry and cabinets.

PRODUCTS YOU MIGHT HAVE ON HAND:
• Hydrogen Peroxide 
• Rubbing Alcohol
• Distilled White Vinegar
• Baking Soda
• Liquid Soap

Regular cleaning frequently used areas should be done several times a day. This helps kill germs and other bacteria that could already be in our midst, and not just in preparation to avoid the coronavirus. 

The key is to make sure you’re cleaning everything, but most importantly those areas that are considered ‘high traffic’, such as a staircase, door knobs, faucets, countertops, and remote controls. 

The process in which you clean is just as important as the type of cleaner you use. Spraying some product and gently wiping it away might not be very effective if you want to kill the germs. In order to thoroughly disinfect and decontaminate, you must give the surface or area you are cleaning a good scrub. Allowing the cleaning supplies to dry after a deep clean will continue to kill the bacteria, germs, or virus on that surface.

Based on the type of cleaning you want to do, we’ve provided some homemade cleaning supply recipes for you to DIY at home. They are also a budget friendly way to fight the spread of germs. These instructions are provided by MSMEMA and MSDH found at www.msema.org and www.msdh.ms.gov

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