Do you know doormats can cause COVID-19? Here are 7 ways to disinfect them

The world is right in the middle of a pandemic and every day we hear spike in the number of COVID-19 cases. While everybody has been disinfecting surfaces, scrubbing floors and applying rubbing alcohol to kill coronavirus, many have been forgetting another breeding place of microbes and germs ‘doormat’. 

Do you know coronavirus can stay on your doormats for two days!  

As health experts had said earlier, microbes and toxins get into our homes (every day) with our shoes. Several studies have found that over 90 per cent of shoe soles contain high levels of disease-carrying pathogens. All common doormats including those made from cloth are breeding ground for microbial growth. 

COVID-19 can remain infectious for about twice as long on non-porous surfaces than porous surfaces. As doormats and upholstery are considered porous surfaces the chances of the virus staying is much higher than non-porous ones like wood, materials and many more. 

Although it’s not certain how long the virus that causes COVID-19 can remain active on surfaces, studies suggest that the coronavirus can survive on a surface for anywhere from 2 hours to a few days. 

 Taking off your shoes as soon as you come home is a good option. This would certainly prevent microbes from entering your house. However, your dirty doormat would certainly make you sick. 

Tips to clean your doormat  

 Firstly, clean your doormat every alternate day, yes, that’s not too much it is appropriate.  

Shake off the mat and loose the dirt outside your house or door. Vacuum it. Use a vacuum attachment to pick up any remaining dirt and debris. 

Use baking soda. Sprinkle baking soda over the doormat and use a brush or broom to scrub it into the fibres. This will help deodorize the mat. 

Sanitize it. Once a week, spray the mat with a disinfecting spray. To do this, regularly disinfect your doormat with 1:99 diluted household bleach. Do this also on carpets and rugs. 

These steps are for ordinary cleaning of the mat. But if you want to deep clean your mats and get rid of all the germs, here’s how: 

If your mat is made of washable fibres, use hot water and detergent to wash it. You may also use a scrubbing brush to work the soap into the mat. Air-dry the mat. 

When there’s a virus or other illness going around, the best way to keep your doormats clean is to practice good hygiene for the whole home: 

Use products with the EPA-approved emerging viral pathogens claim that are expected to be effective against COVID-19 and will thoroughly cleanse porous surfaces.  

So what are you waiting for, make sure you clean your doormats at regular interval and maintain hygiene.

Follow these simple steps to stay away from COVID 19. Stay happy and healthy!