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- In order to best disinfect your home, you need multiple cleaners.
- We researched EPA-approved cleaners and spoke to an expert for recommendations and tips.
- Read about how we test and research home products at Insider Reviews.
To help combat the spread of measles, the flu, colds, and other viruses and bacteria, you should always keep a quality disinfectant on hand.
"A disinfectant is a product that can kill the germs that cause sickness or illness," said Brian Sansoni, SVP of Communication at the American Cleaning Institute. "Disinfectants contain antimicrobial ingredients that kill germs if surfaces are free from heavy soil, and disinfectant or antibacterial cleaners [also] contain ingredients for removing soil."
There's an endless selection of sprays, wipes, and other cleaning solutions on the market, so you want to look for the US Environmental Protection Agency registration number that ensures the product has met requirements for killing germs on hard, nonporous surfaces. All of the products in this guide are EPA approved.
Aside from checking EPA labels, the CDC recommends disinfecting frequently touched surfaces daily, particularly countertops, desks, doorknobs, faucets, handles, keyboards, light switches, phones, sinks, tables, and toilets. Make sure to clean dirty surfaces with soap and water prior to disinfection.
See our disinfecting cleaner recommendations below, and for more detail on disinfecting products and household cleaning, check out our in-depth FAQ.
Here are the best disinfecting cleaners in 2021
- Best disinfecting cleaner for hard surfaces: Purell Professional Surface Disinfectant Spray
- Best disinfecting cleaner for laundry: Lysol Laundry Sanitizer Additive
- Best disinfecting cleaner for non-washable goods: Lysol Disinfectant Spray
- Best disinfecting wipes: Clorox Disinfecting Wipes
- Best disinfecting cleaner for toilet bowls: Clorox Toilet Bowl Cleaner with Bleach
- Best disinfecting cleaner for pet messes: Clorox Pet Solutions Stain & Odor Remover
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With Purell Professional Surface Disinfectant Spray, you can kill foodborne-illness-causing bacteria with one swipe and no rinsing.
Pros: No rinsing needed, safe to use around food, kills 99.9% of bacteria, no harsh chemicals, fresh citrus scent, helps to reduce the risk of cross-contamination
Cons: Not readily available in many mass-market stores
Disinfectant sprays are especially helpful in the kitchen, where food-dwelling bacteria like Salmonella and E. coli can spread. While all EPA-registered disinfectants will kill those bacteria if used properly, they require an extra step of rinsing after spraying when used around food preparation areas. Purell Professional Surface Disinfectant Spray, however, eliminates the need to rinse and is safe to touch nearly instantly.
That being said, we should mention that rinsing any surface after applying disinfectant is currently recommended in the most recent CDC guidelines for protecting yourself against COVID-19.
Though it won't completely deep-clean your kitchen, this product can be used on sealed granite, glass, laminate, stainless steel, or plastic surfaces. It only takes 30 seconds to kill over 40 organisms, including the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, norovirus, MRSA, and strep.
Amazon
If you're looking for a bleach-free product that will sanitize your laundry without damaging your clothes, Lysol Laundry Sanitizer Additive is your best bet.
Pros: Kills 99.9% of bacteria on fabric, can be used in any water temperature, can be used with any detergent, safe with any washable fabric, bleach-free
Cons: Those with sensitive skin may react to dyes or scents
According to the American Cleaning Institute's new laundry guidelines, sanitizing laundry is important if someone in your home is ill or has a compromised immune system.
While chlorine bleach effectively kills bacteria, it damages colorful clothes and synthetic fabrics. Lysol Laundry Sanitizer Additive contains a phenolic disinfectant that's safe to use at any water temperature, in both standard and high-efficiency machines, with any detergent, and on any washable fabric. Its crisp linen fragrance is an added bonus.
For the best results, the product and water must be in contact with the fabric for 16 minutes.
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Available in a dozen scents, Lysol Disinfectant Spray kills 99.9% of bacteria on fabrics and hard surfaces.
