Items that require disinfection can be grouped into high-touch surfaces, personal effects, and medical/specialty equipment. Regular disinfection of these targets prevents the spread of pathogens, though you should always clean them with soap and water first.
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.
An ideal disinfectant and sanitizer must be nontoxic to surface contact, noncorrosive, effective in various forms, and relatively inexpensive. HOCl may be the disinfectant of choice for coronaviruses in an oral-maxillofacial surgery (OMS) office.
Disinfectants are chemical agents designed to inactivate or destroy microorganisms on inanimate surfaces. The five most common types of disinfectants, regularly used in both healthcare and household settings, include:
You should regularly clean your:
The 4 C's of hygiene (often called the 4 C's of Food Safety) are four core principles designed to prevent foodborne illness and ensure a safe kitchen: Cleaning, Cooking, Chilling, and preventing Cross-contamination.
It's best to a daily habit of cleaning and/or disinfecting the following 10 items each day:
The most common disinfectant is household bleach (sodium hypochlorite). It is universally used because it is inexpensive, fast-acting, and highly effective against a broad spectrum of bacteria, viruses, and fungi.
What are the two methods of disinfection?
Types of Disinfectants Used in Hospitals
Hypochlorous acid (HOCl) isn't more popular primarily because it is notoriously unstable. Naturally produced by your white blood cells, it is an incredibly effective and skin-safe antimicrobial. However, bottling it presents several major hurdles:
Chlorine. Chlorine is very effective against bacteria and enteric viruses but less effective against protozoans (especially Cryptosporidium). It forms a residual and is the most commonly used chemical for secondary disinfection. Chlorine can be used in three forms for disinfection purposes.
Never mix hypochlorous acid with bleach, vinegar, or alcohol, as these combinations can release toxic gases. In skincare, never layer it simultaneously with strong antioxidants like Vitamin C or oxidizing acne treatments like benzoyl peroxide, as they cancel each other out.
The germiest object in your house is the kitchen sponge or dish rag. Because it is damp, porous, and constantly in contact with food residue, it harbors millions of microbes—making it vastly dirtier than a standard toilet seat.
The "best" disinfectant depends on the surface and what you are trying to kill, but the gold standards are 70% isopropyl alcohol (for electronics and quick touch-ups) and diluted household bleach (for heavy-duty germ killing). Always clean surfaces with soap and water before disinfecting.
A common mistake is to use too little disinfectant, either by measuring wrong or thinking using less will save money. However, doing this can make the disinfectant too weak to be effective and pose a safety risk from pathogens.
Disinfectants are chemical agents designed to destroy or inactivate microorganisms on inanimate surfaces. Three common examples include:
New disinfection methods include a persistent antimicrobial-drug coating that can be applied to inanimate and animate objects (Surfacine), a high-level disinfectant with reduced exposure time (ortho-phthalaldehyde), and an antimicrobial drug that can be applied to animate and inanimate objects (superoxidized water).
Norovirus is highly resistant to many standard household disinfectants. To effectively kill it, you must use an EPA-registered product specifically approved for norovirus or a diluted bleach solution. Standard alcohol-based sprays are largely ineffective against this virus.
The safest disinfectants for human health and the environment use naturally occurring, non-toxic active ingredients like hydrogen peroxide and citric acid. These products break down into harmless byproducts (like water and oxygen) and are less likely to cause respiratory issues or skin irritation compared to bleach or ammonia.
Hospitals disinfect laundry using a combination of high thermal temperatures and EPA-registered, hospital-grade chemicals. The primary goal is to achieve "hygienically clean" textiles.
Sanitizing reduces the number of germs on surfaces to safe levels according to public health standards, primarily targeting bacteria. Disinfecting, on the other hand, actively kills nearly 100% of both bacteria and viruses on surfaces.
For the best results, clean surfaces with soap and water first, then use a disinfectant with at least 70% alcohol or an EPA-approved product to get rid of germs. Some areas in your home are touched all the time, making them hot spots for germs.
Hospitals typically use Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs), Titanium Dioxide, Hydrogen Peroxide, UV Light, and Alcohol-based disinfectants.
Maintaining a clean house requires focusing on high-impact daily habits. By tackling dishes, wiping counters, doing one load of laundry, and doing a quick 10-minute clutter sweep, you prevent daily messes from snowballing into overwhelming weekend chores.