North Olmsted, Ohio... When 2020 began, it’s unlikely that anyone expected the year to progress the way it did … or that most people would still be spending the majority of their time at home almost a year later.  But, as the months passed, consumers became more accustomed to this “new normal,” with many homeowners turning their focus to easy updates to make their spaces healthier. 

Case in point: internet searches for terms like “touchless faucet” and “hands-free faucet” are up nearly 200 percent in pay-per-click campaigns since the previous year, according to data from Moen, the #1 consumer faucet brand in North America. Not surprising, since frequent handwashing has been identified as one of the most important measures in reducing the spread of germs and bacteria.

But what else can people do? Here are a few quick and easy home updates to help keep your family healthy in 2021 and beyond.

Imagine the convenience of having a kitchen faucet turn water on or off, without a touch. Now take that, and add the option of voice technology. Moen’s U by Moen^™ Smart Faucet is the only voice-activated kitchen faucet on the commercial market to offer voice- and hands-free activation regardless of the faucet’s manual handle position. Homeowners can use their voice or the hands-free wave sensor to start or stop water flow and dispense the desired temperature and amount, no matter how the faucet handle is set.

The faucet, a CES^® 2021 Innovation Awards Best of Innovation Honoree, can help simplify handwashing by allowing users to ask the Smart Faucet to wash their hands. They’ll then be guided through proper handwashing procedure according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines, with time to scrub for 20 seconds, on command.

Opening windows and doors can help refresh any space and keep stale, musty odors at bay. Ensuring proper ventilation in your living area also may help prevent illnesses and reduce transmission of viruses*. Interested in taking air purification to the next level? Consider investing in a portable air cleaner or purifier. According to the Mayo Clinic, the more air exchanges and the cleaner the air, the lower the risk of transmission. Look for one that offers a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter that will catch and hold particles. The particles will stay on the filter so be sure to change it often.

We know that washing our hands is the best way to prevent the spread of germs, but keeping bathroom fixtures clean and germ-free is also important … making now the perfect time to upgrade bath faucets to a touchless version like the new Cia^™ faucet with MotionSense Wave^™ touchless technology from Moen.

Faucets with MotionSense Wave feature a single sensor on the faucet base that provides hands-free control, so users can turn water on and off with just the wave of a hand – perfect for when hands are too full or too messy to touch the handle.

Since there’s more handwashing going on in the home, it’s important to launder hand towels regularly or use disposable cloths. And when coming in from outside, be sure to remove reusable cloth masks and outerwear like coats, hats, gloves and shoes immediately upon returning from a public outing, and wash them regularly to keep them fresh and clean. If possible, use hot water in the wash for an extra germ-fighting effect.

There isn’t one specific action that will keep homes healthy, but rather a combination of steps that can help protect from bacteria and viruses. Beyond these suggestions, be sure to social distance, keep wearing a mask and of course … wash those hands!

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