Pros: Kills 99.9% of bacteria, available in many fragrances
Cons: Surfaces used for food preparation and children's toys must be rinsed with water before use
Lysol Disinfecting Spray isn't just an air freshener: It's a powerful disinfectant that kills bacteria but is safe to use on hard, non-porous surfaces; soft surfaces; and fabrics. For best results, pre-clean your surface, hold the can six to eight inches away, and spray for three to four seconds. Lysol will typically take three minutes to disinfect, but to eradicate traces of the Norovirus, it's best to leave it on for 10.
If crisp linen is not your thing, there are many other scents to choose from, including lavender and waterfall. You can also use the spray to deodorize items like gym bags, shoes, and carpets.
Clorox
Clorox's Disinfecting Wipes not only kill almost 100% of germs, they also absorb greasy messes and help erase embedded stains.
Pros: Kills 99.9% of bacteria in 10 seconds; deodorizes; breaks down grease, soap scum, and grime
Cons: Not available in an unscented formula, must rinse down surfaces when used in food preparation areas, wipes dry out if you use them too long
Disinfecting wipes offer a simple, mess-free way to clean surfaces without the use of liquid disinfectants and cleaning tools.
While all Clorox wipes contain ingredients that kill 99.9% of viruses and bacteria on hard nonporous surfaces like acrylic, glass, and vinyl, Clorox Disinfecting Wipes also absorb greasy messes and gently scrub away dried-on stains, soap scum, and grime.
We should mention that the wipes tend to dry out after a few minutes. If you're cleaning a bathroom, you'll typically use one wipe for the sink area, another for the toilet, and a third (or third and fourth) for the shower.
After wiping an area down, allow it to air dry to thoroughly disinfect against viruses and bacteria. It takes about 10 seconds to eliminate cold and flu viruses, E. coli, Salmonella, strep, MRSA, and the organism that can cause whooping cough.
Quill
Clorox Toilet Bowl Cleaner with Bleach allows you to clean and disinfect your bowl in a single step.
Pros: Removes toilet bowl stains, kills 99.9% of bacteria, angled nozzle for reaching under the bowl rim, fresh scent
Cons: Not safe to use near children or pets
Cleaning your toilet bowl is essential for proper hygiene and, while many cleaners effectively remove watermarks and stains, they may not properly disinfect. Clorox Toilet Bowl Cleaner with Bleach disinfects, deodorizes with its fresh scent, and kills 99.9% of toilet bowl germs.
The disinfectant's powerful clinging gel will eradicate tough stains, and the angled nozzle is perfect for giving your bowl a deep clean. It's non-abrasive and septic-safe, though children and pets shouldn't be near your toilet bowl while cleaning.
Petco
Clorox Pet Solutions Stain & Odor Remover is tough on deep-rooted stains but gentle and safe to use around dogs, cats, and other household pets.
Pros: Effectively removes stains, safe to use around pets, bleach and fragrance-free, helps to prevent re-soiling
Cons: Must purchase a spray bottle, not recommended for brass or natural marble surfaces
Clorox Pet Solutions Stain & Odor Remover is effective at removing tough pet messes like drool, feces, urine, and vomit, and it's safe to use around your furry friends (as long as you take a few precautions). "It's fine to use a regular disinfectant or bleach on bowls or pet toys with hard surfaces — you'll just want to rinse the surfaces with water after they've dried," Sansoni said. For more information on pet-safe products, check out our FAQ.
Simply pour the solution into a reusable spray bottle to clean pet bedding, carpets, clothing, flooring, furniture, travel crates, and upholstery. Then allow it to sit for five to 10 minutes before rinsing or wiping the area down with a clean, damp cloth. It's bleach- and fragrance-free and wonderful at eliminating odors that tend to stubbornly linger. Regularly using this disinfectant may help your pet remember not to go back to re-soil the same spot.
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