Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic earlier this year, hygiene has become a hot topic. We all know that simple personal hygiene measures such as hand washing, wearing a face covering and using a hand sanitiser when we’re out and about can help stop the spread of this and other illnesses. But what can we do to protect ourselves at home?

Just over half of us in the US say we are more concerned about the cleanliness of our homes than we were before the outbreak of the virus, research by cleaning product company Hydrachem has shown. The same poll shows that almost 60% of us are spending an additional hour cleaning our homes each week but a third of us are unsure if the cleaning products we’re using are actually effective in killing the virus.

So how can we be sure that the extra time we’re spending cleaning is actually helping to protect us and our families from COVID-19 and other germs? Here’s the cleaning knowledge you need to keep bacteria and viruses at bay in your home.

Use a two-step method – cleaning first then disinfecting – to tackle surfaces such as kitchen counters, table tops and bathroom surfaces so dirt, soap scum or food residue is removed.

To clean, either spray the surface with distilled white vinegar and then wipe down with a clean cloth or simply use a microfibre cloth with warm water, or a cleaning cloth dipped in detergent solution and wrung out fully. To disinfect against viruses as well as bacteria, Middlesex University immunologist.

 Dr Darshna Yagnik has the following advice: ‘Use a disinfectant which is alcohol-based, or use rubbing alcohol with a strength of at least 70%. Alternatively use household bleach containing sodium hypochlorite diluted in cold water. Both methods should kill viruses quite quickly by breaking down their cell walls.’

Shoes don’t just carry dirt into our homes – they also have the potential to introduce germs. For this reason, it’s best to make your home a ‘shoes-free’ zone and to clean hard floors regularly, says Verity Mann, ‘Start by vacuuming or sweeping hard floors to get rid of loose dirt then mop with a warm solution of disinfectant,’ she advises. ‘Take care not to over-wet laminate flooring as this could cause it to warp.’

GHI TIP: If you have vinyl flooring, it’s best to follow the manufacturer’s cleaning advice, which may recommend using a specialist product or avoiding some cleaners altogether. If you don’t, you risk invalidating any warranty the flooring is covered by.

It’s easy to remember to clean and disinfect obvious germ hotspots such as the toilet and kitchen surfaces. But other frequently touched surfaces in our homes need attention, too – think door and kettle handles, light switches and bannisters.

Use a solution of bleach (following the dilution recommendations on the label) or another disinfectant to wipe handles and doorknobs then dry them thoroughly with a clean cloth. If using bleach, ensure to rinse the area you are cleaning after applying it. For obvious electrical safety reasons, you should never spray anything directly onto a light switch. Instead, make up a disinfectant solution in an old spray bottle and spray this lightly onto a microfibre cloth, then use this to wipe the switch and switch plate. Buff with a clean, soft cloth or a fine microfibre cloth for a satisfying shine.

If someone in your household has coronavirus, the NHS recommends you clean the bathroom after they’ve used it, if other people use that bathroom, too.