Cleaning glass surfaces should be part of your regular cleaning routine. Failing to clean your glass surfaces might cause stains, and dirt makes glass surfaces unattractive. Dirty surfaces are also breeding grounds for bacteria.
One of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of COVID 19 is regularly cleaning surfaces. Therefore, it is essential to know how to clean and disinfect glass surfaces. Sanitizing your glass surfaces is important because it kills the harmful germs which cause diseases.
The following tips will guide you on how to do this.
Precautions to take before cleaning
You should protect yourself while cleaning in your home or office, especially in the face of coronavirus. Surfaces are a source of infection.
- Wear one-time use gloves before starting the cleaning.
- Wear a disposable mask covering your mouth and nose.
- Use a disinfectant with at least 70% alcohol.
- Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and clean water or disinfect with alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Surfaces that you need to disinfect;
- All glass table tops and surfaces
- Sneeze guards
- Car windshield
- Cell phone glass
The best cleaners to disinfect glass surfaces
Glass cleaning solutions that you use to disinfect and sanitize surfaces should be alcohol-based or contain ammonia (quaternary ammonium compounds). These solutions will eliminate coronavirus and other disease-causing germs.
- EPA certified disinfectants and sanitizers
We recommend that you use a disinfectant or sanitizer certified by the Environmental Protection Agency, which is responsible for helping the public identify disinfectants that can kill germs and sanitize surfaces.
The EPA published a list of certified disinfectants that can prevent, reduce and kill germs, including the coronavirus. They include quarterly ammonia, hydrogen peroxide, thymol, citric acid, among others.
You should therefore use cleaning products that contain these chemicals to disinfect and sanitize glass surfaces. To confirm that a product is on the list, first find the first two sets of its EPA registration number. Next, log into the EPA portal and search for the product using these numbers.
- Vinegar
Vinegar is a home solution that many people are curious about. Vinegar has acetic acid, which kills bacteria and viruses. However, it does not sterilize the surface. There isn’t enough evidence that it is a good option for disinfecting glass and is not listed as a certified disinfectant or sanitizer by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
What glass cleaning solutions do you need?
The two glass cleaning chemicals you should know about; solvents and surfactants.
Solvents attack and destroy contaminants on glass surfaces, making them disappear from the surface. Surfactants surround the contaminants on a molecular level and break their hold on the glass surface.
A cleaning solution that contains surfactants and solvents is ideal for cleaning glass surfaces. Look out for these chemicals when purchasing glass cleaners.
How to clean and disinfect sneeze guards
Glass sneeze guards are increasingly becoming popular as a way to protect staff in public spaces. Wipe down the glass sneeze guard with EPA approved disinfectant or sanitizer. These cleaning compounds include hydrogen peroxide, alcohol-based solutions, and quarterly ammonia compounds.
Cleaning and disinfecting your cell phone glass
Most people overlook cleaning their phones. Unfortunately, this is dangerous because cell phone surfaces harbour germs and viruses. You use the same hands to touch surfaces, work, eat, and touch your phones all day. Our hands transfer germs from the phone surface and cause diseases. You should disinfect your phone at least twice a week.
To avoid damaging the screen, do not use bleach or spray ordinary glass cleaners directly on your phone. Start by powering off your phone and remove the cover. Using a microfiber cloth, gently clean the surface of the phone with a disinfecting solution. Make sure to avoid all the ports. Repeat the process on the phone cases. Allow the phone to dry for a few minutes.
How to clean your car and windshield
When you clean your car, avoid using ammonia-based cleaners, baking soda, or shaving cream on your windshield because they can damage the rubber, leather, plastic, or vinyl that surround the glass.
You should use a microfiber towel and auto glass cleaners to clean the glass on your car. Use one side of the cloth to clean and the other to polish the glass.
Car knobs are touched frequently, and therefore, you should disinfect them as often as possible. Use disinfectant wipes to sanitize car knobs, handles, dashboards, and other surfaces you touch frequently.
How to make homemade disinfectant
Due to the coronavirus outbreak, we all need disinfectants in our homes and workplaces. The center for disease control recommends a simple way to make disinfectant at home.
You can make disinfectant by adding a third cup of bleach in a gallon of water or four teaspoons of bleach in a quarter gallon of water.
Conclusion
It is vital to maintain hygiene and cleanliness, especially in this period of coronavirus pandemic. We recommend that you use EPA certified disinfectants and sanitizers to clean your surfaces.
Sanitize all glass surfaces and wash your hands with soap and water regularly. You should also take personal prevention measures, keep yourself knowledgeable about the virus and ways to keep yourself safe.
At Glassupply.com, we have taken all measures to protect our staff and customers from coronavirus. We supply the highest quality of glass and mirrors at the best prices. Contact us for any assistance on installation, maintenance, and cleaning of all your glass surfaces.
