Knowledge and Practices Regarding Safe Household Cleaning and Disinfection for COVID-19 Prevention - United States, May 2020

Abstract

A recent report described a sharp increase in calls to poison centers related to exposures to cleaners and disinfectants since the onset of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic (1). However, data describing cleaning and disinfection practices within household settings in the United States are limited, particularly concerning those practices intended to prevent transmission of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. To provide contextual and behavioral insight into the reported increase in poison center calls and to inform timely and relevant prevention strategies, an opt-in Internet panel survey of 502 U.S. adults was conducted in May 2020 to characterize knowledge and practices regarding household cleaning and disinfection during the COVID-19 pandemic. Knowledge gaps were identified in several areas, including safe preparation of cleaning and disinfectant solutions, use of recommended personal protective equipment when using cleaners and disinfectants, and safe storage of hand sanitizers, cleaners, and disinfectants. Thirty-nine percent of respondents reported engaging in nonrecommended high-risk practices with the intent of preventing SARS-CoV-2 transmission, such as washing food products with bleach, applying household cleaning or disinfectant products to bare skin, and intentionally inhaling or ingesting these products. Respondents who engaged in high-risk practices more frequently reported an adverse health effect that they believed was a result of using cleaners or disinfectants than did those who did not report engaging in these practices. Public messaging should continue to emphasize evidence-based, safe practices such as hand hygiene and recommended cleaning and disinfection of high-touch surfaces to prevent transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in household settings (2). Messaging should also emphasize avoidance of high-risk practices such as unsafe preparation of cleaning and disinfectant solutions, use of bleach on food products, application of household cleaning and disinfectant products to skin, and inhalation or ingestion of cleaners and disinfectants.

Conflict of interest statement

All authors have completed and submitted the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors form for disclosure of potential conflicts of interest. No potential conflicts of interest were disclosed.

Figures

FIGURE 1

Knowledge about safe use of cleaners and disinfectants,, based on responses to an opt-in Internet panel survey (N = 502 respondents) — United States, May 2020 * In response to the question ”Which of the following have you heard is true about using household cleaning products (such as bleach or Lysol)?”; response options reflected CDC recommendations for safe cleaning and disinfection. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/disinfecting-your-home.html. † In survey questions, the term “cleaning” referred to using a cleaner or disinfectant on surfaces or objects. Questions regarding storage of hand sanitizers were included with questions regarding storage of cleaners and disinfectants. § Survey administered by Porter Novelli Public Services through PN View: 360; respondents could select multiple responses to the question (all response options shown). Selection of the response “none of these” was exclusive (i.e., respondents could not select this response option in addition to other responses).

FIGURE 2

Cleaning and disinfection practices in the previous month with the intent of preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection,, based on responses to an opt-in Internet panel survey (N = 502 respondents) — United States, May 2020 * In response to the question “In the past month, which of the following cleaning behaviors have you or a household member engaged in to prevent coronavirus?” † In survey questions, the term “cleaning” referred to using a cleaner or disinfectant on surfaces or objects. § Survey administered by Porter Novelli Public Services through PN View: 360; respondents could select multiple responses to the question (nine of 11 possible response options shown). Selection of the response “none of these” was exclusive (i.e., respondents could not select this response option in addition to other responses).