How to Clean Your Home During COVID-19 Pandemic

Which UK Cleaning Products Kill COVID-19?

COVID-19 is an enveloped RNA (ribonucleic acid) virus. We can inactivate the virus by dissolving the lipids that surround its structure using hot, soapy water (which is why hand washing is so important). Alcohol works in a similar way to dissolve the lipid coating—so long as the mixture is 60% to 70% alcohol. Bleach and hydrogen peroxide can also be effective.

While it is not yet possible for disinfectant manufacturers to test against the exact 2019-nCoV strain, independent third-party tests have confirmed the efficacy of Clinell Universal and Clinell Sporicidal Wipes (and now Clinell Antimicrobial Hand Wipes - edit: 06/04/20) against MERS-CoV (a related strain of virulent human coronavirus) using international standard test methods.

The Clinell Sporicidal wipes are supplied inert and contain Sodium Percarbonate as a precursor. Once mixed with water the wipes generate Peracetic Acid for high level disinfection.

To make a bleach solution, the CDC recommends mixing 5 tablespoons (1/3rd cup) of bleach per gallon of water or, for a smaller volume, 4 teaspoons bleach per quart of water. For reference, 1 US liquid quart equals 946 ml. Bleach can be hard on some surfaces (e.g., metal, some worktops, etc.) and should never be mixed with ammonia or ammonia-containing products.

Cheapest COVID-19 Cleaning Products

We've scoured the web to find where coronavirus cleaning products are still in stock. As of the time of writing, here is where to buy cleaning products that may be effective against COVID-19 and how much they cost.

Laundry

To help kill germs, wash dirty laundry at 60C or 40C with a bleach-based laundry product. Be sure to remove wet laundry from the washing machine promptly, because any germs that weren't killed in the wash can multiply rapidly in a moist environment. In addition to washing your clothing regularly, remember to was your bed linens (especially pillowcases) and dish drying clothes more frequently than usual.

How Often Should I Clean?

Germ hotspots like the remote control should be cleaned regularly after use or at least once a day. If a member of your household is displaying symptoms or has been in touch with someone who has symptoms or has tested positive for COVID-19, then it's a good idea to clean hotspots throughout the day. Consumer reports recommends cleaning 3 times a day in high traffic areas. Remember that someone can be contagious even if they aren't displaying any symptoms, so err on the safe side.

Germ Hotspots

Cleaning Cloth Tips for Coronavirus

Since coronavirus can live for days on surfaces, your cleaning cloths can harbour the virus and actually spread the virus around your home. To help prevent this, either use disposable cloths or, if you use reusable cloths, be sure to wash them at 60C or hotter and dry promptly. You can also use a laundry disinfectant in the wash. Finally, regularly change your cleaning cloths as you work so that you don't spread germs around your home, for instance moving the virus from the remote control to the bathroom tap or vice versa.

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