According to the latest studies the coronavirus can live for 5 days on metal surfaces such as door handles and up to 4 days on wood. While experts are of the opinion that this doesn’t call for panic, proper cleaning is needed to clear away a variety of germs.

Thorough handwashing, proper usage of masks and hand sanitizers ensure personal protection. However, if you are wondering what you can do to keep your home furniture clear of the virus, here are some tips that can help.

Start with vacuum-cleaning upholstered surfaces. Don’t take cushions out of their covers because they might shrink in the wash and no longer fit over the cushion. To disinfect them, use a spray-on, homemade disinfectant comprising a 2-to-1 ratio of 60 to 90 percent rubbing — isopropyl — alcohol to water. You can also mix 7 grams of bleaching powder to 1 litre of water to make an effective disinfectant. Spray your disinfectant solution across all surfaces of your mattress including top, bottom and sides.

Hold the bottle 6 to 8 inches from the furniture, spraying the piece until it is covered with a light mist. For metallic surfaces like door handles, security locks, keys etc. 70% alcohol can be used to wipe down surfaces where the use of bleach is not suitable. Do not wipe off the disinfectant solution from the surface, let it dry on its own.

Wipe down tabletops, end tables, wooden arms and other hard surfaces of your furniture with a cloth soaked in your homemade disinfect to sanitize them. The surface must stay wet at least 1 minute to completely disinfect the piece. Once or twice a day should do the trick to remove germs, but if someone in your house is sick, you would want to wipe down surfaces more frequently.

Furniture with multiple coats of finish can be damaged by repeated applications of harsh detergents or alcohol based disinfectants. So ensure you don’t go overboard with disinfecting such sensitive surfaces.

There’s no study proving that sunshine can kill the coronavirus, however, sunshine and clean air work wonders, and the ultraviolet rays kill a lot of other bacteria and germs. Keep your movable furniture in the sun for a few hours to make them feel fresh and get rid of any foul smell. Ensure you don’t keep the wooden furniture in the sun for long hours to avoid any fading or discolouration.