COVID-19 Home Cleaning Checklist

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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