Where are germs found?

Germs are a part of everyday life. Some of them are helpful, but others are harmful and cause disease. They can be found everywhere - in our air, soil, and water. They are on our skin and in our bodies. Germs are also on the surfaces and objects that we touch.

Sometimes those germs can spread to you and make you sick. For example, there could be germs on a tv remote. You could get infected with the germs if you touch the remote and then rub your eyes or nose or eat with your hands.

How can I avoid getting germs from surfaces and objects?

To avoid becoming infected by germs from surfaces and objects, it is important to wash your hands often. But you can't wash your hands every time you touch something. So it's also important to regularly clean and disinfect surfaces and objects.

What is the difference between cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting?

Some people think that disinfecting is same thing as cleaning or sanitizing. But they are actually different:

• Cleaning removes dirt, dust, crumbs, and germs from surfaces or objects. When you clean, you will likely use soap (or detergent) and water to physically clean off the surfaces and objects. This may not necessarily kill the germs. But since you removed some of them, there are fewer germs that could spread infection to you.
• Disinfecting uses chemicals (disinfectants) to kill germs on surfaces and objects. Some common disinfectants are bleach and alcohol solutions. You usually need to leave the disinfectant on the surfaces and objects for a certain period of time to kill the germs. Disinfecting does not necessarily clean dirty surfaces or remove germs.
• Sanitizing could be done by either cleaning, disinfecting, or both. Sanitizing means that you are lowering the number of germs to a safe level. What is considered a safe level depends on public health standards or requirements at a workplace, school, etc. For example, there are sanitizing procedures for restaurants and other facilities that prepare food. What you do to sanitize will vary, depending on your needs. You might be mopping a floor using a mop, a chemical, and water. You might use a dishwasher to sanitize the dishes. Or you could be using an antibacterial wipe on a tv remote.

If you both clean and disinfect a surface or object, you can further lower the risk of spreading infection. There are products that clean and disinfect at the same time.

Which surfaces and objects do I need to clean and disinfect?

To prevent the spread of infection, you should regularly clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that are touched often. For example, in your house, this would include countertops, doorknobs, faucet and toilet handles, light switches, remotes, and toys.

How can I safely clean and disinfect?

It's important to be safe when using cleaning and disinfecting products:

• Store them in the containers they came in. Always follow the instructions and pay attention to the warnings on the label.
• Do not mix cleaners and disinfectants unless the labels say that it is safe to do so. Combining certain products (such as chlorine bleach and ammonia cleaners) can cause serious injury or even death.
• Check the label to see whether you need to use gloves to protect your hands and/or eye protection when using the products
• If you swallow, inhale, or get them on your skin, follow the directions on the label or get medical help
• Store them out of the reach of children

Everyday Steps and Extra Steps When Someone Is Sick

How to clean and disinfect

Wear disposable gloves to clean and disinfect.

Clean

• Clean surfaces using soap and water. Practice routine cleaning of frequently touched surfaces.

High touch surfaces include:
Tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, sinks, etc.

• Clean the area or item with soap and water or another detergent if it is dirty. Then, use a household disinfectant.

• Recommend use of EPA-registered household disinfectant.
  Follow the instructions on the label to ensure safe and effective use of the product.
  Many products recommend:
  • Keeping surface wet for a period of time (see product label)
  • Precautions such as wearing gloves and making sure you have good ventilation during use of the product.
• Diluted household bleach solutions may also be used if appropriate for the surface.
  • Check the label to see if your bleach is intended for disinfection, and ensure the product is not past its expiration date. Some bleaches, such as those designed for safe use on colored clothing or for whitening may not be suitable for disinfection.
  • Unexpired household bleach will be effective against coronaviruses when properly diluted.
    Follow manufacturer’s instructions for application and proper ventilation. Never mix household bleach with ammonia or any other cleanser.
    Leave solution on the surface for at least 1 minute.
    
    To make a bleach solution, mix:
  • 5 tablespoons (1/3rd cup) bleach per gallon of water
    OR
  • 4 teaspoons bleach per quart of water

• Alcohol solutions with at least 70% alcohol may also be used.

Soft surfaces

For soft surfaces such as carpeted floor, rugs, and drapes

• Clean the surface using soap and water or with cleaners appropriate for use on these surfaces.

• Launder items (if possible) according to the manufacturer’s instructions.Use the warmest appropriate water setting and dry items completely.

  OR

• Disinfect with an EPA-registered household disinfectant. These disinfectant meet EPA’s criteria for use against COVID-19.

Electronics

For electronics, such as tablets, touch screens, keyboards, and remote controls.

• Consider putting a wipeable cover on electronics
• Follow manufacturer’s instruction for cleaning and disinfecting
  • If no guidance, use alcohol-based wipes or sprays containing at least 70% alcohol. Dry surface thoroughly.

Laundry

For clothing, towels, linens and other items

• Launder items according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Use the warmest appropriate water setting and dry items completely.
• Wear disposable gloves when handling dirty laundry from a person who is sick.
• Dirty laundry from a person who is sick can be washed with other people’s items.
• Do not shake dirty laundry.
• Clean and disinfect clothes hampers according to guidance above for surfaces.
• Remove gloves, and wash hands right away.

