How to Safely Clean and Sanitize with Bleach

Key points

  • Cleaning and sanitizing your household after an emergency is important to help prevent the spread of illness and disease.
  • Take steps to safely clean and sanitize with bleach after a natural disaster.

Follow safety instructions

Person wearing cleaning gloves, spraying and wiping a flat surface.
Take steps to safely clean and sanitize with bleach after a natural disaster.

It is critical to read and follow the safety instructions on any product you use. Below are the most important safety guidelines when using sanitizing products:

  • Never mix bleach with ammonia or any other cleaner.
  • Wear rubber or other non-porous boots, gloves, and eye protection.
  • Try not to breathe in product fumes. If using products indoors, open windows and doors to allow fresh air to enter.

Steps for cleaning and sanitizing

Step 1: Wash surfaces.

Wash surfaces with soap and warm, clean water to remove dirt and debris.

Step 2: Sanitize surfaces.

Sanitize surfaces with household bleach. Use regular, unscented household bleach with a sodium hypochlorite concentration between 5% and 9% (this is the most common concentration in the United States) and follow the instructions in the chart below.

Food Cans and Surfaces

Food surfaces that may have touched floodwater (e.g. countertops, plates)

Bleach Amount
  • 1 tablespoon (0.5 ounces or ~15 mL)
Water Amount
  • 1 gallon (3.8 L)
Cleaning Steps
  • Wash with soap and hot, clean water.
  • Rinse with clean water.
  • Sanitize in a solution of 1 tablespoon of household chlorine bleach in 1 gallon of clean water.
  • Allow to air dry.

Food cans that are not bulging, open, or damaged

Bleach Amount
  • 1 cup (8 ounces or 240 mL)
Water Amount
  • 5 gallons (18.9 L)
Cleaning Steps
  • Remove can labels.
  • Wash cans with soap and warm, clean water.
  • Dip cans in mixture of 1 cup of bleach per 5 gallons of water.
  • Allow to air dry.
  • Re–label cans with a permanent marker.

Household Surfaces and Items

Non-food contact surfaces that do not soak up water and that may have touched floodwater (e.g. floors, sinks, certain toys, and tools)

Bleach Amount
  • 1 cup (8 ounces or 240 milliliters)
Water Amount
  • 5 gallons (18.9 L)
Cleaning Steps
  • Clean surface with soap and warm, clean water.
  • Rinse with clean water.
  • Sanitize using a mixture of 1 cup (240 mL) of bleach to 5 gallons of water.
  • Allow to air dry

Mold Growth on Hard Surfaces

Examples: Floors, stoves, sinks, certain toys, countertops, flatware, plates, and tools.

Bleach Amount
  • 1 cup (8 ounces or 240 milliliters)
Water Amount
  • 1 gallon (3.8 L)
Cleaning Steps
  • Mix 1 cup (240 mL) of bleach in 1 gallon of water.
  • Wash surfaces with the bleach mixture.
  • If surfaces are rough, scrub them with a stiff brush.
  • Rinse surfaces with clean water.
  • Allow to air dry.

Resources

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Content Source:
National Center for Environmental Health