You’re getting back to the point where you are welcoming people into your home or business but you want to make sure everyone is still safe. We are all more aware of pathogens than we were pre-2020 so let’s make it easy to protect ourselves with the following steps:
Get more fresh air into your space. This may simply mean opening windows or making them more accessible to reach. Recirculated air is more likely to bring germs back around, so adding a system that brings in more fresh air lowers your risk of infection.
Put up a sign with the rules right at the entrance so people know what to expect. If you want people in masks, say so right up front in a friendly way.
Change up your entrances so people don’t need to use doorknobs or other limited surface areas. Opt for automatic doors or install levers that use a foot or an arm to get in and out.
Make it easier for people to wash their hands often and easily. (Finally, an excuse for that long-awaited powder room reno!) Install lever taps that you turn off with the back of your hand or get touchless ones to minimize where germy hands make contact before they are washed.
More open spaces allow people to keep their distance without feeling like they are leaning against walls to avoid each other. This may require taking down a wall or simply rearranging the furniture for a better flow.
Install surfaces that are easily cleaned so you can spritz and wipe away germs, whether from human hands or even uncooked meat. Move clutter up onto shelves so you can easily clean every inch of counters.
Create spaces that keep cleaning supplies – from soap to disinfectant sprays – right at hand. Then you have no excuse when it’s time to clean up.
Set up humidifiers to reach an optimal humidity to limit the lifespan of viruses. You want to aim for 40 to 60 percent, which can also be accomplished by adjusting or improving your ventilations or heating system.
Filter the air that comes in. HEPA filters are already legendary for their ability to keep away dust, vapour, fungus and bacteria, so it’s time to add viruses to the list
Change up the flow of your space so people don’t get trapped in one narrow corridor where they cannot avoid each other. Allow more than one way in and out of a room so everyone feels more comfortable with getting too close to one another.
Add another bathroom. If you have overnight visitors, more than ever, they will want their own space to wash up. Tack a powder room onto the guest room and eliminate worries about sharing small spaces where germs could spread.