What surfaces you should be wiping down during pandemic
If you were wiping down every Amazon package, can of chickpeas and takeout container at the start of the pandemic, you certainly weren’t alone. Clorox, the world’s biggest maker of disinfectant cleaning materials, says it’s still recovering from high demand of its popular disinfectant wipes.
In the beginning, we were encouraged to take every precaution we could. But do we still need to sanitize everything in sight? With months of research now behind us, experts say the answer is probably not. Here’s how to approach things now.
Wash your hands, not your packages
By now, we know that the virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person. And experts agree that your time is better spent washing your hands after you return from the grocery store than wiping down every item brought home.
“While it’s theoretically possible that there’s fomite-related transmission — transmission through contaminated surfaces — we’re not seeing any cases reported that are directly linked to that,” says Patricia Henwood, associate professor of emergency medicine at Thomas Jefferson University’s Sidney Kimmel Medical College.
“Where people need to focus their energy on is hand-washing, masking and distancing,” says Henwood.
When you’re done putting your groceries away, wash your hands again. And then apply that same mindset as you move throughout your life. Experts say the likelihood of getting the coronavirus from a delivery box is low. But always remember to wash your hands before eating.
“There are only so many surfaces you can remember to sanitize anyway,” says Thersa Sweet, associate teaching professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at Drexel University. “If you’ve touched something that has the virus on it, and you wash your hands, the virus is gone.”
Surface transmission risk is considered low
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that while it’s possible you can get the coronavirus by touching a surface that has the virus on it and then touching your face, “it’s not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.” But that doesn’t mean the risk is zero.
“I don’t want people to completely disregard the fact that the virus can be on surfaces,” says Sweet. “Imagine someone coughs into their hand, they touch a doorknob, and you come by two minutes later and touch the same doorknob, and then wipe your nose. You could become infected.”
Hand-washing, and paying attention to what you touch, are still both important.
“Though the risk of surfaces causing transmission is low, you still want to be aware,” says Dr. Eric
Sachinwalla, medical director of Infection Prevention and Control at Einstein Medical Center Philadelphia.
What’s worth wiping down
Experts say it’s a good idea to regularly wipe down your cellphone.
You may also want to disinfect your doorknobs, especially if you share an entrance with others outside of your household. And if you’re returning to an office, elevate your cleaning efforts.
But again, the surface you need to be most concerned about is the one on your hands.
Return to high alert if someone gets sick
Step up your cleaning game if someone in your household was, or may have been, exposed to COVID-19. This includes if they aren’t experiencing symptoms but are awaiting test results.
Try to minimize their contact with shared surfaces. Keep them in one room, if possible, and avoid sharing a bathroom if you can.
“Be more aggressive with cleaning, especially in areas where the sick person is living,” says Sachinwalla. “... And then make sure you’re wiping any horizontal surfaces where droplets could have spread.”