College campuses are the perfect environment for viral spread. There are lots of crowds, events, and mingling. With the increase of the delta variant of COVID-19 quickly spreading through the US, college students may want to take some extra precautions this semester.
They’ll be in an environment surrounded by people who are initially gathering together from all over the world. In non-pandemic years, colds and illness spread through a college campus on a regular basis. This year, a lot of colleges have enacted policies where they are requiring vaccinations and masks to reduce the risk of viral spread. While in large numbers and in crowded public areas, these precautions will be taken.
It’s in dorm rooms or other shared living spaces where COVID can also quickly spread. There are some simple cleaning procedures and habits students can take to reduce their risk of infection. Before heading off to college, make sure your young adult knows how COVID is spread and arm them with the tools they need.
Keeping their dorm room clean will be a huge part of reducing the risk of viral spread on college campuses. These five dorm cleaning tips could potentially save your college students weeks of disruption in their education by staying clean.
5
Wipe High Touch Surfaces
Before heading off to college, buy your coed a lot of disinfecting wipes. Frequently wiping down areas that are touched often can reduce the risk of transmission significantly. Viruses live on surfaces and then can infect us through our hands when we touch our faces. Door knobs, light switches, handrails, faucet handles, and counters can be wiped clean at least twice daily.
The tv remote and any electronic device used every day should be wiped down daily as well. When using shared items around campus, like computers in the lab, clean the keyboard with a disinfecting wipe before using it. Washing hands often and having a steady supply of hand sanitizer can also decrease the risk of contracting COVID.
4
Take Out the Trash
Don’t allow dorm room trash to sit and fester in a small area shared with multiple people. In that trash can will be used tissues and likely used disposable masks. This is also where all the dirty disinfectant wipes used to clean surfaces will be thrown. Clear all of that trash out once a day to keep everything fresh and get anything that could get you sick out of the room. Taking out the trash isn’t fun but it’s a necessary part of life. In a dorm, roommates can take turns doing the dirty work.
3
Clean & Disinfect
There is a difference between cleaning a surface and disinfecting it. We usually clean and overlook what could be a very important step. Cleaning company Cleantec explains that cleaning a surface will remove dirt, particles, and reduce the number of germs and bacteria. Disinfecting will kill anything that got left behind. Cleaning and disinfecting have been vital in reducing the viral spread of COVID.
Disinfecting is a process where a cleaning agent is left on the surface for several minutes. That’s how long it takes to kill the rest of the germs that survived the initial cleaning. Ideally, the dorm should be cleaned and disinfected a few times a week. This includes cleaning the floors and walls regularly. Countertops and bathroom surfaces need to follow the clean and disinfect route. This is especially important for dorm rooms.
2
Develop a Clean Routine
If your young adult heads off to school with the basic idea of how often to clean and follow-through, they will lessen their odds of getting sick. Grove Collaborator suggests that college students have a bit more of a routine when it comes to cleaning. They should be washing their sheets once a week or more if needed. Regular vacuuming and dusting should also be happening. Daily tasks should be disinfecting high-touch surfaces, making the bed, and keeping the food area tidy. This will be totally new thing for them but it could be the difference between staying healthy and missing school.
1
Ventilate That Dorm
Since COVID-19 is an airborne disease, keeping the air clean is another great way to reduce the risk of transmission. An air purifier in a dorm room is almost a necessity when sharing a small space with another person. The purifier will filter the air and keep it all fresh. If an air purifier is out of budget or too big, keep your dorm window open often. Get a small room fan to push air around and even help push it out.
Source: Best Colleges, Cleantec, Grove Collaborator
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