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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Original poster

How to get the house CLEAN after norovirus.

25 replies

Soddingepiphany · 14/12/2016 09:05

We've had the dreaded norovirus here and everyone in the household has succumb, me being the last and I spent yesterday thinking I was dying but am on the mend today and now I NEED to get the place clean! If I could just burn down the house I would. Everybody kept the expulsions (yuk) to the bathroom which is currently dripping all over in dettol and bedding is on a 95 degree wash, DP is getting some aerosol dettol later.

I also once I am feeling a little better plan on cleaning the carpets and washing the sofa covers and washing the armchair cushion covers and obviously scrubbing the entire kitchen but I feel like the place will never feel clean again! Does anyone have any tips or ways of cleaning that I haven't thought of yet?

OP posts:
carnationlilyrose · 14/12/2016 09:07

No advice but watching with interest, similar situation here... What I would really like is to fumigation the entire building!

carnationlilyrose · 14/12/2016 09:07

*fumigate
stupid autocorrect

Rumtopf · 14/12/2016 09:25

My parents are just getting over this so I've been over to blitz their house as my Mum hasn't got the energy yet.
Bedding, bathroom mats and towels all went in on a 90C wash, everything was wiped down with zoflora, paying attention to light switches, door handles etc too. Bleached the loo and cleaned the kitchen.
I also took my vaporiser and set that going with some hydrogen peroxide in too.

Original poster
Soddingepiphany · 14/12/2016 09:48

Oh the vapouriser sounds interesting, is it safe if you have children and pets? If so where do you get it please? I have some zoflora so I'll have a go with that too.

OP posts:
namechangingagainagain · 14/12/2016 09:56

I dont want to piss on anyones ( floral smelling) chips, but as far as i know zoflora isnt effective against norovirus.
I know bleach is. Plus good old handwashing.
Zoflora will however get rid of the lingering smell of vomit!

TheLadyWithTheYellowHat · 14/12/2016 10:05

Dettol everything, door handles, microwave buttons, fridge door, taps, id stick some zoflora in the washing machine aswell when washing bedding, dressing gowns etc... Open all windows, front and back doors to get air flowing through the house, id also mop all floors, change toothbrushes norovirus is awful hope you're all feeling alot better Smile

PinkSwimGoggles · 14/12/2016 10:09

bleach.
I not usually a fan of bleach, but bleach is safe and effective for disinfecting anything you can't wash at 60 or higher.
if you have a steam cleaner, use that.

catsofa · 14/12/2016 11:39

I was just about to start this thread!

My spray bottle of anti-bac cleaner says it is dangerous to pets, and I have a very old and frail cat plus a toddler, so wondering what to use for floors, door handles, etc.

Is Dettol both effective and safe?

Will attempt to drag myself to the supermarket for cleaning stuff this afternoon although I'm still really weak and not sure I'll make it.

celeste84 · 14/12/2016 12:05

I wouldn't even mess around with dettol I would just go full out on bleach. Its cheap, effective and quick working. You know with bleach that its killing everything. Obviously bleach is for hard surfaces only definitely not for fabrics. Fabrics just chuck in hot as possible wash. Carpets maybe a steam cleaner?

catsofa · 14/12/2016 13:23

Isn't bleach very caustic? Could it give the cat chemical burns? Is it ok to use on wooden drawer handles, or will it damage them? Will it ruin my clothes if little splashes get on what I'm wearing or any of the huge piles of laundry hanging up to dry all over the house? I'm slightly scared of bleach...

celeste84 · 14/12/2016 13:41

Most of the places like floors, hard surfaces you will be diluting the bleach with hot water anyway so it should be fine for pets nearby. You will only use it neat down the loo or sink. Best wear some gloves for when using or else your hand will stink. Best wear your worst raggy clothes too. Even just an accidental splash can leave speckles of bleach dots on your clothes that you can never rid of.

catsofa · 14/12/2016 13:52

Right thanks, I'll get on it with the bleach then. Will have to wait til tomorrow I've just realised how completely knackered i am still after eating and drinking nothing but coke for 36 hours...

gamerchick · 14/12/2016 14:00

You need bleach, nothing else will cut it. You also need to pay attention to anything in the bathroom. Shampoos, any other bottles, throw away toothbrushes. As soon as it hit here Monday nobody has been allowed to wash or brush teeth in the bathroom while I deep clean it corner to corner a few times. Only the shower with fresh towel has access to it. All towels that were in there have been washed again. All door handles, remotes etc need doing repeatedly.

Sounds like overkill but it's only been confined to the one person so far. I'm still not hopeful it's enough.. it's a beast that bug.

Hope you're on the mend OP Flowers

rabbit123 · 14/12/2016 14:13

Don't use dettol if you have pets, especially cats as it's toxic to them.

Washing up liquid, HOT water and a cap of bleach is best for cleaning and disinfecting floors. Try and make sure it's dry before the pets walk on it again

41coffeeslater · 14/12/2016 14:29

I did a lot of googling for this. As already said you need bleach. But mainly you need to dilute and wash away as much as possible so lots if soapy water and rinsing. Use disposable wipes then seal and throw away outside. If you have all had the virus you will be immune for a few months to that strain so your house shouldn't make you sick again (although visitors might).

thegreenmile · 14/12/2016 14:38

start with the kitchen and use this kitchen spray it does a lovely job at cleaning everything up:-)

specialsubject · 14/12/2016 19:32

or a big bottle of bleach at about 35p which will do the same....

smallone · 14/12/2016 20:08

I wouldn't put too much effort in, you'll likely still be infectious for a couple of days. You'll just re germ the place. Do the bathroom and save the rest till you have the energy. Kids at our school were passing it on after being free of symptoms for 48hrs and returning to school. Then I am a fab of hot soapy water and finish with dettol. I think there is a short immunity of a few weeks.

hanban89 · 14/12/2016 22:51

Bleach bleach and more bleach. I bleach the entire bathroom and kitchen.
Wipe down every button and switch possible. And I spray the air with the dettol aerosol thing as well as the couch.
Disposable gloves are my best friend. I add the dettol detergent into wash loads as well.
I have managed to avoid it three times now while the rest of the house has it. I literally bleach everything after every single 'episode'.

hanban89 · 14/12/2016 22:53

Oh and things that aren't dishwasher safe I leave in hot water in the sink with Milton and leave it to soak.

VikingLady · 14/12/2016 22:54

Standard bleach is fine for cats.

MotherFuckingChainsaw · 14/12/2016 23:04

If it's a virus.. surely you will be immune by now?

PenguinsandPebbles · 14/12/2016 23:06

Zoflora

I know it's a MN classic but that will kill anything and not damage things like bleach would.

You can put a cap full into the wash for bedlinen too

Having got through survived Noro virus it's either zoflora or a new house situation IMO

PenguinsandPebbles · 14/12/2016 23:13

motherfuckingchainsaw guessing you have never met norovirus

It can survive and reinfect for up to 12 days

gamerchick · 14/12/2016 23:22

Yeah that fucker has teeth. It's one fascinating, scary bug.

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