Household Cleaning & Sanitizing

Find information about cleaning and disinfecting at home to protect yourself during a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak.

Recommendations: Potential Sanitation Solutions During an Emergency Response

Cleaning and sanitizing your household after an emergency is important to help prevent the spread of illness and disease.

Using Cleaning & Sanitizing Products

First, wash surfaces with soap and warm, clean water to remove dirt and debris. Next, sanitize surfaces with household bleach.

It is critical to read and follow the safety instructions on any product you use. Below are the most important safety guidelines when using sanitizing products:

Never mix bleach with ammonia or any other cleaner.
Wear rubber or other non-porous boots, gloves, and eye protection.
Try not to breathe in product fumes. If using products indoors, open windows and doors to allow fresh air to enter.

Cleaning & Sanitizing with Bleach

Use regular unscented household bleach and follow the instructions in the chart below.

Recommendations for Cleaning and Sanitizing Various Surfaces with Bleach and Water

Recommendations for Cleaning and Sanitizing Various Surfaces with Bleach and Water
Area or Item to be Cleaned	Bleach Amount	Water Amount	Cleaning Steps
Food surfaces that may have touched flood water [Examples: countertops, plates] Note: Throw away wooden cutting boards, baby bottle nipples, and pacifiers	1 tablepoon (0.5 ounces or ~15mL)	1 gallon (3.8 L)	Wash with soap and warm, clean water. Rinse with clean water. Sanitize using a mixture of 1 tablespoon of bleach per 1 gallon of clean water. Allow to air dry.
Food cans that are not bulging, open, or damaged	1 cup (8 ounces or 240 mL)	5 gallons (18.9 L)	Remove can labels. Wash cans with soap and warm, clean water. Dip cans in mixture of 1 cup of bleach per 5 gallons of water. Allow to air dry. Re–label cans with a permanent marker.

Recommendations for Cleaning and Sanitizing Various Surfaces with Bleach and Water
Area or Item to be Cleaned	Bleach Amount	Water Amount	Cleaning Steps
Non-food contact surfaces that do not soak up water and that may have touched floodwater [Examples: floors, sinks, certain toys, and tools]	1 cup (8 ounces or 240 mL)	5 gallons (18.9 mL)	Clean surface with soap and warm, clean water. Rinse with clean water. Sanitize using a mixture of 1 cup of bleach to 5 gallons of water. Allow to air dry.

Clean Mold Growth Off Hard Surfaces
Area or Item to be Cleaned	Bleach Amount	Water Amount	Cleaning Steps
Mold growth on hard surfaces [Examples: floors, stoves, sinks, certain toys, countertops, flatware, plates, and tools]	1 cup (8 ounces or 240 mL)	1 gallon (3.8 L)	Mix 1 cup of bleach in 1 gallon of water. Wash surfaces with the bleach mixture. If surfaces are rough, scrub them with a stiff brush. Rinse surfaces with clean water. Allow to air dry. For more information see: Protect Yourself from Mold