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How to disinfect your house after the flu
Short answer: clean first, then disinfect the hard surfaces the sick person touched: doorknobs, light switches, faucet and toilet handles, the bedside table, remotes, phones, counters and toys[2][3]. Use an EPA-registered disinfectant whose label lists influenza A[4], or a fresh solution of 5 tablespoons (1/3 cup) of unscented household bleach per gallon of water, left wet for at least 1 minute[3]. Wash bedding and towels with normal detergent and dry them hot[2]. A stomach bug is usually norovirus, not flu, and needs a stronger bleach mix and 5 minutes of contact[5].
Updated 2026-10-25. Health guidance on this page is quoted from the CDC and EPA, linked below. This is general cleaning information, not medical advice.
How flu spreads in a home
CDC says flu spreads mainly through droplets made when people with flu cough, sneeze or talk; less often, someone catches it by touching a surface that has the virus on it and then touching their mouth, nose or eyes[1]. Most studies cited by CDC found flu virus can live and potentially infect a person for only 2 to 8 hours after it lands on a surface[4]. So disinfecting matters most for the surfaces touched again and again while someone is sick, not for every wall and floor. Keeping distance from the sick person, handwashing and fresh air do as much as the spray bottle[2].
When to clean, and for how long
Flu virus can be detected in most people from one day before symptoms until five to seven days after they get sick, and people are most contagious in the first three days; young children and people with weakened immune systems can stay contagious longer[1]. A practical routine:
- While someone is sick: wipe the shared high-touch surfaces once a day, and the bathroom they use.
- When they're better: one full pass of the steps below, plus their bedding and towels.
- When nobody is sick: CDC says soap-and-water cleaning removes most germs and disinfecting at home is likely not needed[3].
Step by step
- Open windows if the weather allows, for fresh air while you work[2][3].
- Clean first. Wash surfaces with soap and water or a household cleaner. Dirt makes it harder for a disinfectant to reach germs[3].
- Disinfect. Use an EPA-registered disinfectant whose label lists influenza A, following the label[4], or the bleach solution below[3].
- Leave it wet. The surface should stay visibly wet for the product's contact time; for the bleach solution with no other instructions, at least 1 minute[3]. Wiping it off right away is the most common mistake.
- Rinse food-contact surfaces and toys with clean water after disinfecting[4].
- Do the laundry (below), take out the trash, and wash your hands[2].
What to wipe
| Surface | Why | How |
|---|---|---|
| Doorknobs, light switches, faucet and toilet handles | touched by everyone, many times a day | clean with soap or a household cleaner, then a disinfectant left wet for its label contact time |
| Bedside table, TV remote, phone, tablet, game controllers | where the sick person spent the most time | wipe; for electronics follow the maker's instructions and use a wipe rather than a spray |
| Bathroom sink, counter and toilet | shared, and handled with unwashed hands | clean, then disinfect; replace or launder hand towels |
| Kitchen counters, fridge and microwave handles | touched before food is handled | clean, then disinfect; rinse food-contact surfaces with water after |
| Children's toys (hard plastic) | go straight into mouths | wash with soap and water or disinfect and rinse; let air-dry |
Soft furnishings like the couch the patient slept on can't be disinfected the same way; vacuum them and wash any removable covers and throws with the rest of the laundry.
Bleach, safely
- Use regular unscented household bleach with 5% to 9% sodium hypochlorite; splashless and some laundry bleaches aren't meant for disinfecting[3].
- Follow the bottle's directions. If it has none: 5 tablespoons (1/3 cup) per gallon of room-temperature water, or 4 teaspoons per quart[3].
- Mix a new batch every day; diluted bleach loses strength after 24 hours[3].
- Never mix bleach with any other cleaner or disinfectant (ammonia, vinegar, toilet bowl cleaners). The vapors can be very dangerous to breathe[3]. Ventilate and wear gloves.
- Bleach can damage wood, natural stone and fabrics. For those, use a disinfectant labeled for the surface.
