When it comes to the prevention of illness, cleaning your personal belongings is every bit as important as washing your hands. Studies have found that COVID-19 germs may be able to survive on surfaces for up to (and possibly longer than) nine days. This includes phones, wallets, bank cards, bags, and other belongings that are frequently handled—especially while in public.
Make sure to routinely wipe down and disinfect any and all personal belongings as needed to help prevent the spread of disease.
Phones are already massive conductors of germs at the best of times, so it is vital to wipe phones down with appropriate cleaning supplies. It is advised to thoroughly sanitize plastic phone cases and to use technology cleaning kits to keep your phone screen and buttons clean. For most, phones are handled more than any other item on a day-to-day basis, so it is important to keep phones as germ-free as possible.
After going out in public, consider disinfecting bank cards with disinfectant wipes. Make sure to use sanitizer on your hands after touching any card readers, as hundreds of other hands will come in contact with a card reader on any given day.
Additionally, keeping personal, household property clean is equally as important. Those with children benefit from regularly wiping down and disinfecting strollers, toys, diaper bags, and any hygiene products that children may come in contact with. Senior citizens may take preventative measures by disinfecting the handles of canes and walkers and any installed bars or railings used for stability.
Finally, keep your vehicle clean. While a full detailing may not be necessary, keeping your steering wheel and console clean are. Even after wearing gloves, give your steering wheel a good wipe down. You never know what you may pick up even on your local grocery run, and when it comes to your health, it’s always better to be safe than sorry.
