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How to Disinfect Your Kitchen

Disinfecting the kitchen just might be one of the most important parts of your cleaning routine. We can show you how to kill germs on kitchen surfaces safely, with or without bleach.

More from Clorox experts
By Mary Gagliardi
Smells like Coconut.
Cleans like Clorox.
Smells like Coconut.
Cleans like Clorox.
Clorox Scentiva Products

Whether you use a bleach and water solution or choose a bleach-free approach, killing germs in the kitchen should be part of your regular cleaning routine. 

For bleach-free cleaning and disinfecting, we recommend the Clorox® Free & Clear line. This trio of Clorox products is formulated without bleach, ammonia or dyes, and it’s safe around kids, pets and food.* No rinse required! 

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Disinfecting with bleach

What you need

Steps to disinfect kitchen surfaces with bleach

  1. 1

    Open a window

    Open a window to circulate fresh air into the room where you will be cleaning. 

    open window with curtains
  2. 2

    Mix the bleach and water solution

    Measure 3 cups of water into the spray bottle. Wearing protective gloves and safety glasses, add 3 teaspoons of Clorox® Disinfecting Bleach. Insert the trigger sprayer into the bottle and tighten before adjusting the nozzle to spray a fine mist.  

    Tip

    Bleach and water solutions must be made fresh daily. 

    liquid pouring from glass container
  3. 3

    Pre-clean surfaces

    If needed, use a microfiber cloth dampened with water to wipe any obvious smudges or grime from surfaces before the disinfecting step. 

  4. 4

    Disinfect

    Spray the bleach and water solution onto common kitchen surfaces such as sealed granite, painted wood, stainless steel, glazed ceramic tile, grout, porcelain, enamel and plastic. Spray additional solution on as needed to keep the surface wet for 6 minutes to disinfect, then wipe away with a microfiber cloth. 

    Tip

    For mold and mildew stains, let the bleach and water stay on the surface for up to 10 minutes. 

  5. 5

    Rinse

    Soak another microfiber cloth with clean water and then wipe all the treated surfaces to rinse away any residual bleach solution. 

  6. 6

    Air dry

    Allow surfaces to air dry. 

    open window with curtains

Cleaning and disinfecting with Free & Clear

What you need

Steps to disinfecting kitchen surfaces with Free & Clear

  1. 1

    Pre-clean surfaces

    If needed, use Clorox® Free & Clear Compostable Cleaning Wipes to clean away obvious dirt or grime from refrigerator doors, cabinet handles, trash cans, faucets, countertops, microwaves and toasters before the disinfecting step. Or spray with Clorox® Free and Clear Multi-Surface Spray Cleaner and wipe clean with a paper towel before disinfecting. 

    Tip

    No rinsing is required after cleaning with Free & Clear cleaning products. 

  2. 2

    Disinfect

    Hold Clorox® Free & Clear Disinfecting Mist 6-8 inches from the surface and spray until thoroughly wet. 

    Tip

    Surface must remain visibly wet for 2 minutes to disinfect. 

  3. 3

    Air dry

    No rinsing is required. Simply allow the surface to air dry completely- you can spray and walk away. 

    open window with curtains
    • *

      When used as directed