The CDC has been compiling a list of household cleaners that are approved to kill the novel coronavirus. “List N: Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2,” includes cleaners that have been proven effective against other human viruses similar to the current coronavirus, and also against viruses that are harder to kill than it is.
Note: Many common household cleaning products don’t have an EPA registration number. If a product doesn’t have a number, that means it hasn’t been evaluated and its effect on the coronavirus is unknown. In this case, it’s best to seek out a product that has been approved.
To find out if a cleaning product is on the list of approved coronavirus disinfectants, first locate the product’s EPA registration number, which can be found on the label. (Look for the words “EPA Reg. No.”), then enter the first two sets of that number in the searchable online database.
If the product appears on the list, then it’s EPA-approved to kill coronavirus. If it doesn’t, it means it hasn’t yet been reviewed or it’s not approved.
Can Common Household Disinfectants Kill Coronavirus?
The CDC confirms that solutions made from common household cleaning products such as bleach or isopropyl alcohol are also effective against coronavirus. Here’s how to use them:
- Bleach: Mix four teaspoons bleach into one quart of water (or five tablespoons of bleach per gallon of water). Let the solution sit on the surface for at least one minute (some independent experts suggest much longer—up to 10 minutes) before wiping away. Do not mix bleach with anything other than water; doing so may cause a very dangerous (potentially deadly) reaction. Additionally, make sure to use a bleach solution only in a properly ventilated area; if you start to feel dizzy, nauseated, or have trouble breathing, get some fresh air. If symptoms are severe or lasting, call Poison Control at 1-(800) 222-1222 no matter where you are in the US.
- Isopropyl alcohol: Use a solution of at least 70 percent alcohol; apply undiluted and let sit at least 30 seconds.
Do Lysol Products Kill Coronavirus? (And Other Questions About Specific Brands)
List N is not an exhaustive list of disinfectants recommended for use against coronavirus, and more products are being added to it on a regular basis. However, the following well-known products have been approved:
- Certain Lysol® Brand products, such as their Kitchen Pro Antibacterial Cleaner, their All-Purpose Cleaner, and others
- Krud Kutter Heavy Duty Cleaner & Disinfectant
- A variety of Rust-Oleum brand cleaners, such as Mean Green Anti-Bacterial Multi-Surface Cleaner, Mean Green Pine Power, and Moldex Disinfectant Concentrate
- Concrobium Broad Spectrum Disinfectant
- Germ Away
