Cleaning and Disinfecting Your Home After Illness: What You Need to Know

The COVID-19 pandemic changed the way many of us think about cleaning.

Door handles, light switches, bathroom fixtures, kitchen counters, and other frequently touched surfaces suddenly received much more attention. While the emergency phase of the pandemic has passed, one lesson remains useful: routine cleaning and appropriate disinfection can play different roles in maintaining a cleaner home.

If someone in your household has been sick with COVID-19, the flu, a stomach illness, or another contagious infection, you may wonder whether your normal house-cleaning routine is enough.

Here's what homeowners should know about cleaning after illness, when disinfecting may be appropriate, and how professional house cleaning can help restore your home after someone has been sick.

Cleaning and Disinfecting Aren't the Same Thing

The terms cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting are often used interchangeably, but they don't mean exactly the same thing.

Cleaning

Cleaning removes dirt, dust, spills, grease, and many germs from surfaces.

This is the foundation of maintaining a clean home and is generally what you're doing when you wipe countertops, scrub sinks, vacuum floors, or clean a bathroom.

Sanitizing

Sanitizing reduces the number of germs on a surface to levels considered appropriate under applicable public-health standards.

Disinfecting

Disinfecting involves using an appropriate disinfectant according to its label instructions to kill targeted germs on surfaces.

Importantly, you generally clean a visibly dirty surface before disinfecting it unless the product instructions specify otherwise.

Do You Need to Disinfect Your Entire House After Someone Is Sick?

Usually, the better approach is to focus on the areas that matter most rather than attempting to disinfect every object in the house.

Pay particular attention to frequently touched surfaces and spaces used by the person who was sick.

These may include:

Door handles
Light switches
Faucets
Toilet handles
Bathroom counters
Kitchen counters
Appliance handles
Tables
Stair railings
Remote controls
Frequently touched electronics

Always follow the instructions for the cleaning or disinfecting product you're using, particularly its required contact time and the surfaces on which it can safely be applied.

What About COVID-19?

COVID-19 is primarily associated with transmission through respiratory particles rather than contaminated household surfaces.

That doesn't mean household cleaning is unimportant. It means cleaning shouldn't be treated as a substitute for other appropriate precautions when someone is actively ill.

Routine cleaning of frequently touched surfaces is still a sensible part of maintaining the home, and additional disinfection may be appropriate in certain circumstances.

If someone in your household currently has COVID-19 or another contagious illness, follow current guidance from public-health authorities and healthcare professionals regarding appropriate precautions.

Areas to Clean After an Illness

Once you're ready to give the home a thorough cleaning, work systematically rather than randomly disinfecting everything you see.

Bathrooms

Bathrooms can require considerable attention after someone has been sick.

Focus on:

Toilet and toilet handle
Sink and faucet
Shower or tub
Countertops
Door handles
Light switches
Floors
Frequently touched bathroom surfaces

Use products appropriate for each material and follow their label directions.

Kitchen

If the person who was sick used the kitchen, clean frequently touched surfaces such as:

Countertops
Sink and faucet
Refrigerator handle
Cabinet handles
Microwave controls
Appliance handles
Tables and chairs

Food-contact surfaces may have different cleaning and rinsing requirements, so follow the product instructions carefully.

Bedroom

After an illness, the bedroom may need more than a quick dusting.

Consider:

Changing and laundering bedding
Cleaning frequently touched surfaces
Dusting furniture
Vacuuming carpets and rugs
Mopping hard floors
Emptying trash
Cleaning door handles and switches

Follow appropriate laundry instructions for bedding, towels, and clothing.

Living and Shared Areas

Give additional attention to objects and surfaces that multiple household members frequently touch.

These can include:

Remote controls
Tables
Door handles
Light switches
Stair railings
Shared furniture surfaces
Frequently used electronics

Be especially careful with electronics. Follow the manufacturer's cleaning recommendations rather than spraying liquid directly onto devices.

Should You Use Bleach Everywhere?

No.

A stronger chemical doesn't automatically produce a better cleaning result, and not every surface can tolerate the same products.

