It is not usually necessary to use disinfectant for normal household cleaning. Cleaning surfaces and objects with hot water and your usual household cleaner is enough to reduce the pathogens to an acceptable level.

Surfaces that are touched frequently, like door handles, light switches, mobile phones and landline telephone receivers, have a particularly high pathogen load. These should therefore be wiped more often.

In exceptional situations it can be useful to use disinfectant at home – when someone is ill and infectious, for instance, or when a member of the family has a weakened immune system.

More tips about domestic cleaning and the use of disinfectants are available from the consumer advice centers and BZgA (the Federal Centre for Health Education).

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