1. Why is it important to wear PPE when cleaning and sanitizing kitchen
surfaces?
Answers
Disinfect with a household disinfectant on List N: Disinfectants for use against SARs-CoV-2external icon.
Vacuum as usual.
Electronics
For electronics, such as tablets, touch screens, keyboards, remote controls, and ATM machines
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.
Cleaning and disinfecting your building or facility if someone is sick
Close off areas used by the person who is sick.
Companies do not necessarily need to close operations, if they can close off affected areas.
Open outside doors and windows to increase air circulation in the area.
Wait 24 hours before you clean or disinfect. If 24 hours is not feasible, wait as long as possible.
Clean and disinfect all areas used by the person who is sick, such as offices, bathrooms, common areas, shared electronic equipment like tablets, touch screens, keyboards, remote controls, and ATM machines.
Vacuum the space if needed. Use a vacuum equipped with high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter, if available.
Do not vacuum a room or space that has people in it. Wait until the room or space is empty to vacuum, such as at night, for common spaces, or during the day for private rooms.
Wear disposable gloves to clean and disinfect. For soft (porous) surfaces such as carpeted floors or rugs, clean the surface with detergents or cleaners appropriate for use on these surfaces, according to the textile’s label. After cleaning, disinfect with an appropriate EPA-registered disinfectant on List N: Disinfectants for use against SARS-CoV-2external icon. Soft and porous materials, like carpet, are generally not as easy to disinfect as hard and non-porous surfaces. EPA has listed a limited number of products approved for disinfection for use on soft and porous materials on List N. Follow the disinfectant manufacturer’s safety instructions (such as wearing gloves and ensuring adequate ventilation), concentration level, application method and contact time. Allow sufficient drying time if vacuum is not intended for wet surfaces.
Temporarily turn off in-room, window-mounted, or on-wall recirculation HVAC to avoid contamination of the HVAC units.
Do NOT deactivate central HVAC systems. These systems tend to provide better filtration capabilities and introduce outdoor air into the areas that they serve.
Consider temporarily turning off room fans and the central HVAC system that services the room or space, so that particles that escape from vacuuming will not circulate throughout the facility.
Once area has been appropriately disinfected, it can be opened for use.
Workers without close contact with the person who is sick can return to work immediately after disinfection.
If more than 7 days since the person who is sick visited or used the facility, additional cleaning and disinfection is not necessary.
Continue routing cleaning and disinfection. This includes everyday practices that businesses and communities normally use to maintain a healthy environment.
How to clean and disinfect
Clean
Wear disposable gloves to clean and disinfect.
Clean surfaces using soap and water, then use disinfectant.
Cleaning with soap and water reduces number of germs, dirt and impurities on the surface. Disinfecting kills germs on surfaces.
Practice routine cleaning of frequently touched surfaces.
More frequent cleaning and disinfection may be required based on level of use.
Surfaces and objects in public places, such as shopping carts and point of sale keypads should be cleaned and disinfected before each use.
High touch surfaces include:
Tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, sinks, etc.
Disinfect
Disinfect with a household disinfectant on List N: Disinfectants for use against SARs-CoV-2external icon, the virus that causes COVID 19.
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.
Always read and follow the directions on the label to ensure safe and effective use.
Wear skin protection and consider eye protection for potential splash hazards
Ensure adequate ventilation
Use no more than the amount recommended on the label
Use water at room temperature for dilution (unless stated otherwise on the label)
Avoid mixing chemical products
Label diluted cleaning solutions
Store and use chemicals out of the reach of children and pets
You should never eat, drink, breathe or inject these products into your body or apply directly to your skin as they can cause serious harm. Do not wipe or bathe pets with these products or any other products that are not approved for animal use.
See EPA’s 6 steps for Safe and Effective Disinfectant Useexternal icon
Special considerations should be made for people with asthma and they should not be present when cleaning and disinfecting is happening as this can trigger asthma exacerbations. Learn more about reducing asthma triggers.
If products on List Nexternal icon are not available, diluted household bleach solutions can be used if appropriate for the surface. Unexpired household bleach will be effective against coronaviruses when properly diluted.
Use bleach containing 5.25%–8.25% sodium hypochlorite. Do not use a bleach product if the percentage is not in this range or is not specified.
Follow the manufacturer’s application instructions for the surface, ensuring a contact time of at least 1 minute.
Ensure proper ventilation during and after application.
Check to ensure the product is not past its expiration date.
Never mix household bleach with ammonia or any other cleanser. This can cause fumes that may be very dangerous to breathe in.
Prepare a bleach solution by mixing:
5 tablespoons (1/3rd cup) of 5.25%–8.25% bleach per gallon of room temperature water OR
4 teaspoons of 5.25%–8.25% bleach per quart of room temperature water
Bleach solutions will be effective for disinfection up to 24 hours.
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 a household disinfectant on List N: Disinfectants for use against SARs-CoV-2external icon.
Vacuum as usual.
Electronics
For electronics, such as tablets, touch screens, keyboards, remote controls, and ATM Machine