Clean hands often

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds.
  • Always wash immediately after removing gloves and after contact with a person who is sick.
• Hand sanitizer: If soap and water are not readily available and hands are not visibly dirty, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. However, if hands are visibly dirty, always wash hands with soap and water.
• Additional key times to clean hands include:
  • After blowing one’s nose, coughing, or sneezing
  • After using the restroom
  • Before eating or preparing food
  • After contact with animals or pets
  • Before and after providing routine care for another person who needs assistance (e.g. a child)
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

When Someone is Sick

Bedroom and Bathroom

Keep separate bedroom and bathroom for a person who is sick (if possible)

• The person who is sick should stay separated from other people in the home (as much as possible).
• If you have a separate bedroom and bathroom: Only clean the area around the person who is sick when needed, such as when the area is soiled. This will help limit your contact with the person who is sick.
  • Caregivers can provide personal cleaning supplies to the person who is sick (if appropriate). Supplies include tissues, paper towels, cleaners, and EPA-registered disinfectants. If they feel up to it, the person who is sick can clean their own space.
• If shared bathroom: The person who is sick should clean and disinfect after each use. If this is not possible, the caregiver should wait as long as possible before cleaning and disinfecting.

Food

• Stay separated: The person who is sick should eat (or be fed) in their room if possible.
• Wash dishes and utensils using gloves and hot water: Handle any used dishes, cups/glasses, or silverware with gloves. Wash them with soap and hot water or in a dishwasher.
• Clean hands after taking off gloves or handling used items.

Trash

• Dedicated, lined trash can: If possible, dedicate a lined trash can for the person who is sick. Use gloves when removing garbage bags, and handling and disposing of trash. Wash hands afterwards.

Cleaning and disinfecting your home are effective ways to prevent the spread of illnesses and disease. In most situations, cleaning alone can remove most germs, such as harmful viruses or bacteria, on surfaces. Disinfecting to reduce the spread of diseases at home is likely not needed unless someone in your home is sick or if someone sick has recently visited.

• Cleaning is done with water, soap, and scrubbing. Cleaning removes germs, dirt, and impurities from surfaces.
•  
• Disinfecting products are chemicals that work by killing any remaining germs on surfaces.

If you choose to disinfect surfaces and household disinfectants are not available, you can make a bleach solution to use on many surfaces in your home. This solution will be effective at killing germs when properly diluted.

How to Safely Disinfect With Bleach

First, clean visibly dirty surfaces with household cleaners containing soap or detergent before disinfecting with household bleach.

Follow these important safety guidelines when using bleach products:

• Follow the label directions on the bleach product. Check to see if you need to wear any protective equipment, such as gloves or eye protection.
• Never mix household bleach (or any disinfectants) with any other cleaners or disinfectants. This can release vapors that may be very dangerous to breathe in.
• Make sure you have good ventilation while using bleach products indoors (for example, open windows and doors to allow fresh air to enter).
• Use regular unscented household bleach. Most household bleach contains 5%–9% sodium hypochlorite. Do not use a bleach product if the percentage is not in this range or is not specified. This includes some types of laundry bleach or splashless bleach, which are not appropriate for disinfection.
• Follow the directions on the bleach bottle for preparing a diluted bleach solution. If your bottle does not have directions, you can make a bleach solution by mixing:
  • 5 tablespoons (1/3 cup) of bleach per gallon of room temperature water or
  • 4 teaspoons of bleach per quart of room temperature water
• Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for applying the bleach solution to surfaces. If instructions are not available, leave the diluted bleach solution on the surface for at least 1 minute before removing or wiping. This is known as the “contact time” for disinfection. The surface should remain visibly wet during the contact time.
• Wash hands after cleaning or disinfecting.
• Make a new diluted bleach solution daily. Bleach solutions will not be as effective after being mixed with water for over 24 hours.

Contact with animals has many positive effects for people. However, animals can carry harmful germs that make people sick even when the animal looks healthy and clean.

Germs that may be spread from animals to people include E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella, Cryptosporidium, Coxiella burnetii, Campylobacter, Yersinia enterocolitica, and ringworm. For a list of other diseases that spread between people and animals (zoonotic diseases).

Always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after handling animals and anything where they live or roam. This includes:

Always wash your hands after touching, feeding or playing with pets

• After touching or playing with your pet
• After feeding your pet or handling pet food
• After handling pet habitats or equipment (such as cages, tanks, toys, and food and water dishes)
• After cleaning up after pets
• After leaving areas where animals live (such as coops, barns, and stalls), even if you did not touch an animal
• Before eating and drinking
• Before preparing food or drinks
• After removing soiled clothes or shoes

Running water and soap are best for handwashing, but you can use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol until running water and soap are available. Adults should supervise handwashing for young children.

Children younger than 5 years old, people with weakened immune systems, and people 65 years and older are more likely to get diseases spread between animals and people. Pregnant women are also at a higher risk for certain animal-related diseases. If you or a family member are concerned about these diseases, talk to your healthcare provider and veterinarian about prevention practices, including how to stay safe and healthy around pets and other animals.