Updated List of Approved Disinfectants for Coronavirus

Which Cleaning Products Kill COVID-19?

Not all cleaning products are effective on all types of germs, so you should know exactly which products kill COVID-19.

The EPA provides a full list of disinfectants that kill the novel coronavirus. You might already have some of these effective products in your home, like:

• Disinfecting wipes, including Clorox, Lysol or store brand wipes
• Disinfectant sprays, such as Purell, Clorox or Lysol
• Isopropyl alcohol
• Hydrogen peroxide

And while using effective virus-killing products is key, it’s also important to follow the proper techniques to thoroughly disinfect surfaces. The EPA advises letting the product sit and remain wet on surfaces or objects for 10 minutes, and that will kill 99.9 percent of germs.

If you don’t have any disinfecting products on hand and are unable to find any in stores, the CDC offers instructions how to create a homemade bleach disinfectant spray. If you use this product, be sure to wear gloves, open your windows and be careful since bleach can damage or discolor sensitive surfaces.

The Difference Between Cleaning and Disinfecting

It’s important to note that cleaning a surface – simply removing dirt and particles – is not the same thing as disinfecting it to kill viruses and bacteria.

There are many products you can use to clean hard surfaces, like soapy water and vinegar. And while cleaning high-traffic surfaces to remove contaminants, dust and debris is a necessary step of cleaning your home, you still need to disinfect those surfaces from the novel coronavirus.

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