COVID-19, or Coronavirus, is the only topic in the news right now. As most American families (including my own!) are sitting and scratching their heads trying to figure out what to do and more importantly what to believe.
I am not a doctor and have no training in viruses or other diseases, but I am a mom, a grandmother, and a third generation natural stone businesswoman who cares about your family. Proper prevention – not panic – is what has kept my family safe (and sane!) during many flu seasons, rotoviruses, and other airborne viruses not so different from COVID-19.
The CDC, our government, and the World Health Organization has us singing songs during handwashing to make sure we all hit the 20 second mark. Have you wondered why? The brand of soap, even the kind of soap really doesn’t matter when fighting a virus. According to Stephen Thomas, M.D., chief of infectious diseases and director of global health at Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, COVID-19 “has an envelope around it that allows it to merge with other cells to infect them. If you disrupt the coating, the virus can’t do its job”. So scrub, sing, repeat!
But why am I talking about Happy Birthday songs and handwashing? I have found (in my personal, not professional, experience) that starting at home with a good hygiene plan is the best way to stop the spread of viruses from family member to family member and potentially to the public. Do you need a hazmat suit and to start scrubbing every surface? Nope. By using some common sense, normal household cleaners, and a few tips I use for my own family, you can start fighting this battle from your own kitchen while keeping your countertops looking their best.
Tip #1 – Don’t Believe Everything You Read on the Internet
Please, please for the sake of your countertops don’t believe everything you read on the internet. Some of the concoctions I am seeing actually form chemical reactions that are not only potential irritants for your skin, they may alter the finish on granite, man-made quartz, and most definitely marble countertops. If it sounds crazy, it is crazy. Don’t do it!
Tip #2 – Whistle While You Work
Much like using a catchy tune to make sure you are washing your hands for the appropriate amount of time, whistling a tune while you clean your countertops can make sure you burst the bubble on any viruses that may be there (don’t forget the bathroom!). My go-to cleaning combo is 3-4 drops of Blue Dawn in a small tub of warm water and a soft cloth (microfiber, paper towels or a Swedish Dish Cloth). Blue Dawn is inexpensive, a natural degreaser, safe for all your countertop surfaces, and if it’s good for baby ducks it’s ok for our hands. Remember, spending a decent amount of time scrubbing with a non-abrasive cleaner are the best practices for breaking down any virus wall and keeping them from doing their job.
Tip #3 – Less is More
Less ingredients, less chemicals, less need for wearing gloves or other protective equipment while you clean is more safe for your family and your countertops. I do not recommend harsh cleaners in full strength amounts. They will not kill the viruses just because the fumes cause a full house evacuation. And I’ve seen aggressive cleaners like CLR cause irreparable damage to brand new natural stone and man-made countertops. Don’t use them! If you want something more than just some warm soapy water try this:
- The CDC says a diluted bleach solution can work great against viruses. Too much bleach however can damage the finish on your new countertops. If you are going to use bleach I recommend filling your sink halfway with warm water. Add a capful or two of bleach to the water and wipe surfaces down with that mixture and a soft cloth. I like to do this on the garbage disposal side of my sink because of the added bonus of eliminating icky disposal odors when you flush it down the drain
- Isopropyl Alcohol with at least 70% alcohol may be effective (also works great on removing water based markers from your countertops). NEVER pour anything other than water directly on your countertops. Using a soft cloth to cover the opening of the bottle and “swig” it onto the cloth like you do fingernail polish remover on a cotton ball. Then wipe and allow to dry
- Hydrogen Peroxide may be ok on some surfaces but always, ALWAYS (are you listening to me?) ALWAYS try it in an inconspicuous area first to make sure it doesn’t alter the color or finish of your countertops
- For quick touch ups, pre-made wipes such as Lysol Wipes, Clorox Wipes, Windex Wipes (without ammonia!) are ok for a quick scrub. But be sure to whistle your happy tune to make sure you don’t just swipe.
Tip #4 – Don’t Spread it Around
If you noticed, I never mentioned sponges. They are nasty, icky, breeding grounds for other things besides viruses that I don’t even want to get into here. I have opened that little tilt down tray in brand new kitchens and wanted to gag. Mold, mildew, all kind of unholy grossness. And if you use them more than once they can actually SPREAD the germies you are trying to get rid of, why would we do that?? We have switched instead to Swedish Dish Cloths which I am ashamed to say were created in 1949 and introduced to me 70 YEARS LATER! How did I not know about these? One Swedish Dish Cloth replaces up to 17 rolls of paper towels, they can absorb up to 16 times their weight in water, are soft and safe to use on ALL countertop surfaces, can be sanitized by running on the top rack of your dishwasher (you can also boil them!), and when they are used up they go in your compost instead of the trash…ummmm, genius! Plus they are so stinkin’ cute they may help take your mind off the news. Maybe.
I hope these little tips bring you some peace, some calm, and especially some beautiful countertops. If you have any questions please feel free to comment below and I will be happy to answer!
Kelly Milligan
Owner, KC Kitchen Center a fourth generation Woman Owned local small business
