From billboards across the city to advisories before every phone call, coronavirus has left the world concerned and common people on guard. Here, doctors share tips and tricks on how to keep different areas of your home clean to prevent the onset of infections. They agree in saying that hand-washing is the first step. To make things easier, Dr Amit A Saraf, consultant physician, Jupiter Hospital suggests a simple trick. "It's difficult to keep time while you wash your hands since you remove your wrist watch. Try humming the 'Happy birthday' song, which lasts 20 seconds," he says.

1. Living room

When looking at your living space, the size is not the biggest concern. "The number of hidden spaces that collect dust and mould, the traffic [people coming in and out], natural light and ceiling height are all important factors," says Dr Dillon D'souza, ENT specialist. The use of disinfectant floor cleaners can considerably reduce the bacteria load in the house. "Sofas need to be vacuumed once a week and fabric covers washed. If your sofa is made of other materials like leather, use a leather cleaner," he adds. Besides that, he suggests deep-cleaning the living area every three to four months and avoiding heavy cottons and carpets that tend to collect dust. "A number of disinfectants contain chlorine and hypochloride, which act as disinfectants but are bad for the lungs. It is good to use them once a week, lock the house and get out so that the house gets fumigated. Once you come back to the house, open the windows to let the chlorine gas out," he explains.