How to Disinfect Your Home Properly
Most people use the words "clean" and "disinfect" interchangeably, but they mean different things. Cleaning removes dirt and reduces bacteria through physical action — wiping, scrubbing, rinsing. Disinfecting uses chemical agents to kill bacteria and viruses on surfaces. You need to clean before you disinfect — a surface covered in grime prevents the disinfectant from reaching the surface it's supposed to treat.
What to Disinfect and When
Routine disinfecting is most worthwhile on high-touch surfaces that multiple people touch frequently:
- Door handles and knobs (front door, bathroom, bedroom)
- Light switches
- Bathroom faucet handles
- Toilet flush handles and seat
- Kitchen faucet handles
- Remote controls
- Phone screens
- Stair railings
During illness in the household, also disinfect: the bathroom thoroughly after use by the sick person, commonly touched kitchen surfaces, and any shared items.
Products That Disinfect (vs. Products That Only Clean)
- Products that disinfect: Lysol Disinfecting Spray, Clorox Disinfecting Wipes, isopropyl alcohol (70%+ concentration), 1:50 dilution of bleach (1 tablespoon bleach per 500ml water)
- Products that clean but do NOT disinfect: vinegar, most dish soaps, most all-purpose spray cleaners (unless specifically labeled as disinfectants), baking soda solutions. These reduce bacteria through cleaning action but don't kill pathogens to the standard of a registered disinfectant.
The Critical Step: Dwell Time
Disinfectants require contact time to work. Spraying and immediately wiping renders most disinfectants ineffective — the product needs to remain wet on the surface for the time specified on the label (usually 30 seconds to 10 minutes depending on the product and the target pathogen).
- Lysol spray: 3 minutes for many common bacteria, up to 10 minutes for some viruses — check the label
- 70% isopropyl alcohol: 30 seconds for bacteria, 1–2 minutes for viruses
- Bleach solution: 1 minute for most common pathogens
Sick Room Disinfection
When someone in the household is sick:
- Designate a separate bathroom for the sick person if possible
- Disinfect the bathroom daily: toilet (all surfaces), faucet handles, door handle
- Wash the sick person's bedding separately
- Open windows to ventilate — many respiratory viruses spread through the air, not just surfaces; ventilation reduces viral load in the room
- After recovery: wash all bedding on the highest heat setting and disinfect the entire room thoroughly
What Doesn't Need Regular Disinfection
Floors, walls, and most surfaces that aren't frequently touched with hands don't need regular disinfecting — cleaning is sufficient. Excessive disinfectant use on low-risk surfaces is wasteful and can create skin irritation and air quality issues. Focus disinfecting effort on high-touch surfaces.
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