How to properly disinfect your home

Written by Theodora Carbel

Last Updated: December 7, 2023

Non faucibus tincidunt commodo est arcu ipsum augue ipsum at vitae, nunc purus erat sem leo fames facilisis scelerisque sagittis, quam vitae

As we are going through unprecedented times, we as a team want to be there for our community, not just through our services but also through sharing information on how to best keep our homes and spaces as the safest place we and our family can inhabit.

It is imperative that in a time like today, our community understands that cleaning and disinfecting are two different tasks, and my goal today is to help you learn how to properly disinfect your home!

When we talk about disinfecting, think of it as a two-step process!

(Please note you must wear disposable gloves to clean and disinfect)

Step 1. Clean: Clean the surface you are wanting to disinfect with an all-purpose cleaner or with soap and water. Cleaning the surface before spraying the disinfectant is imperative, as we must remove any dust, grease, or grime from the surface so that the disinfectant can work at its full potential.

Step 2. Disinfect: Once the surface is clean, use any EPA registered household disinfectant like Lysol and follow instructions on the label to ensure safe and effective use of the product.

a. Spray a good amount of disinfectant on recently cleaned surface and let it sit for a few minutes. (This usually takes 3-5-minutes but see product label). This step is essential as without letting the disinfectant sit, it won’t do the job!

b. Once time is up, wipe away disinfectant with a clean dry cloth

Due to high demand, we understand that finding disinfectants can be a challenge right now, should that be the case for you, you are welcome to make your own disinfectant with bleach. Diluted household bleach solutions may be used if appropriate for the surface!

Check the label to make sure the product can be used for disinfecting.
Check to make sure the product is not past its expiration date.
Never mix bleach with ammonia or any other cleanser
Wear disposable gloves and have good ventilation
Make sure your surface is okay with bleach!
Leave solution on surface for at least 1 minute!

How to make bleach solution:

a) 4 teaspoons of bleach per quart of water

(pour bleach into container first to avoid it from splashing on you)

(Alcohol solutions with at least 70% alcohol may also be used to disinfect)

If any of these tips helped you clean your home, please let us know!

Also, feel free to keep on reading cleaning tips and tricks that we regularly use in our cleaning services in Virginia.