Your Home

Small items such as crockery, cutlery and pans can be cleaned by washing them thoroughly in hot water and detergent, then rinsing them thorough in clean, safe water.

For large or fixed items that you cannot rinse under a tap, such as work surfaces, taps and handles, use an antibacterial surface cleaning wipe, or a clean cloth and an antibacterial multi-purpose cleaner or cleanser, or appropriate disinfectant.

The greatest risk of infection in the bathroom comes from surfaces that you frequently touch – like the toilet flush handle, toilet seat, taps and door handle. It is important to regularly clean and disinfect these areas. If your child uses a potty, dispose of the contents in the toilet, not the sink, and ensure that you clean and disinfect the potty after each use.

After removing any visible mould or mildew, clean and disinfect tiled walls and other hard surfaces with a product proven to kill mould. Ensure you control moisture levels by keeping the room well ventilated.

Vacuum carpets and soft furnishings, and clean hard surfaces regularly, and remove surface clutter to make cleaning easier. Clean and disinfect hand-contact surfaces such as television remote controls, light switches and telephones, especially if someone is sick with a cold or flu. Also clean and disinfect floors, furniture, and other surfaces (like walls) promptly if there has been a spill of blood or body fluids such as vomit or faeces.

Wash fabrics at a high temperature (60ºC or above) to destroy most germs, but add a suitable laundry disinfectant if the fabric is heavily soiled, or you prefer not to wash it at a high temperature. Dry your laundry promptly to help prevent any residual germs multiplying.

Keep dirty laundry away from food preparation surfaces and wash your hands after handling it. Don’t hand-rinse heavily soiled items as this may contaminate sinks and taps. Remove solid waste (e.g. vomit and faeces) into the toilet then machine-wash.

The best way is to prevent an infestation is to stop them from gaining access to food, warmth, places to breed or bedding materials. Stop rodents getting into your home by blocking openings with strong materials such as concrete, sheet metal or mesh. Stop flies and insects by covering windows and ventilators with fine gauze (fly screens).

You can use a variety of pesticide products to control pests. These include aerosols, mats, coils and liquid electrical devices to kill or repel mosquitoes and flies. Various traps and baits are also available to control rodents and cockroaches. However, you must take care to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for using these items to ensure safety and effectiveness.