Cleaning and disinfection of living environment are also necessary during the COVID-19 outbreak. So how to do household cleaning and disinfection works?

General population

When do we need disinfection?

To those who stay at home, they only need to clean surfaces of household items on a daily basis and maintain hygiene of household environment, and it’s not necessary to carry out disinfection.

But after other’s (with unknown physical health conditions) visits or family member’s return from an environment with high risk for infection, it’s recommended to conduct timely disinfection of surfaces of related household items.

How to disinfect household items ^[1]?

First, you shall make sure the floor is clean and dry, and there’s no damp corner, which can help preventing breeding of viruses and bacteria.

Chlorine-containing disinfectant fluid at a concentration of 250 mg/L can be prepared to wipe surface of floor, desk top and other objects, such as 84 disinfectant fluid, bleaching powder, or other chlorine-containing disinfectant powder/tablets and peroxides. Surfaces of metals, electric appliances and other objects not resistant to corrosion (such as cell phone and computer) can be wiped by 75% alcohol prep pad or disinfecting wipe for disinfection time of no less than 15 minutes, and then wiped with clean water to remove residual disinfectant.

Although it remains unclear whether 2019-nCoV can be transmitted through digestive system, attention shall be paid to separate dining in daily life for the safety sake. Mugs and cutleries can be disinfected by boiling water or steam for 15 minutes after washing, or disinfected by disinfection cabinet pursuant to instructions for use. Sanitary ware can be wiped by chlorine-containing disinfectant fluid with effective chlorine concentration of 500 mg/L for disinfection, and wiped out with clean water after 30 minutes.

Clothes, bedding and other daily necessities can be cleaned as usual. They can be left to dry outside since 2019-nCov can hardly survive in the air without living cell (like human body). Besides, given outdoor air circulation, viruses wouldn’t accumulate on bedding and clothes during drying process.

Floor and walls of bathroom can be mopped and wiped by chlorine-containing disinfectant fluid at a concentration of 500 mg/L for disinfection. Basin and toilet bowl shall be cleaned on a daily basis, proper amount of disinfectant fluid can be sprayed on surfaces for disinfection, and plenty of tap water shall be used for rinsing after disinfection, otherwise pipeline network will be corroded. Loose floor drain or damaged sewer line shall be replaced in time.

Mop, rag and other cleaning tools are the blind zone of disinfection, which shouldn’t be neglected. Soak them in chlorine-containing disinfectant with effective chlorine concentration of 500 mg/L for 30 minutes, and then clean and let them air-dry.

How to prepare disinfectant?

Concentration of disinfectant is of great importance, it can hardly show sterilization effect if the concentration is not up to standard, and it can cause damages to surfaces of objects and respiratory tract if the concentration is too high. Taking alcohol as an example, the optimum concentration is between 75%, attention shall be paid to ventilation to avoid fire hazard, and it shall not be applied to mucous membrane to avoid irritation.

The commonly used chlorine-containing disinfectant is 84 disinfectant, and disinfectant  with chlorine concentration of 500 mg/L can be acquired by adding 10 mL disinfectant into 990 mL water. If you need to wipe surfaces of objects, it can be further diluted with equal amount of water. In case of 84 disinfectant tablets, specifications shall be read carefully, and disinfectant fluid with chlorine concentration of 500 mg/tablet can be acquired by adding 1 tablet of 500 mg/tablet or 2 tablets of 250 mg/tablet into 1,000 mL water. It shall be noticed that 84 disinfectant can easily react with other chemicals and generate toxic byproducts, so don’t mix it with acidic and alkaline substances (such as vinegar, toilet cleaner and baking soda) or prepare with hot water, and disinfectant purchased shall be stored away from light and heat^[2].

Besides, since disinfectant are normally irritant, please open the window after use in time for ventilation. Senior citizens, infants and people with respiratory diseases shall be asked to stay in their rooms instead of the room being disinfected temporarily, and disinfection works shall be conducted room by room.

Don’t forget air disinfection^[2]

Respiratory droplet transmission is a major route of transmission ^[1], so air disinfection or ventilation shall be conducted as well.

Natural ventilation is the first choice, so open doors and windows as much as possible for ventilation, which shall be conducted 2 to 3 times for at least 30 minutes each.

If you need to use air-conditioning, then its filter and filter screen shall be cleaned and disinfected on a monthly basis. Disinfectant fluid with chlorine concentration of 250 mg/L can be used to spray them and make them moisture, and let it work for 30 minutes for disinfection.

Buffer zone at home

As for ordinary people, things should be disinfected most after returning to home are our bodies, clothes and belongings, and the mask shall be discarded. You shall have a buffer zone at the entrance between contaminated area (outdoor) and clean area (home), and place hangers, rubbish bin, alcohol-based hand sanitizer and other stuffs there. After getting inside, you can clean your hands with alcohol-based hand sanitizer first, remove your clothes and put them on hangers, then change indoor slippers, remove mask and dispose it into sealed rubbish in, Disinfect your hands again or wash your hands with soap and flowing water, take a shower in bathroom, and change home wear.

Hands disinfection

In addition to aforesaid disinfection items, don’t forget hand disinfection or hand washing, which’s the most economic way to prevent contact transmission. Please thoroughly wash your hands before having dinner, after using bathroom, after returning home, after coughing or sneezing, and before touching eyes, mouth and nose.

Higher disinfection requirements on people staying at home for self-quarantine^[3]

Disinfection methods for people staying at home for self-quarantine are basically the same to that of ordinary people, but the disinfection frequency is obviously higher. Cutleries and objects frequently touched by the quarantined people shall be cleaned and disinfected frequently on a daily basis, such as night tables, bedstead and other bedroom furniture. Surfaces of bathroom and toilet shall be cleaned and disinfected at least once on a daily basis. The buffer zone can be set at the entrance of the room of quarantined people’s daily activities.

Use ordinary laundry soap and clean water to wash clothes, bed sheet, bath towel and washcloth in close contact with quarantined people, or use washing machine to wash them with water at 60~90℃ and regular household laundry detergent, and then let them fully air-dry.

Family members shall wear mask, disposable gloves and protective clothing (such as plastic apron) before cleaning and disinfection to avoid direct contact with clothes, bedding and discharges of quarantined people, who shall also thoroughly wash and disinfect both hands before wearing and taking off gloves.

How to disinfect after being diagnosed?

After being diagnosed as COVID-19patient, thorough terminal disinfection of the patient’s home must be conducted, and people in close contact with him/her shall also receive 14-day quarantine. Places need to be disinfected include floor and was of rooms, surface of desks, chairs and other furniture, door knobs, patient’s cutleries, clothes, bedding and toys, bathroom, etc. Terminal disinfection normally shall be carried out by professionals, and local center for disease control and prevention shall be contacted for details. No one shall enter into the patient’s home before completion of disinfection works.