If somebody in your household has caught the coronavirus, or somebody has visited who has now had a positive test, you’ll want to make sure that everybody else is kept as safe as possible by cleaning and disinfecting the entire premises. Since the COVID-19 virus can live on surfaces for several days, cleaning is the best way to ensure that the risk of others contracting the virus is kept as low as possible.

Clean Before Disinfecting

Cleaning is the process of removing dirty or unwanted items and grime from a surface. On the other hand, disinfecting involves using chemical cleaning products to kill or inactivate germs like viruses. Typically, cleaning should happen before disinfecting since if you don’t clean the surfaces, the chemicals used to get rid of the virus might not even reach the surface that has been contaminated.

Use Approved Disinfectants

Using the right disinfectants is key if you want to protect your home against COVID-19 as much as possible. Look for products that have been officially approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as being effective for use against the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. Although other cleaning products might work, there is no guarantee that they will since they have not been tested. If you cannot find an EPA approved disinfectant product, look for one that is designed to kill coronaviruses in general.

Avoid Mixing Chemicals

When disinfecting your home to get rid of the virus, it’s important to avoid mixing different chemicals used for cleaning and disinfecting together. Mixing products like ammonia and bleach can generate toxic gases and even lead to serious allergic reactions.

Keep Your Eyes and Skin Protected

When using disinfectant products to rid your home of the COVID-19 virus, it’s important to protect your skin and eyes as much as possible. Wearing gloves and potentially even goggles can be worthwhile, especially if you plan to use a fogging machine to disperse the disinfectant into the air where it will land on all the surfaces in your home. Use disposable gloves if possible and throw them away after a single use.

Use the Recommended Amount of Product

How much disinfectant should you use to rid your home of the novel coronavirus? When it comes to using disinfectant products, more is not necessarily better, so it’s a good idea to read the instructions and stick to the recommended amount. Using too much product can leave a toxic residue behind or even damage the surfaces that you want to disinfect. If you’re going to be using bleach, make sure that it is diluted appropriately in line with the instructions before you use it.

Once you have found a disinfectant product that’s likely to work to kill the coronavirus, it’s important to make sure that you clean thoroughly and reach as many areas as possible where the germs could be lurking. Make sure that the room has adequate ventilation and ensure that the disinfectant is left to remain long enough on the surface to start working correctly.