During a pandemic, out of all the places you can stay at, your home is the safest. However, despite this, you should still adopt preventive measures, such as cleaning and disinfecting your home, to keep yourself and your loved ones safe from COVID-19. Of course, such measures should also apply to your appliances, which you interact with every day.

Keeping them clean and sanitized is something you should definitely consider. According to a study published in March 2020, the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 is more stable on surfaces made of plastic and stainless steel. These two are the most common appliance surfaces in your house.

That being said, Xtreme Appliances has shared these tips on how to clean and maintain some popular household appliances:

Wipe off the dust from your TV and sanitize its remote

Dust is a common allergen that can cause an allergic reaction when inhaled. That’s why it’s best to wipe off dust in your house regularly, especially in common areas like your living room.

Before cleaning your television, turn it off, let it cool down for a while before unplugging it. Start by wiping the frame of the TV with a slightly damp piece of cloth — preferably microfiber — followed by the screen. Make sure not to press too hard on the TV screen and its bezel, as this can cause damage.

Also, do not forget to clean and sanitize the remote control. Remote controls get dirty because of the multiple hands and fingers that touch it.

Before cleaning your remote, remove the battery, put it upside down so that the buttons are facing the floor, then gently tap the remote against your palm to dislodge any debris that may have accumulated in the buttons. Wipe the surface and buttons using alcohol-based wipes or a clean cloth damped with at least 70% isopropyl alcohol.

Avoid air-conditioner fins getting clogged and dirty

Having a clean air conditioner at home will not only provide you with practical benefits such as energy savings, but keeping it tidy and dry can also help prevent possible bacterial growth and ensure that it will function at its optimal working condition. A poorly maintained air conditioner may cause itchy eyes, headaches, and even respiratory problems.

Depending on the frequency of usage, cleaning can be on a daily, monthly, or seasonal basis. You can ask a professional cleaner to do it for you — for a fee, of course — but you can also do it yourself.

Start by taking out the outer frame of the air conditioner, and then remove the dust and dirt from the cooling fins using a fin comb. Next, remove visible build-ups and debris using a vacuum, let it dry, then put the fins back into place.

Here’s an Xtreme Appliances reminder: Don’t use your air conditioner all day. Leaving it on for the entire day might cause damage to the compressor and condenser; do it often, and it could cause irreparable damage. You wouldn’t want a damaged air conditioner while on enhanced community quarantine, right?

Your refrigerator should be kept clean

Like other household appliances, your refrigerator needs frequent cleaning as well, as it regularly acts as storage for meat, vegetables, and even cooked food. A clean refrigerator not only helps keep food fresh, but will also minimize the contamination of food stored in it.

Make it a habit to check stored goods in your fridge weekly. Throw away expired consumables, and place leftovers in proper storage units.

Before cleaning your refrigerator, remove everything inside, take out all the shelves and drawers, then wash them with dish soap. Wipe the interiors, but avoid using strong-scented soap to avoid having problems with removing the scent in the fridge that may be absorbed by food.

SEE ALSO: Deal: Get a free TV or appliance when you buy select Xtreme products

As an alternative to soap, you can use a mixture of baking soda and vinegar to remove stains. Dry the interiors with a clean cloth before returning the shelves, drawers, and stored goods.

It’s also good practice to wash raw food from the market before storing them in your refrigerator. Clean the food using a soft piece of cloth with dish soap mixed with water, and then use a damp cloth to remove the excess soap mixture.

Here’s another tip from Xtreme Appliances: Eliminate foul odor and maintain the natural smell of food in your refrigerator by putting activated charcoal or an open packet of baking soda inside.

By following these helpful sanitary tips, you can maintain a clean and healthy environment for yourself and your loved ones.

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