Our concern for cleanliness has heightened because of the pandemic. We’re washing our hands and wiping down surfaces more than ever. Now, everything feels like it’s covered in the coronavirus — even the items inside of our homes.
Since the COVID-19 virus isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, there are certain changes that we have to do at home to protect ourselves and our families. In this article, we’ll go through six smart home improvements to coronavirus-proof your home.
Can the coronavirus be spread through surfaces?
Studies have shown that the COVID-19 virus can survive on surfaces for two hours to nine days. The length of time is dependent on a variety of factors, including temperature, relative humidity, type of surface, and virus strain. For instance, some strains of the COVID-19 virus have been shown to live anywhere between a few minutes to a few days on a sheet of paper.
While it isn’t necessary to obsessively clean everything, it still wouldn’t hurt to wipe down high-touch surfaces such as tables and countertops. Washing these regularly using soap and water should be enough to eliminate the virus.
However, if someone in your household is infected with the COVID-19 virus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends disinfecting high-touch surfaces, such as doorknobs, light switchings, and handrails using antibacterial wipes or a bleach solution. Washing your hands regularly can also prevent you from picking up the virus.
What can you do to coronavirus-proof your home?
Let’s face it — when we’re at home, we aren’t thinking about washing our hands. So, how can we continue to stay safe at home? Below are six smart upgrades to coronavirus-proof your home:
#1 Install Touchless Faucets
Before the pandemic, touchless faucets were used in public bathrooms, but now they’ve made their way into our homes. Because they don’t have handles or knobs, there’s a lower chance of cross-contamination. Instead, touch-free faucets rely on sensors that detect movement. Simply wave your hand in front of the faucet to turn it on.
Installing touchless faucets is a simple way to coronavirus-proof your home. It’s also an excellent way to be more eco-friendly. Using a touchless faucet can cut your water consumption by up to 50 per cent — that means lower water bills!
If you’re interested in replacing the faucets in your bathroom and kitchen, you might want to hire a property management company that has a network of local vendors. Installing touchless faucets can be pricey, costing anywhere between $300 and $400. You will also need to hire a professional installer.
#2 Invest in a Touchless Toilet
Another way to coronavirus-proof your home is by investing in a touchless toilet. These smart toilets use touchless technology to give their users the cleanest experience — you don’t even have to use your hands! Popular in Japan, these high-tech toilets are fully equipped with self-cleaning features, touchless controls, touch-free flushing, and more.
What’s more, touchless toilets include a built-in bidet so that you’re protected from another toilet paper shortage!
#3 Switch to Smart Lighting
Light switches are some of the dirtiest surfaces in your home. In fact, a study by the University of Houston found that each square centimeter on a hotel light switch is crawling with 112 colonies of bacteria. Think of how many germs you’re transferring to your finger every time you turn on the lights!
To reduce the transmission of COVID-19, switch to a smart lighting system. It allows you to turn the lights on and off using your phone even when you’re away. You can also program your lights to be more energy-efficient. For instance, you can set your smart lights to switch off at a certain time, helping you cut down on your energy costs.
#4 Switch to Smart Door Locks
Another dirty surface is your doorknob. Researchers from the University of Arizona discovered that there are fourteen different colonies (with over one million bacteria each) on a single doorknob. This is because doorknobs, especially the ones that lead outside the home (e.g. front door), are breeding grounds for germs.
Switching to smart door locks such as the Yale Assure Lock and the Google Nest Smart Lock can reduce the spread of COVID-19. Smart door locks are equipped with touch-free features such as voice identification.
#5 Upgrade to a Sanitizing Closet
Sanitizing closets aren’t the cheapest, costing thousands of dollars per unit, but they can be a worthwhile investment if you’re concerned about the cleanliness of your clothes — even if you’ve already washed them.
Some smart closets use steam to disinfect garments and to get rid of odors. Others have built-in ultraviolet lights to zap viruses that may have clung to the clothes. There aren’t that many sanitizing closets available on the market, so you may want to hire a property manager to help you find one for your luxury home.
#6 Buy a UV Box Sterilizer
While it’s unlikely that your package from Amazon or eBay is crawling with the coronavirus, to have peace of mind, you can get yourself an ultraviolet (UV) box sterilizer. A UV box sterilizer is similar to a sanitizing closet, except that it’s significantly smaller. Most boxes are about the size of a microwave, while others are as tiny as an iPad.
To use a UV box sterilizer, simply open it up, drop your items in the box, and turn it on. Of course, you could always spray your package with disinfectant, but using a UV box sterilizer is a lot more interesting.
The Bottom Line
Smart home improvements can coronavirus-proof your home, however, one of the best ways to beat the virus is by cleaning your home. At Luxury Property Care, we offer property preservation services to keep your South Florida residence squeaky-clean year-round. Through our network of vetted vendors, your home will receive industry-standard care.
In addition, our property managers will oversee every project to ensure that health and safety protocols are strictly followed. We want you and your family to feel as safe as possible.
To learn more, contact us at (561) 944 – 2992 or complete our contact form. One of our property managers will get in touch with you as soon as possible.
