How to Share a Bathroom During the Coronavirus Pandemic
Being hygienic is now more important than ever with the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic we are currently trying to get through. Many of us could be infected without even knowing as not all people show symptoms - which is why it is vital that if you can work from home, you should do so to stop the spread of the virus.
We want you to be safe in your own home, so here are some tips on what you can actively do whilst sharing a bathroom with your family members.
Clean The Bathroom Surfaces Regularly
The bathroom should be kept clean anyway, but commonly touched areas such as the door handle, light switch, taps and toilet flush need a regular clean. I’m not saying every time you use the bathroom, but if you’ve done a (sensible) food shop, you’ll want to wash your hands as soon as you’re home without touching too many surfaces (or your face). There’s a chance you might have introduced outside germs into your house, so you’ll want to make sure the surfaces you have touched are thoroughly cleaned with anti-bacterial products.
When it comes to the toilet, you may want to bleach weekly, depending on how often the household is using it and if a member of your family is ill. As mentioned above, keep the toilet handle/flush button clean as well as the toilet seat. Add a toilet freshener of your choice to keep the bad smells at bay and replace after 1 week to a month depending on the type and how often you use the toilet.
Showers are used daily (even multiple times a day) so it is important that these are kept clean because their job is to clean you. This could be using a limescale remover or baking soda with vinegar if the shower hasn't been deep cleaned in a while, or simply a polish. The shower tray is a very essential surface to wipe down as excess water can be sat there all day - this can affect the grout, so you'll want to use a cloth to dry up the water. Unless you have a shower bath, separate baths generally aren't used as much as showers (with the exception of having young children etc) so they won't need as much cleaning. Depending on how dirty the bath is, you may only need an anti-bacterial spray and a cloth, but if it's looking a bit grubby, baking soda is a good household product to remove tough stains.
Bathroom sinks or basins need regular cleaning because the germs you are washing off your hands could still be on the inside of the basin. When using sponges and scourers, you'll want to discard of them when you are finished - who knows how many germs are going to be breeding in them. Water is a germs best friend, so throw it in the bin as soon as your cleaning session is done.
After cleaning, be sure to dry the surfaces as standing water can make germs multiply. Even damp surfaces can lead to germs lingering around, so take a microfibre cloth and wipe down your suite. Reuseable cloths need to be disinfected or washed at 60 degrees after every use. Paper towels may be more convenient to use as they can easily be disposed of, but there’s a good chance you could end up with a lot of excess rubbish (and they’re not exactly brilliant for the environment).
The general rule to follow is if the surface is touched regularly (especially by multiple people), then it needs more cleaning attention. If a family member is sick, then everyone will need to be aware of what they are touching around the house to ensure they don't become ill themselves.
Wash Your Hands for 20 Seconds
Something we’ve all been told to do from the start is to wash your hands with soap for at least 20 seconds. This has led to people singing ‘Happy Birthday’ twice to themselves as it is a well-known song that lasts 20 seconds.
Sick of that song? Here is a list of alternative verses or chorus’ from songs that are 20 seconds long. Sing along to these to make sure you’re washing your hands for long enough - our personal favourite is Rick Astley’s Never Gonna Give You Up because who doesn't enjoy Rick Rolling the household?
Never Gonna Give You Up by Rick Astley
Never gonna give you up
Never gonna let you down
Never gonna run around and desert you
Never gonna make you cry
Never gonna say goodbye
Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you.
Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen
Is this the real life?
Is this just fantasy?
Caught in a landslide
No escape from reality
Open your eyes
Look up to the skies and see.
Take On Me by A-ha
Take on me (take on me)
Take me on (take on me)
I'll be gone
In a day or two.
I Wanna Dance With Somebody by Whitney Houston
Oh, I wanna dance with somebody
I wanna feel the heat with somebody
Yeah, I wanna dance with somebody
With somebody who loves me.
(We don’t object to you continuing to sing the songs, we can’t help it ourselves either!)
Toilet Roll
Use toilet roll sparingly. If you don't live alone, you need to think about other family members sharing the toilet paper too. Due to the public panic buying, many shelves have been left empty, including toilet roll. If you have stocked up on toilet roll, give your neighbours a call to see if they are struggling to find any and help them out by leaving some on their doorstep to collect. We all make lighthearted jokes about it, but we should be helping each other during this pandemic in any way we can.
Use Separate Bathrooms (if Applicable)
If you’re lucky enough to have an en suite or more than one bathroom, stick to using just the one. This is beneficial when there are only 2 people that live in your house as you can use separate bathrooms to stop spreading germs. Although, this might be difficult if you only have a shower in one bathroom.
If you have a family, just make sure that everyone is washing their hands properly and try to avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth (I know this will be hard though!). To teach your children how washing their hands is an effective way to remove germs, you can demonstrate this fun experiment below!
You will need:
- A bowl of water
- Black pepper
- Liquid soap
Symptoms you need to be aware of:
- Fever/high temperature
- New continuous cough
- Shortness of breath
It is advised by the NHS to call 111 (or use their symptoms checker) if you have any concerns, but do not go to your local doctors/GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital.
Here at Plumbworld, we take the governments advice about the coronavirus pandemic very seriously - read our latest COVID-19 FAQs regarding ordering, returning or general inquires.
You might also like - Bathroom Cleaning Habits You Can't Live Without - Four natural cleaning methods for a sparkling bathroom - How to Clean Chrome Taps.
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