GETTING YOUR HOME READY FOR COVID-19

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve and we all watch and listen day-by-day as new information becomes available from the Canadian Government, the majority of us are practicing “self-isolation” and staying home with our loved ones.

While we are now spending extended amounts of time in our home, it is time to make sure our households are prepared during this outbreak- this does not mean stocking up on toilet paper! As concern around the spread of coronavirus grows and extreme panic buying soap and cleaning supplies continues, we’ve come up with a few ways to keep your household and its members safe during this time:

Practice every day preventative actions now
It is important to remind everyone in your household of the everyday preventative actions.

• Clean frequently touched surfaces and objects daily using regular household detergent and water. These include light switches, countertops, doorknobs, tables and cabinet handles.
• Disinfect your phone, computer, keyboard, desks & car steering wheels.
• Wash dishes using the dishwasher (if available) rather than hand-washing dishes.
• Mop floors frequently and Lysol the bottom of your shoes after being out in public.
• Wash laundry after being worn out in public places or if the wearer has shown signs of symptoms. Use the warmest settings approved for garments and add disinfectant.
  – If necessary, wear disposable gloves when handling the laundry of an ill person.
  – When possible, do not shake dirty laundry. This will minimize the possibility of dispersing the virus through the air
  – Clean and disinfect laundry hampers and baskets.
• Stay home and keep away from others who are sick or if you have shown signs of sickness.
• Stay in touch with your loved ones by phone or email.
• Check on your neighbours and ensure they have supplies and proper care they need.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially before eating and after blowing your nose, sneezing or coughing.

Choose a room in your home that can be used to separate sick household members from those who are healthy

• Pick a separate bathroom for them to use.
• Clean their living areas thoroughly, daily.

Supplies to use that will keep your house clean:

• Bleach – use wisely and sparingly. Make sure to properly dilute bleach before use and don’t use on delicate surfaces.
• Vinegar – versatile and affordable. A great solution for sanitizing your fruits and vegetables to help kill germs. Vinegar is also great to use on doorknobs, mirrors and other surfaces.
• Hydrogen Peroxide – persistent and not only for cleaning cuts and scrapes. Be sure to store away from direct sunlight and let it soak on your surfaces before rinsing. Follow directions on the label. Tip: Hydrogen Peroxide is great at cleaning the germs off your toothbrush!
• Tea Tree Oil – the secret hand sanitizer! You can use tea tree oil to make your own hand sanitizer. There are countless methods on YouTube for home remedies.

Limit visits to public places

• Use delivery services such as (Grocery Gateway, InstaCart etc.) to have your groceries delivered rather than visiting the stores and spreading or catching germs.
• Instead of going out for dinner, utilize services such as DoorDash, UberEats & Skip the Dishes for delivery from your favourite restaurants that are still open. These services also offer a “no-contact” option meaning they will leave the food at the door so you don’t come in contact with the courier.

 

These are only a few ways to help ensure you and your family remain safe and germ-free during this time, but most importantly, remain calm!  If you have any questions as to how COVID-19 is affecting the Toronto Real Estate Market, we are happy to chat any time to discuss the changes and precautions being made. Contact us today!