Some disinfectants can damage:

Natural stone
Finished wood
Leather
Certain metals
Fabrics
Electronics

Always check the product label and surface-care instructions first.

And never mix household cleaning chemicals unless the manufacturer explicitly instructs you to do so. In particular, never mix bleach with ammonia, vinegar, or other cleaners, because dangerous gases can result.

What About Eco-Friendly Cleaning?

Eco-conscious household cleaning and disinfection need to be distinguished.

For everyday cleaning, many customers prefer products with reduced environmental impact or fewer harsh ingredients.

If actual disinfection is necessary, however, the product must be appropriate for the organism and surface you're trying to address and must be used according to its label.

“Natural” and “eco-friendly” shouldn't automatically be interpreted to mean “disinfectant.”

At The CoBuilders, customers can communicate product preferences and special cleaning requirements when arranging their service.

When Professional House Cleaning Can Help

After several days of caring for someone who is sick, the last thing many households want is another long cleaning project.

Professional cleaning can be particularly helpful when:

Routine cleaning has fallen behind.
Several rooms need attention.
Bathrooms and kitchens need a thorough clean.
Floors haven't been vacuumed or mopped recently.
Bedding, trash, and household clutter have accumulated.
You want to get the home back to its normal cleaning routine.

Depending on the condition of your home, you may need standard cleaning or a more detailed deep cleaning.

Standard Cleaning or Deep Cleaning After an Illness?

If your home was already regularly maintained and only needs routine attention, standard cleaning may be sufficient.

If cleaning has been neglected during an extended illness or there's significant dirt and buildup, deep cleaning may be more appropriate.

Deep cleaning provides additional attention to areas that aren't typically addressed as thoroughly during routine maintenance.

The objective is to choose the cleaning level your home actually needs rather than automatically assuming every post-illness cleaning requires specialized disinfection.

Professional Cleaning Doesn't Replace Medical or Public-Health Guidance

This distinction is important.

A professionally cleaned home can address household dirt, grime, and cleaning needs, but house cleaning should not be presented as medical protection or a guarantee against infection.

If someone currently has COVID-19 or another contagious disease, follow the recommendations of healthcare professionals and current public-health guidance.

Professional cleaning can then help with the practical job of getting your home clean and comfortable again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I disinfect my house after having COVID-19?

Routine cleaning is important, while additional disinfection may be appropriate depending on the circumstances. Focus particularly on frequently touched surfaces and follow current public-health guidance and the instructions on any disinfectant you use.

What's the difference between cleaning and disinfecting?

Cleaning removes dirt and many germs from surfaces. Disinfecting uses an appropriate product to kill targeted germs when used according to its label. Visibly dirty surfaces generally need to be cleaned before they are disinfected.

What surfaces should I clean after someone has been sick?

Prioritize frequently touched surfaces such as door handles, faucets, toilet handles, light switches, countertops, appliance handles, tables, and shared bathroom surfaces.

Are eco-friendly products appropriate after an illness?

Eco-friendly products can be useful for routine cleaning, but don't assume a product disinfects simply because it cleans. If disinfection is required, use a product appropriate for that purpose and follow its label directions.

Should I book standard or deep cleaning after an illness?

If the home has been maintained consistently, standard cleaning may be enough. If cleaning fell behind or there's substantial buildup, deep cleaning may provide the additional attention the home needs.

Can The CoBuilders clean my home after someone has been sick?

The CoBuilders can help customers restore routine household cleanliness after an illness through available residential cleaning services. When booking, provide any relevant cleaning requirements so the appropriate service can be selected.

Getting Your Home Back to Normal

Illness can disrupt everything from work and school to laundry, dishes, and routine house cleaning.

Once everyone is recovering, getting the home clean can help restore a sense of normalcy.

Start with the areas used most frequently. Clean kitchens and bathrooms thoroughly, wash bedding and towels, address frequently touched surfaces, vacuum and mop floors, and choose appropriate products for each surface.

And if the cleaning has become more than you want to tackle yourself, professional help is an option.

With The CoBuilders, you can choose your preferred cleaning date and time, select the cleaning service and rooms you need, review your pricing, and book professional house cleaning online.