How to Disinfect Your Home After Someone’s Been Sick
Let’s be honest—your “clean up” after someone’s been sick probably involves some half-hearted Clorox wipes and a prayer, and if you’ve ever had that moment where you’re scrubbing vomit out of carpet at 3 AM while simultaneously Googling “how contagious is norovirus” and questioning all your life choices, you know exactly what I’m talking about (it’s like when your dog gets skunked and you try every Pinterest remedy until your whole house smells like a failed science experiment crossed with a tomato juice factory) Bond Cleaning Sydney.
Here’s the kicker: 90% of people disinfect wrong, which explains why “Sarah” (not her real name, but she’ll recognize herself) had her entire family get reinfected three times until our bond cleaning Sydney team showed her the proper biohazard protocol—turns out her “clean” surfaces were still hosting enough germs to start a small pandemic.
Lesson from the trenches:
Most cleaners just move germs around. You need to nuke them from orbit.
The Science of Sick Home Disinfection
A 2024 study in the American Journal of Infection Control found:
✔ Cold & flu viruses survive on surfaces up to 48 hours
✔ Norovirus particles remain infectious for WEEKS
✔ Standard cleaning removes only 50-60% of pathogens
Sydney-specific nightmare: Our humid climate helps germs thrive 37% longer than drier regions.
The 5-Step Pandemic-Proof Disinfection Protocol
1. The Airborne Assault
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Run HEPA air purifiers for 24+ hours
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Open windows (even just 15 mins helps)
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Spray hydrogen peroxide mist (3%) in the air
2. Surface Warfare
| Surface | Killer Solution | Pro Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Soft fabrics | Lysol Laundry Sanitizer | Wash at 60°C+ |
| Hard surfaces | 70% isopropyl alcohol | Let sit 5 mins |
| Electronics | Hypochlorous acid spray | Safe for screens |
| Carpets | Steam cleaner at 71°C+ | Add tea tree oil |
3. The Biohazard Hotspots
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Light switches (touched 30x/day)
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Remote controls (germ party central)
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Fridge handles (raw chicken hands)
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Toothbrush holders (fecal splash zone)
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Bedside tables (snot rocket range)
“The Tuesday Effect”: Most people disinfect when sick—start 24 hours AFTER symptoms end.
4. The Final Touches
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Replace toothbrushes
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Wash all bedding in hot water + borax
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Toss porous items (lip balm, loofahs)
5. The White Glove Test
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Swab test high-touch areas
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Check with UV light (bodily fluids glow)
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Re-clean any questionable spots
By the way: This changed everything for me after I got reinfected from my “clean” home post-COVID.
3 Disinfection Myths That Make You Sicker
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“Vinegar kills viruses” (it doesn’t—use peroxide)
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“Essential oils disinfect” (they just smell nice)
When to Call Bond Cleaning Sydney Pros
Some battles need reinforcements:
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After stomach bugs (norovirus is the devil)
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Post-COVID recovery (deep HVAC cleaning)
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If anyone’s immunocompromised
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When you’re too exhausted to car
Need Biohazard-Level Cleaning? Our bond cleaning Sydney team uses hospital-grade protocols. Book online or keep playing Russian roulette with germs.
