Tips to help keep your office and personal space disinfected.

Tip #1 Hand Sanitizers

CDC recommends the use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers as the primary method for hand hygiene in most healthcare situations. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers effectively reduce the number of germs that may be on the hands of healthcare workers.

Q - Why is an alcohol-based hand sanitizers best to use?

A - Alcohol kills germs through a simple chemical process known as denaturation. Denaturation occurs when alcohol molecules break down the proteins present in the structure of germs. When the proteins break down and lose their structure, the cells can't function properly

Q - How often should I use hand sanitizer?

A - As often as needed, however you should never use hand sanitizer if you notice visible dirt on your hands however you should wash you hands thoroughly.

Tip #2 Disinfect Your Vehicle

You may not think it, but cars are an absolute breeding ground for germs and bacteria, with a warm, humid atmosphere and hard-to-reach surfaces providing the ideal conditions for bacterial growth. So, the next step you should take is to wash your car, make sure you give the inside a good clean, too

Areas inside your vehicle to focus on.

The Driver Controls

The fact is that the driver controls are among the dirtiest areas of any car. This includes the steering wheel, gear stick, hand brake, buttons and other functions you use during everyday driving.

The steering wheel itself is particularly dirty. It’s in contact with your hands all the time, meaning that germs can transfer easily and then continue to grow and spread as the wheel warms up. It’s also in the firing line for germs spread from your mouth and nose, especially when you sneeze and cough.

How to Kill Germs and Keep it Clean:

• Regularly wipe the steering wheel and driver controls with an antibacterial wipe.

• Use hand sanitizer when entering and exiting your car.

• Have tissues to hand to catch coughs and sneezes, and put these straight in an in-car bin.

• Keep on top of cleaning and maintaining the controls regularly, using a high-quality car cleaner that’s compatible with the materials. Make sure you get into all the nooks and crannies around the steering wheel.

• Decontaminate your car’s interior with a car sanitizer which will circulate through your air conditioning system to kill germs.

The Seats

The seats in your car can harbor a huge number of germs which can be difficult to kill. Bacteria is spread to the seats by sweat, dead skin cells or through contact with clothing, as well as things like food and drink spillages.

The problem is, car seats can be quite difficult to clean, meaning they can provide a breeding ground for bacteria for long periods. Most people simply vacuum their car seats to remove visible dirt, dust and crumbs, but a much more intensive clean is needed to tackle harmful germs and bacteria.

How to Kill Germs and Keep it Clean:

• Vacuum the seats regularly to remove surface-level dirt and grime, including dead skin cells.

• Use a carpet or fabric cleaner to remove stains and dirt – make sure you get deep into the fibres to remove any spills or food as these can be unhygienic if you leave them to go bad.

• Invest in a set of removable seat covers if you’re concerned about spreading harmful bacteria from your clothes to your car.

Essential Tips on Keeping Your Car Clean and Germ-Free

Here are a few helpful ways to keep the inside of your car clean and reduce the number of germs in the interior:

• Clean the inside of your car 1-2 times a week if you drive regularly – just like you would with your home!

• If you’re ill, wipe the steering wheel and dashboard regularly

• Remove all rubbish whenever you leave your car – rubbish, like food wrappers, are magnets for germs and bacteria, so remove all that trash each and every time you park up.

• Keep a pack of tissues and antibacterial hand gel to hand – catch those coughs and sneezes to prevent the spread of germs, and use an antibacterial hand gel to prevent contaminating the driving controls with bacteria.

• Think about children! Children’s car seats can be a breeding ground for germs, as children tend to be messier and might eat in the car, so make a special effort to get rid of crumbs, clean up spills and wipe the seat regularly with anti-bacterial wipes.