What You Should Clean in Your Home After Someone Gets Sick

When a sickness is tearing through your home, you may not feel like cleaning, whether because you’re down and out yourself, or you’re taking care of a family member who is—or maybe both. Unfortunately, when someone in the household has a virus, it’s more important than ever to stay on top of your disinfecting game.

But how much cleaning do you actually need to do? It can be tough to know where to begin, especially if you’re feeling ill, so here’s a guide on where to start.

Disinfecting is more important than just cleaning

Right now you don't just need to clean, you have to disinfect. Viruses that cause sickness can stay on surfaces after normal cleaning, so you need to take extra steps to kill them. Look for products that have the word "disinfectant" front and center, or make your own disinfectant using diluted bleach. You can also consider using an EPA-certified disinfectant. Don't spend too much effort on this step, however: Lysol is an effective disinfectant, and you can get two cans for under $14.

Start by cleaning your surfaces with soapy water as normal (this is perfectly fine place to stop if no one in the house is sick). During flu season or after someone's fallen ill, the next step is disinfecting. Spray your surfaces with disinfectant or diluted bleach, then let it sit for 10 minutes before wiping it off.

Which surfaces to prioritize when there's sickness in the house

Work smarter, not harder, when you're cleaning up during and after a bout of sickness, and focus on the surfaces and areas that matter most. These are high-touch, high-use spots like the following:

• The bathroom, including the toilet, the faucets, and all hard surfaces

• The kitchen, including dishes and cups that were touched by the sick person, as well as drawer and refrigerator handles, shelves, keypads on appliances, and all hard surfaces

• All the door handles in the home

• Any fabrics touched by the sick person, including clothes, robes, towels, stuffed animals, and bedding (which should be washed on the hottest setting in your machine)

• All the hard surfaces, including light switches, tables, remotes, and especially anything in the area the sick person tends to stay

• Electronics, like phones and tablets

• The garbage cans around the house

• Keys, wallets, and anything that is regularly grabbed, touched, or toted around

All of these items should all be cleaned and disinfected. Some viruses can linger on surfaces for days or even weeks, so disinfect regularly for at least two weeks after you think the sickness has passed.

Other steps to consider:

• Toss out the family toothbrushes and replace them with new ones. The same goes for sponges in the kitchen, or any other disposable cleaning products you only use for a short time.

• When cleaning each room, use different cloths, sponges, or cleaning tools to avoid bringing germs from one location into another.

• Change pillowcases daily, especially for the sick person(s), and leave the final bedding cleaning until the sickness is over. As mentioned, you need to wash all linens on the hottest setting in your washing machine. Wash them by themselves and use a disinfecting detergent for good measure.

How soon do you need to clean when you’re sick?

Clean during the sickness to the best of your ability. Take garbage out daily and disinfect the cans. Wipe down surfaces and try to keep a supply of clean laundry on hand. The quicker you rid your home of the germs that are clinging to your stuff, the better—even if the most you can manage in your time of illness is spraying everything down with the Lysol, it's a good start.

Unfortunately, viruses can have some longevity on different types of surfaces, so it's important to start the disinfecting routine as soon as the first person gets sick.