Laundry, dishes and air
For flu, CDC says to wash sheets and towels with normal laundry soap and tumble dry on hot, and that it's fine to wash the sick person's laundry with everyone else's. Their dishes can go in the dishwasher or be washed with normal dish soap. Wash your hands after handling their laundry or tissues, and improve the air by bringing in fresh outside air or using air purification[2].
Stomach flu (norovirus) is different
What people call the "stomach flu" or "stomach bug" is usually norovirus, which is not related to influenza[6]. It's very contagious, people can spread it for two weeks or more after they feel better[6], and hand sanitizer doesn't work well against it[5]. CDC's steps after someone vomits or has diarrhea[5]:
- Put on rubber or disposable gloves. Wipe the entire area with paper towels and throw them away in a plastic trash bag.
- Disinfect with a stronger bleach solution: 5 to 25 tablespoons of household bleach (5% to 8%) per gallon of water (1,000 to 5,000 ppm), or a product on EPA's List G for norovirus[7].
- Leave it on the area for at least 5 minutes.
- Clean the whole area again with soap and hot water.
- Wash soiled clothes and linens right away, handled without shaking, in detergent and hot water on the longest cycle, then dry on the highest heat. Take out the trash and wash your hands with soap and water.
CDC also says not to prepare food or care for others until at least 2 days (48 hours) after symptoms stop[5].
Flu season in Peoria
U.S. flu season runs through fall and winter, and flu activity most often peaks between December and February; over the 40 seasons from 1982-83 to 2023-24 it peaked most often in February (17 seasons)[9]. In central Illinois those are the months when windows stay shut and the furnace runs, so the fresh-air step is harder. A flu shot is the main protection: the Peoria City/County Health Department's immunization clinic at 2116 N Sheridan Road, Suite A, Peoria, takes appointments at 309-679-6655 (call for current prices; Medicaid accepted for most vaccines)[8], and many pharmacies give flu shots too. If someone has emergency warning signs (trouble breathing, chest pain, confusion, seizures, dehydration), CDC says to get medical care right away[2].
Where a house cleaner fits
Disinfecting during an illness is a job for the household, the same day: wiping the surfaces the patient touched is quick and needs to happen while they're contagious. A professional clean is useful after it has passed, to catch up on the rest of the home. Every Wrenly Home visit includes bathrooms cleaned and disinfected, kitchen counters, sink and appliance fronts, dusting of light switches and door handles, and vacuuming and mopping (what's included); a deep clean adds baseboards, doors, vents and cabinet fronts. We're not a biohazard or medical disinfection service, we don't claim any clean removes every germ, and we ask that vomit or diarrhea be cleaned up right away by the household with the steps above. If someone is still sick on your visit day, tell us: skipping or rescheduling is free with at least 48 hours' notice (cancellation policy).
Swipe the table sideways to see every price column →
| Home | Deep clean | Then every 2 weeks |
|---|---|---|
| Studio / 1 bed (1 bath incl.) | $175 | $119 |
| 2 bed (2 baths incl.) | $209 | $145 |
| 3 bed (2 baths incl.) | $269 | $179 |
| 4 bed (3 baths incl.) | $339 | $235 |
| 5 bed (3 baths incl.) | $429 | $259 |
| Each extra bathroom | +$25 | +$15 |
Frequently asked questions
How do I disinfect my house after the flu?
Clean first, then disinfect. Wash the surfaces the sick person touched (doorknobs, light switches, faucet and toilet handles, bedside table, remotes, phones, counters, toys) with soap and water or a household cleaner, then use an EPA-registered disinfectant whose label lists influenza A, or a fresh bleach solution of 5 tablespoons (1/3 cup) of regular unscented bleach per gallon of room-temperature water, left wet for at least 1 minute. Wash bedding and towels with normal detergent and dry them on a hot setting, and open windows for fresh air.
How long does the flu virus live on surfaces?
CDC's school cleaning guidance says most studies show the flu virus can live and potentially infect a person for only 2 to 8 hours after it lands on a surface. Most flu spreads through droplets from coughs, sneezes and talking; touching a contaminated surface and then your mouth, nose or eyes is a less common route.
