Cleaning Supplies That Kill COVID-19

July 1, 2020

When the COVID-19 pandemic was announced there was a clear message from the WHO: clean, clean, clean.

While we all thought to ourselves, “sure, I can do that”, lots of other questions popped into our heads. What do I clean? How should I clean? Am I cleaning well enough? Are my cleaning products strong enough to kill COVID-19?

These questions are heavy and daunting. You want to be sure you are doing everything you can to keep your family safe, and if you’re a housekeeper you want to be sure you are taking care of your client’s safety. Housekeeper.com is here to help you when it comes to what cleaning products and disinfectants you should be using.

USA

The United States Environmental Protection Agency has provided a list of cleaners and disinfectants for use against COVID-19. You can search by name (such as Clorox) or by the EPA registration number that can be found on the bottle of your cleaning supply.

The EPA recommends taking the following steps to ensure you are cleaning and disinfecting properly:

  1. Ensure your product is EPA approved for use against COVID-19.

  2. Read all label instructions.

  3. Preclean the area (soap and water will do).

  4. Follow the contact time on the instructions.

  5. Wear gloves.

  6. Lock up the product up when you are done to keep these harmful products away from children.

Canada

The Government of Canada has released a list of hard-surface disinfectants that have evidence of being able to kill COVID-19 germs. To see if your cleaner makes the list you can double check here.

It is important to note that the federal government of Canada states that all disinfectants in Canada approved for sale will have a Drug Identification Number (DIN).

A DIN is an 8 digit number that is generated by a computer. Any product that does not have a DIN is not authorized for sale within Canada and should not be used.

If you ever want to check a DIN number on one of your household cleaners you can check here.


To ensure your safety, here are some general rules to follow:

  1. Read the warning label before you begin your cleaning

  2. Wear gloves when you are cleaning any surface with harsh cleaners.

  3. Ensure there is proper ventilation.

With the information provided we are all able to make the right choices when it comes to cleaning our homes for the protection of ourselves and our families.