Cleaning and Disinfecting Your Home During the COVID-19 Pandemic

One of the ways we can help slow the spread of the coronavirus is through regular cleaning and disinfecting of our homes. This is especially important if you have someone working in your home like a nanny or senior caregiver. Or you’re hosting a microschool or learning pod or a nanny share where you have other adults and children coming in and out of your house.

You could also consider hiring a housekeeper to clean your home.

Let’s get started with some general terms:

Cleaning refers to the removal of germs, dirt, and impurities from surfaces. It does not kill germs, but by removing them, it lowers their numbers and the risk of spreading infection.

Disinfecting refers to using chemicals, for example, EPA-registered disinfectants, to kill germs on surfaces. This process does not necessarily clean dirty surfaces or remove germs, but by killing germs on a surface after cleaning, it can further lower the risk of spreading infection.

General recommendations for routine cleaning and disinfection of households

You can practice routine cleaning of frequently touched surfaces (for example tables, doorknobs, light switches, handles, desks, toilets, faucets, sinks, and electronics (see below for special electronics cleaning and disinfection instructions) with household cleaners and EPA-registered disinfectants that are appropriate for the surface, following label instructions.

Labels contain instructions for safe and effective use of the cleaning product including precautions you should take when applying the product, such as wearing gloves and making sure you have good ventilation during the use of the product.

For electronics, follow the manufacturer’s instructions for all cleaning and disinfection products. Consider the use of wipeable covers for electronics. If no manufacturer guidance is available, consider the use of alcohol-based wipes or spray containing at least 70% alcohol to disinfect touch screens. Dry surfaces thoroughly to avoid the pooling of liquids.

How to clean and disinfect hard (nonporous) surfaces

Wear disposable gloves when cleaning and disinfecting surfaces. Gloves should be discarded after each cleaning. If reusable gloves are used, those gloves should be dedicated to cleaning and disinfection of surfaces for COVID-19 and should not be used for other purposes.

Consult the manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning and disinfection products used. Clean hands immediately after gloves are removed.

If surfaces are dirty, they should be cleaned using a detergent or soap and water prior to disinfection.

For disinfection, most common EPA-registered household disinfectants should be effective. A list of products that are EPA-approved for use against the virus that causes COVID-19 is available here.

Follow manufacturers’ instructions for all cleaning and disinfection products (e.g., concentration, application method, and contact time).

Additionally:

• Diluted household bleach solutions (at least 1,000 ppm sodium hypochlorite, or a concentration of 5% – 6%) can be used if appropriate for the
  surface.
• Follow manufacturers’ instructions for application, ensuring a contact time of at least one minute.
• Allow for proper ventilation during and after application.
• Check to ensure the product is not past its expiration date.
• Never mix household bleach with ammonia or any other cleanser.
• Unexpired household bleach will be effective against coronaviruses when properly diluted.

Prepare a bleach solution by mixing:

• 5 tablespoons (1/3 cup) bleach per gallon of room temperature water, or
• 4 teaspoons bleach per quart of room temperature water.

Bleach solutions will be effective for disinfection for up to 24 hours.

How to clean and disinfect soft (porous) surfaces

For soft (porous) surfaces such as carpeted floors, rugs, and drapes, remove visible contamination if present and clean with appropriate cleaners indicated for use on these surfaces.

After cleaning, launder items as appropriate in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. If possible, launder items using the warmest appropriate water setting for the items, and dry items completely.

How to clean and disinfect electronics

For electronics such as cellphones, tablets, touch screens, remote controls, and keyboards, remove visible contamination if present.

Other recommendations include:

• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for all cleaning and disinfection products.
• Consider the use of wipeable covers for electronics.
• If no manufacturer guidance is available, consider the use of alcohol-based wipes or sprays containing at least 70% alcohol to disinfect touch screens.
• Dry surfaces thoroughly to avoid the pooling of liquids.

How to clean and disinfect linens, clothing, and other items that go in the laundry

Wear disposable gloves when handling dirty laundry, and then discard them after each use. If using reusable gloves, those gloves should be dedicated to cleaning and disinfection of surfaces for COVID-19 and should not be used for other household purposes.

Clean hands immediately after gloves are removed.

Here is some additional guidance:

• If no gloves are used when handling dirty laundry, be sure to wash your hands afterward.
• If possible, do not shake dirty laundry. This will minimize the possibility of dispersing the virus through the air.
• Launder items as appropriate in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
• If possible, launder items using the warmest appropriate water setting for the items, and dry items completely.
• Dirty laundry from an ill person can be washed with other people’s items.
• Clean and disinfect clothes hampers.
• If possible, consider placing a bag liner inside that is either disposable (can be thrown away) or can be laundered.

Hand hygiene and other preventive measures

Household members should clean their hands often, including immediately after removing gloves and after contact with an ill person, by washing hands with soap and water for 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available and hands are not visibly dirty, an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol may be used. However, if hands are visibly dirty, always wash hands with soap and water.

Household members should follow normal preventive actions while at work and home, including recommended hand hygiene and avoiding touching eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

Additional key times to clean hands include:

• After blowing one’s nose, coughing, or sneezing
• After using the restroom
• Before eating or preparing food
• After contact with animals or pets
• Before and after providing routine care for another person who needs assistance (e.g., a child)

General recommendations for cleaning and disinfection of households with people suspected/confirmed to have COVID-19

All household members should educate themselves about COVID-19 symptoms and preventing the spread of COVID-19 in homes.

CDC recommendations include:

Clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces daily in household common areas (e.g. tables, hardbacked chairs, doorknobs, light switches, phones, tablets, touch screens, remote controls, keyboards, handles, desks, toilets, and sinks).

In the bedroom/bathroom dedicated to an ill person, consider reducing cleaning frequency to as-needed (e.g., soiled items and surfaces) to avoid unnecessary contact with the ill person.

As much as possible, an ill person should stay in a specific room and away from other people in their home, following home care guidance.

The caregiver can provide personal cleaning supplies for an ill person’s room and bathroom unless the room is occupied by a child or another person for whom such supplies would not be appropriate. These supplies include tissues, paper towels, cleaners, and EPA-registered disinfectants.

If a separate bathroom is not available, the bathroom should be cleaned and disinfected after each use by an ill person. If this is not possible, the caregiver should wait as long as practical after use by an ill person to clean and disinfect the high-touch surfaces.

Household members should follow home care guidance when interacting with persons with suspected/confirmed COVID-19 and their isolation rooms/bathrooms.

Other considerations:

• The ill person should eat/be fed in their room, if possible. Nondisposable food service items used should be handled with gloves and washed with hot water or in a dishwasher.
• Clean hands after handling used food service items.
• If possible, dedicate a lined trash can for the ill person. Use gloves when removing garbage bags, and handling and disposing of trash.
• Wash hands after handling or disposing of trash.
• Consider consulting with your local health department about trash disposal guidance, if available.

Hiring a nanny?

Download Your Guide to Hiring a Nanny. In this guide, we lay out the steps on how to hire a nanny the right way and maintain a strong relationship with your employee.