When should I disinfect after someone has the flu?
While they're sick and again when they're better. CDC says people with flu are most contagious in the first three days of illness and that the virus can be detected from one day before symptoms until five to seven days after becoming sick, longer in young children and people with weakened immune systems. Wiping high-touch surfaces daily during that stretch, and a full pass once they're well, covers it.
Do I need to wash the sick person's laundry separately?
No. CDC says it's OK to wash a sick person's bedding and clothes with other people's laundry, using normal laundry soap and a hot dryer setting. Their dishes can go in the dishwasher or be washed with normal dish soap. Wash your hands after handling their laundry or tissues. Stomach bugs are different: see the norovirus steps.
How do I clean the house after a stomach flu?
"Stomach flu" is usually norovirus, which is not influenza and is much harder to kill. After vomiting or diarrhea, wear gloves, wipe up with paper towels into a plastic bag, then disinfect with a stronger bleach solution of 5 to 25 tablespoons of household bleach per gallon of water (1,000 to 5,000 ppm) or a product on EPA's List G for norovirus, leave it for at least 5 minutes, and clean the area again with soap and hot water. Wash soiled laundry in hot water on the longest cycle and dry on high heat. Hand sanitizer doesn't work well against norovirus, so wash hands with soap and water.
Is vinegar enough to disinfect after the flu?
Vinegar isn't an EPA-registered disinfectant, so it isn't one of the options CDC gives. For disinfecting, CDC points to EPA-registered disinfectants (check that the label lists influenza A) or a properly diluted bleach solution. Never mix bleach with vinegar, ammonia or any other cleaner: the fumes can be dangerous.
Can Wrenly Home clean after someone in my house has had the flu?
Yes, once the illness has passed. A standard Wrenly visit already includes bathrooms cleaned and disinfected, kitchen counters and appliance fronts, and dusting of light switches and door handles; a deep clean ($175 to $429 by home size) adds baseboards, doors and cabinet fronts. We're a house cleaning service, not a biohazard or medical disinfection service, and we can't promise any clean removes every germ. Please clean up vomit or diarrhea yourself right away using the CDC steps, and tell us if someone is still sick on your visit day: rescheduling is free with at least 48 hours' notice.
Sources
- CDC, How Flu Spreads (page dated Sept. 17, 2024). https://www.cdc.gov/flu/spread/index.html. Accessed 2026-10-25.
- CDC, Caring for Someone Sick (flu; page dated Mar. 22, 2024). https://www.cdc.gov/flu/takingcare/caring-for-someone.html. Accessed 2026-10-25.
- CDC, Cleaning and Disinfecting with Bleach (page dated Apr. 24, 2024). https://www.cdc.gov/hygiene/about/cleaning-and-disinfecting-with-bleach.html. Accessed 2026-10-25.
- CDC, How to Clean and Disinfect Schools to Help Slow the Spread of Flu (PDF, Aug. 2016). https://www.cdc.gov/flu-resources/media/pdfs/2024/07/cleaning_disinfecting_schools.pdf. Accessed 2026-10-25.
- CDC, How to Prevent Norovirus (page dated Jan. 13, 2025). https://www.cdc.gov/norovirus/prevention/index.html. Accessed 2026-10-25.
- CDC, About Norovirus. https://www.cdc.gov/norovirus/about/index.html. Accessed 2026-10-25.
- U.S. EPA, List G: EPA's Registered Antimicrobial Products Effective Against Norovirus. https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/epas-registered-antimicrobial-products-effective-against-norovirus-feline. Accessed 2026-10-25.
- Peoria City/County Health Department, Immunization Clinic. https://www.pcchd.org/191/Immunization-Clinic. Accessed 2026-10-25.
- CDC, About Flu Season (peak months 1982-83 to 2023-24). https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/season.html. Accessed 2026-10-25.
General cleaning information drawn from CDC and EPA guidance, not medical advice. Always follow the label on any disinfectant. If anything here is out of date, email hello@wrenlyhome.com and we'll correct it.