Go Away Germs! 7 Simple Home Renovations to Coronavirus-Proof Your Home
By Leslye Fligor
As the Coronavirus continues to be a part of our daily lives with no end anytime soon, our collective
attention to household cleanliness and the germs within is at an all-time high. As we’re spending more
time than ever in our homes, it’s not surprising that upgrading our kitchens and bathrooms is high on
many people’s renovation wish list! If you’re improving these spaces, while you’re at it, you just might
want to incorporate the following simple renovations that help to reduce germs.
- Install touchless faucets
Installing a touchless faucet is relatively easy to do. Great for both kitchens and baths the
touchless faucet means no handles or knobs which can gather germs or create opportunity for
cross-contamination after handwashing or handling food. Besides, touchless faucets are fun to
use! - Use automatic soap dispensers
Washing hands is not just standard hygiene, but considered essential in staying healthy and
keeping the virus at bay. Commercial grade automatic soap dispensers can be installed in all
your sinks, or you can get battery operated soap dispensers which do not require installation.
Upgrade your toilets to “smart toilets”
How cool are smart toilets?! Many come equipped with digital controls, touchless flushing, and
Bluetooth connectivity, plus self-cleaning features to “relieve you” of your toilet-scrubbing
duties. - Implement smart lighting for touchless illumination
Every time you touch a light switch, you’re spreading germs. Light switches are considered one
of the dirtiest surfaces in your house. Switching to a smart lighting system can help reduce the
transmission of germs, as you can control lights from your phone – when you’re home and when
you’re not. - Eliminate contact with smart door locks
Just like light switches, door locks can harbor and breed germs as people go in and out of the
house. Digital keypads and smart door locks help to reduce human surface contact. Cool
features are keyless options, voice activation, and biometric identifiers. - Spend more time outside with year-round space heaters
Keeping your activities outside can help minimize the risk of transmitting the virus. Why not
enjoy your home’s exterior spaces with an outdoor patio heater? They can be purchased for as
little as $150, and you can enjoy al fresco dining in your own backyard! - Try on a sanitizing closet for size
Utilized extensively in retail clothing stores to minimize the spread of pathogens after people
have tried on clothing, closets in your home can become sanitizing closets, too. The use of
ultraviolet light can greatly reduce the spread of germs from getting beyond your mudroom.
Any or all the above home improvement ideas will be appreciated long after the coronavirus is
eventually under control. Clean homes improve our health and ultimately, our happiness.
