Caring for someone who is sick? Here’s how to keep your home clean

Experts who oversee cleaning operations at Upstate University Hospital — Environmental Services Director Susan V. Murphy and Assistant Director John Kolh — provide this advice for caring for a sick loved one at home:
In general

Removing clutter: All areas should be clean and clutter free. Clear clutter first, then clean, then, if needed, disinfect. The less clutter you have around, the less there is to clean and worry about regarding any transfer of germs from sneezes and coughs. Less clutter also means fewer places for dust to settle or get kicked up into the air and irritate a sick person.
Ensure a supply of tissues within easy reach.
Keep “touch points” clean: These include frequently handled items like door and refrigerator handles; knobs on faucets, showers and drawers; buttons on microwave ovens and other appliances; and wall switches.

Don‘t “double dip,” or reuse a cleaning solution for another task, even one containing bleach, because it weakens the product. Also, don‘t mix soap or bleach with some other cleanser, thinking it will create some sort of super cleanser, because it won‘t. Allow whatever cleanser you use the time recommended to do its job.
Specific areas

Another method, especially when dealing with heavy-duty infections: Bathroom surfaces can be cleaned with a soap product, rinsed off, then wiped with a bleach wipe and left to air dry. Bleach wipes, preferably hospital grade, can be found in many stores, and their short-term use is fine.


Family room or living room: Keep any touch points clean, such as the TV remote control. Use a bleach wipe on the device‘s buttons and exterior, then let it air dry.

Floors: Mop or vacuum on a regular basis and keep them free of debris.
Other considerations
The elderly: Touch points might include eyeglasses, pens or pencils or an emergency button worn around the neck.
Children: If possible, have them play with toys that can be cleaned, such as hard plastic toys.
People with disabilities: Touch points might include the surfaces of a wheelchair, walker, cane or crutches.
Finally
The last task of cleaning is to inspect the whole area and be sure you haven‘t missed anything.
Murphy adds that, in addition to its anti-infection benefits, a well-cleaned environment offers an emotional or psychological boost: “Clean, neat and organized gives that feeling of peace and calm. You‘re not struggling to walk through a house when there‘s no clutter.
"There‘s something to be said about that.”
