We’ve been asked to stay home to save lives because of this time of uncertainty. Our home is considered the safest place to avoid getting infected and spreading the virus. However, we should still practice preventive measures like cleaning and disinfecting our homes. This includes everything that we are using from time to time—our appliances.
We’ve had the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) for more than a month now and it made us use our appliances more than usual. According to a study published in March 2020, the coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) is found to be more stable on plastics and stainless steel. If you haven’t noticed, these two are the most common appliance surfaces at home.
Now’s not the best time to get sick, nor to have an allergic reaction because of dust at home. It’s a common allergen that easily piles up on any appliance. It is important to wipe this off regularly, especially in common areas.
XTREME Appliances recommends the following tips on how to clean and maintain some of your home appliances to keep you and your loved ones healthy.
1. Dust off and sanitize your TV and remote control
Before cleaning the TV, turn it off, let it cool down for a while then unplug. Start by wiping the edges or frames of the TV with a slightly damped microfiber cloth or soft cloth, followed by the screen. Make sure not to press hard on it as it may cause damage.
Don’t forget the remote control can have a lot of bacteria on it because of the amount of times it was held by different people. Before cleaning and disinfecting it, remove the battery, face it upside down, and tap the remote against your palm so the debris can fall. Wipe the surface and buttons with alcohol-based wipes or a cloth damped in at least 70% isopropyl alcohol.
2. Clean the filter of your air conditioner
Did you know cleaning your air conditioner from time to time have a lot of benefits? Besides saving energy and improving its efficiency, it can also help maintain good health. If not maintained, the air conditioner can cause itchy eyes, headaches, and even respiratory problems.
Cleaning can be done by a professional cleaner but you can actually do it yourself. This should be done depending on how often the air conditioner was used.
Depending on how often the air conditioner was used, cleaning can either be done daily, monthly, or seasonally. A professional cleaner usually does this, but you can also do it yourself. Start by removing the trim panel or frame, remove dust and dirt from the cooling fins using a fin comb, remove visible build-ups or debris using a vacuum, let it dry, then assemble it back.
Here’s an XTREME reminder: Do not use your air conditioner 24/7. Leaving it overworked may damage the compressor and condenser. If left unattended, it may leave you with no choice but to replace it. Who would want a damaged air conditioner while on ECQ, right?
3. Keep your food fresh and clean.
Your kitchen—the dirtiest part of your home and yet it’s where you have most of your appliances. The refrigerator is used to store and prolong the shelf life of fresh meat, vegetables, and even cooked food.
Make it a habit to check stored goods in the refrigerator. Throw away expired consumables and keep the remaining in proper storage.
- Before you start cleaning your refrigerator, remove all the stored food, take out the shelves and drawers and wash them with dish soap.
- Wipe the interior but avoid using strong-scented soaps to avoid having a scent that may be absorbed by the food. A good alternative would be mixture of baking soda and vinegar to remove stains.
- Dry it off with a clean dry cloth before returning the shelves, drawers and stored goods. Make sure to wash raw food from the supermarket and allocations from your local government unit before storing them in your refrigerator. It is always better to be safe than sorry!
- Clean the exteriors using a soft cloth and dishwashing soap mixed with water. Then, “rinse” the excess soap by using a damp cloth.
- Here’s an XTREME tip: Eliminate foul odor and maintain it smelling fresh by putting activated charcoal or open baking soda.
“While our homes act as our haven in this present situation, there is nothing wrong with ensuring that we are free from any sickness even indoors. Our frontliners are working hard to save each life while risking theirs. Let’s do them a favor. Stay at home to avoid the risk of getting the virus. Let’s stay healthy. ” shares Adrian Lim, XTREME Appliances General Manager
