COVID-19 Home Cleaning Checklist
Amy Barczy
| 2 min read
How are you protecting your home during COVID-19? Standard cleaning practices may not be enough. Frequently touched surfaces and high-traffic areas should be disinfected frequently, and there are likely areas you may be missing. If someone in your home is sick, you will need to disinfect surfaces more often.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, COVID-19 can live on surfaces for hours or even days, depending on the material. Although the new coronavirus is primarily spread through respiratory droplets (like a cough or sneeze), people are encouraged to clean and disinfect surfaces at home regularly.
Make sure to follow the CDC’s two-step disinfection process:
- Clean the area by removing dirt or impurities from the surface.
- Disinfect the area using an U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-registered disinfectant and follow the instructions on the label.
Cleaning Checklist
- Common areas
- Sinks
- Countertops
- Tables
- Desks
- Faucets
- Doorknobs
- Toilets
- Handles
- Light switches
- Electronics
- TV remotes
- Phones
- Smartwatches
- Computer keyboards
- Personal items
- Reusable shopping bags
- Purses or backpacks
- Keys
- Credit cards
Home Cleaning Must-Haves
- Bleach
- EPA-registered disinfectant or products approved by the EPA as effective against the coronavirus
- All-purpose soap
- Laundry detergent
- Reusable cloths or paper towels
- Reusable or disposable gloves
- Disinfectant wipes
- Alcohol-based wipes for electronics
Don’t Forget Your Hands
In addition to keeping your home clean and sanitized, frequent hand washing is critical to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Make sure to wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds. If soap and water are unavailable, choose a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. This option only works if hands are not visibly dirty. Otherwise, soap and water are preferred.
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Photo credit: dragana991
