Quck answer
To disinfect your house from strep, follow these steps:
1. Clean and disinfect frequently-touched surfaces such as doorknobs, light switches, and countertops using a disinfectant spray or wipe.
2. Wash bedding, towels, and clothing in hot water to kill any bacteria.
3. Vacuum carpets and rugs regularly to remove any potential bacteria.
4. Use a bleach solution to mop hard floors, focusing on areas where the bacteria may be present.
5. Avoid sharing personal items like towels, utensils, and toothbrushes to prevent the spread of strep.
6. Encourage proper hand hygiene by washing hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
Following these steps will help eliminate strep bacteria and create a clean and safe environment in your house.
When you or someone in your household has been ill with strep, the last thing you want is for everyone else to become ill – or even worse, become sick again from lingering germs in the home. Strep is notoriously difficult to eliminate, and it can survive on surfaces like doorknobs, phones, and light switches for days. Once the sick person has been on antibiotics for a few days and is feeling better, it’s time to cleanse and disinfect the home to prevent the harmful strep bacteria from infecting another family member.
Step 1
Dispose of the trash. Go through the entire house and discard used tissues, magazines, and other disposable items that the sick person has touched. Replace toothbrushes with new ones.
Step 2
Remove the bed linens and launder them in hot water, using the sanitize cycle if your washing machine has one. Wash the towels and clothing that the sick person used with hot water.
Step 3
Wash the dishes that were used during the illness in the dishwasher or by hand with extra hot water. Set the dishwasher’s sterilize cycle for added assurance that you have eliminated all of the bacteria.
Step 4
Clear away crumbs, wipe up spills, and scrub stains or dirt from all surfaces; if the surface is dirty, the disinfectant will not be effective.
Step 5
Clean small surfaces with antibacterial wipes. These surfaces include anything that the sick person may have touched, such as telephones, remote controls, computer keyboards, game controllers, doorknobs, and light switches. Follow the instructions on the container of wipes; many brands require that the surface remain wet for several minutes to eliminate all the bacteria.
Step 6
Soak plastic children’s toys in a solution of 3/4 cup of bleach to 1 gallon of water for five minutes. Rinse the toys with clean water and allow them to air dry.
Step 7
Spray disinfectant on larger surfaces, such as counters, sinks, toilets, and bathtubs. Follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer for cleaning these surfaces. Alternatively, wipe the surfaces with a solution of 3/4 cup of chlorine bleach and 1 gallon of water using a clean cloth; rinse and allow the surface to air dry.
Step 8
Sweep and vacuum the floors. Dilute a disinfecting cleaner with water and mop any non-carpeted floors.
