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GUIDANCE FOR CLEANING AND DISINFECTING PUBLIC SPACES, WORKPLACES, BUSINESSES, SCHOOLS, AND HOMES
DEVELOP YOUR PLAN
Evaluate your workplace, school, home, or business to determine what kinds of surfaces and materials make up that area. Most surfaces
and objects will just need normal routine cleaning. Frequently touched surfaces and objects like light switches and doorknobs will need
to be cleaned and then disinfected to further reduce the risk of germs on surfaces and objects.
• First, clean the surface or object with soap and water.
• Then, disinfect using an EPA-approved disinfectant.
• If an EPA-approved disinfectant is unavailable, you can use 1/3 cup of bleach added to 1 gallon of water, or 70% alcohol solutions
to disinfect. Do not mix bleach or other cleaning and disinfection products together. Find additional information at CDC’s website
on Cleaning and Disinfecting Your Facility.
You should also consider what items can be moved or removed completely to reduce frequent handling or contact from multiple
people. So and porous materials, such as area rugs and seating, may be removed or stored to reduce the challenges with cleaning and
disinfecting them. Find additional reopening guidance for cleaning and disinfecting in the Reopening Decision Tool.
It is critical that your plan includes how to maintain a cleaning and disinfecting strategy aer reopening. Develop a flexible plan
with your sta or family, adjusting the plan as federal, state, tribal, territorial, or local guidance is updated and if your specific
circumstances change.
Determine what needs to be cleaned
Some surfaces only need to be cleaned with soap and water. For example, surfaces and objects that are not frequently touched should
be cleaned and do not require additional disinfection. Additionally, disinfectants should typically not be applied on items used by
children, especially any items that children might put in their mouths. Many disinfectants are toxic when swallowed. In a household
setting, cleaning toys and other items used by children with soap and water is usually suicient. Find more information on cleaning and
disinfection toys and other surfaces in the childcare program setting at CDC’s Guidance for Childcare Programs that Remain Open.
These questions will help you decide which surfaces and objects will need normal routine cleaning.
Is the area outdoors?
Outdoor areas generally require normal routine cleaning and do not require disinfection. Spraying disinfectant on sidewalks and in
parks is not an eicient use of disinfectant supplies and has not been proven to reduce the risk of COVID-19 to the public. You should
maintain existing cleaning and hygiene practices for outdoor areas.
The targeted use of disinfectants can be done eectively, eiciently and safely on outdoor hard surfaces and objects frequently touched
by multiple people. Certain outdoor areas and facilities, such as bars and restaurants, may have additional requirements. More
information can be found on CDC’s website on Food Safety and the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).
There is no evidence that the virus that causes COVID-19 can spread directly to humans from water in pools, hot tubs or spas, or
water play areas. Proper operation, maintenance, and disinfection (for example, with chlorine or bromine) of pools, hot tubs or spas,
and water playgrounds should kill the virus that causes COVID-19. However, there are additional concerns with outdoor areas that
may be maintained less frequently, including playgrounds, or other facilities located within local, state, or national parks. For more
information, visit CDC’s website on Visiting Parks & Recreational Facilities.