Coming home from the hospital is usually a relief, but when a diagnosis like Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) is involved, that relief can quickly turn into anxiety.
C. diff is a stubborn bacterium that causes severe diarrhea and colitis. Unlike many common germs, it produces spores that can live on surfaces for months.
Prioritize “High-Touch” Surfaces
You don’t necessarily need to scrub the ceiling, but you do need to be aggressive with surfaces that hands (and germs) touch most often:
- The Bathroom: This is “Ground Zero.” Clean the toilet handle, seat, lid, sink faucets, and the floor around the toilet daily.
- The Bedroom: Nightstands, bed rails, and remote controls.
- General House: Doorknobs, light switches, keyboards, and phones.
Handling Laundry
C. diff spores can easily hitch a ride on clothing, towels, and bedsheets.
- Don’t Shake It: Never shake dirty laundry; this can fling spores into the air.
- Hot Water: Wash contaminated items in the hottest water setting.
- Dry High: Use the high-heat setting on your dryer for at least 30 minutes.
- Separate Loads: Keep the infected person’s laundry separate from the rest of the family’s until they have been symptom-free for several days.
Handwashing: Soap vs. Sanitizer
This is a rare case where hand sanitizer is not enough. Alcohol-based gels do not kill C. diff spores; they just move them around.
- Vigorous Scrubbing: Use soap and warm running water.
- The Friction Method: The physical action of rubbing your hands together for 20 seconds is what creates the friction necessary to rinse the spores off your skin and down the drain.
Food items and Kitchenware
We recommend throwing away all the food in the house but we realize that is not practical for most customers. We let you decide what you want to do with food and kitchen items. Just know that we do not spray food with disinfectant.
Electronics
Keyboards, phones, and other electronics are not designed to be submerged in liquid. Just like with food, we realize a customer is not going to agree to throw away all electronics. We can do a quick spray and wipe on these items but that is not sufficient to do a proper job. Neither is a quick UV exposure.
Safety Quick-Tips
Protection: Always wear disposable gloves while cleaning. If you are cleaning a heavily soiled area, consider an apron or old clothes you can wash immediately.
Cleaning after C. diff is a marathon, not a sprint. Consistency is what prevents reinfection and keeps your household healthy.