Bacteria are microscopic organisms that live on nearly every surface and in the air, and they’re everywhere. However, not all bacteria are bad: some can help you digest food or make vitamin K for blood clotting. But there are also many types of harmful bacteria, such as those that cause stomach ulcers or strep throat.
This article will teach you how to identify if your floors have been infected with harmful bacteria and how to properly disinfect them so you can prevent the spread of disease-causing germs!
Knowing the Enemy
The common “germs” people come into contact with daily throughout their homes are called Bioaerosols. Bioaerosols are particles that contain pathogens suspended in air droplets found in areas such as animal feces, soil contaminated with feces, dust from moldy hay or livestock housing facilities, dust that has been disturbed from rodent droppings, and water-damaged buildings.
People can be exposed to bioaerosols when they are cleaning, doing yard work, or participating in other activities that disturb the soil or dust. Inhaling these particles can cause respiratory problems such as asthma, allergies, or infections.
Germs can also be found on shoes. Shoes can carry dirt, organic matter like grass clippings or manure, and any microorganisms that the soil or grass clippings contain. Once on shoes, these particles can be pushed into cracks in floors or carried throughout the house by slipping through openings in doorways, under doors, around electrical outlets, etc. How long does E coli live on shoes, for example? From a few hours or a day to longer than that if left undisturbed. Knowing that these dangerous bacteria can cause diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal cramps cautions you to take extra precautions when cleaning and disinfecting.
Enemies aren’t visible and come everywhere so chances of getting it on from head to feet are inevitable, how much more being bare with no safety apparels at all. Perhaps good flooring makes cleaning easy and convenient, floorings like Luvanto takes you to a high level of protection as it is not complicated to start with, and surely easy to clean. With their professional help, these floors are worth saving you from eliminating invisible enemies.
Type of Floors
The first step in disinfecting your floors is knowing what type of floor you have. Most common types of flooring are either made from synthetic materials like vinyl or linoleum, or natural materials like wood or tile. Each material has its own recommended way of being disinfected.
Vinyl and Linoleum
These synthetic materials can be easily disinfected by using a bleach and water solution or a commercial disinfectant. A mixture of ¼ cup bleach to one gallon of water is recommended. Make sure to clean from the highest point in a room downward to not recontaminate already disinfected areas.
Wood
This natural material can also be disinfected with a bleach and water solution or commercial disinfectant. However, because of the porous nature of wood, the disinfectant may not be able to reach all of the germs. In this case, you may need to use a wood cleaner in addition to a disinfectant solution.
Tile
Disinfecting grout or tile requires extra care. Disinfectants will not soak into the surface to kill germs. This means that you need to let the disinfectant sit on the surface for at least 10 minutes. You can use a bleach and water solution or a non-ammonia-based commercial disinfectant.
Carpet
If you have carpeted flooring, scrub and vacuum your carpets using hot soapy water or vacuum them along with disinfectant powder or spray. Be sure to work from the edges of the room towards the middle so that you don’t spread any germs you’ve just lifted.
The germs should not reattach and cause problems and one way to do this is by vacuuming your floors. Be sure to use a vacuum with a beater bar or brush attachment to remove as much dirt and debris as possible. You can also use a wet/dry vacuum to clean up any liquid spills.
When To Disinfect the Floors
Be sure to clean your floors on weekly basis using one of the methods mentioned above, but be sure to disinfect your floors after any of the following events:
- An illness has been confirmed in your home
- A family member has been hospitalized
- Someone in your household is being treated for a respiratory infection
- You have been diagnosed with asthma, allergies, or another respiratory illness
- There has been a pet death in your home
- You have had a recent flood
- Someone who lives in your home has recently returned from travel abroad
- You have just moved into a new home
Of course, you can always do a few things more to help prevent the spread of harmful bacteria like washing your hands frequently and keeping commonly touched surfaces clean and disinfected, such as doorknobs, light switches, countertops, and refrigerator handles.
Remember that bioaerosols can cause serious health problems, so it’s important to take extra precautions when cleaning and disinfecting your floors. By using one of the recommended methods above every week and following the specific instructions for disinfecting each type of flooring, you can help keep yourself and your family safe.
