Laboratory Disinfection Guidance

Cleaning For Prevention

General Guidance

• Clean and disinfect surfaces, focusing on high-touch surfaces, such as doorknobs, light switches, communal rooms, countertops, buttons, handrails, tables, faucets, shared equipment, and shared keyboards.
• Practice good hand hygiene:
  • Remove gloves before touching common-use surfaces like doors and before leaving the lab area
  • Wash hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds.

Safety guidelines during cleaning and disinfection

• Wear disposable gloves when cleaning and disinfecting. Gloves should be discarded after each use. Clean hands immediately after gloves are removed.
• Wear eye protection when there is a potential for splash or splatter to the face.
• Gowns or aprons are recommended to protect personal clothing.
• Store chemicals in labeled, closed containers. Store them in a manner that prevents tipping or spilling.

Cleaning and disinfection of surfaces

1. Select the appropriate disinfectant. Disinfectants  
   1. Use an EPA-registered disinfectant.
2. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for safe and effective use of all cleaning and disinfection products (e.g., dilution concentration, application method and contact time, required ventilation, and use of personal protective equipment).
   1. Check for Compatibility- Before applying a disinfectant, determine any materials or equipment located in the lab that potentially could be incompatible (e.g., bleach). Some equipment may require a secondary wipe-down with water or ethanol.
   2. Consult manufacturer recommendations on cleaning products appropriate for electronics.
      1. If no guidance is available, consider the use of alcohol-based wipes or spray containing at least 70% alcohol. The use of alcohol-based products may reduce the risk of damage to sensitive machine components. Whenever possible, consider using cleanable covers for electronics.
      2. Dry surfaces thoroughly to avoid the pooling of liquids.
3. Wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)- at minimum, lab coat, disposable gloves, and eye protection.
4. Clean surfaces and objects that are visibly soiled first. If surfaces are dirty to sight or touch, they should be cleaned using a detergent or soap and water before disinfection.
5. Clean and apply disinfectant to the surface by wiping, spraying, or applying the solution to a paper towel and wiping it onto the surface. If the surface is visibly contaminated or wet with possible contaminants, place absorbent material (e.g. paper towels) directly over the contamination and apply disinfectant and clean. Wipe to remove contamination and dispose of the absorbent material as indicated under Disposal (below), and disinfect the surface again.
   1. Contact Time: The surface must remain wet for the contact time indicated for the disinfectant used. Household bleach and 70% ethanol both require a contact time of 10 minutes. If the surface dries, reapply the solution. As 70% ethanol is very volatile and dries quickly, it is best used as a secondary cleaner following a 10 min application of 10% bleach.
6. Disposal- Dispose of cleaning material in lab trash containers in accordance with campus procedures. Remember: Wash hands and wrists with soap and water for 20 seconds.

Related Links:

• How to Disinfect Tissue Culture Media in Vacuum Flasks
• Sewer Disposal: What Can Go Down the Drain?
• Summary of Disinfectants

• CDC: Cleaning and Disinfection for Community Facilities
• CDC: Disinfection and Sterilization