Has someone in your family been diagnosed with coronavirus? There are things you can do to disinfect your home if someone has coronavirus. A healthy person, who does not have the virus, should do the disinfecting.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend the following:
Wear disposable gloves to clean and disinfect.
Clean surfaces using soap and water. Practice routine cleaning of frequently touched surfaces. Those surfaces include: tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, sinks, etc.
To disinfect your home, the CDC recommends using diluted household bleach solutions (if appropriate to the surface you need to clean.) Unexpired household bleach will be effective against coronavirus when properly diluted. NEVER mix household bleach with ammonia or any other cleanser.
To make a bleach solution, the CDC says to mix 5 tablespoons (1/3 cup) bleach per gallon of water. Or, you can put 4 teaspoons of bleach per quart of water.
If you are going to use a household disinfectant, clean the area or item with soap and water, or another detergent if it is dirty. Then, use a household disinfectant. Follow the instructions on the label to ensure safe and effective use of the product.
Wear disposable gloves when doing the laundry. Wash hands with soap and water as soon as you remove the gloves. Do not shake dirty laundry. Dirty laundry from an ill person can be washed with other people’s items. Clean and disinfect clothes hampers.
Clean your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds. Always wash immediately after removing gloves and when in contact with an ill person.
The ill person should eat (or be fed) in their room if possible. Wash dishes and utensils using gloves and hot water. Handle any non-disposable used food service items with gloves and wash with hot water or in a dishwasher.
Use a dedicated, lined trash can for the ill person’s trash. 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 afterwards.
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