Calls to poison centers about exposure to cleaners and disinfectants rose sharply after the COVID-19 pandemic began, but little was known about how people in the United States were cleaning at home to prevent SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. So CDC ran an opt-in internet panel survey of 502 U.S. adults on May 4, 2020.
The survey
Porter Novelli Public Services and ENGINE Insights ran the survey, weighting responses to match the U.S. population by gender, age, region, race and ethnicity, and education. Because respondents came from an opt-in panel rather than a random sample, no statistical tests were done; differences of 5 percentage points or more were noted. The median age was 46 (range 18–86), and 52% were women.
Gaps in knowledge
People knew least about preparing cleaning solutions safely.
| Knew that… | Respondents |
|---|---|
| only room-temperature water should be used to dilute bleach | 23% |
| bleach should not be mixed with vinegar | 35% |
| bleach should not be mixed with ammonia | 58% |
| eye protection is recommended for some products | 64% |
| gloves are recommended | 71% |
| hands should be washed after using cleaners | 68% |
| good ventilation is recommended | 73% |
| cleaners and disinfectants should be kept away from children | 79% |
| hand sanitizers should be kept away from children | 54% |
Knowledge of safe preparation, protective equipment and storage of cleaners, disinfectants and hand sanitizers. CDC.
High-risk practices
In the month before the survey, 60% said they were cleaning or disinfecting their homes more often. But 39% reported deliberately doing at least one high-risk thing, not recommended by CDC, to prevent infection:
- putting bleach on food such as fruit and vegetables (19%);
- using household cleaners or disinfectants on hands or skin (18%);
- misting their body with a cleaning or disinfectant spray (10%);
- breathing in vapors from cleaners or disinfectants (6%);
- drinking or gargling diluted bleach, soapy water or other cleaning solutions (4% each).
Cleaning and disinfection practices reported in the previous month to prevent SARS-CoV-2 transmission. CDC.
A quarter (25%) reported at least one health problem they believed came from using cleaners or disinfectants — nose or sinus irritation (11%), skin irritation (8%), eye irritation (8%), dizziness, lightheadedness or headache (8%), upset stomach or nausea (6%), or breathing problems (6%). Those who engaged in a high-risk practice reported such effects more often (39% versus 16%).
Even so, 51% strongly and 31% somewhat agreed that they knew how to clean their home safely. Their most trusted sources on cleaning against the virus were CDC (65%), state or local health departments (49%) and doctors, nurses or other providers (48%).
Why it matters
Mixing bleach with vinegar or ammonia, or heating it, can give off chlorine and chloramine gases that can badly damage the lungs. Children who swallow hand sanitizer can suffer irritation, stomach and intestinal effects, and in severe cases alcohol poisoning, and improperly stored products endanger pets too. Putting bleach on food, cleaners on skin, or inhaling or swallowing them can cause severe tissue damage and corrosive injury.
Safe practice
The recommended way to prevent spread at home is frequent handwashing and regular cleaning and disinfection of high-touch surfaces. When using cleaners and disinfectants:
- read and follow the label;
- dilute with room-temperature water unless the label says otherwise;
- never mix chemical products;
- protect your skin, and consider eye protection where splashes are possible;
- make sure there is good ventilation;
- store and use chemicals and hand sanitizers out of reach of children and pets.
Because most respondents thought they already knew how to clean safely, the authors suggest messages that point out specific gaps, spread through trusted sources and channels such as digital and social media.
Limits
An opt-in panel may not truly represent the U.S. population, even when weighted; people may overstate their knowledge or underreport risky behavior; a one-time survey cannot tie specific health effects to specific practices; and attitudes may have shifted as the pandemic went on.
Sources
Based on Gharpure R, Hunter CM, Schnall AH, et al., "Knowledge and Practices Regarding Safe Household Cleaning and Disinfection for COVID-19 Prevention — United States, May 2020," MMWR Vol. 69, No. 23, CDC; a work of the United States government in the public domain. The report's summary and discussion call the share with high-risk practices "approximately one third," while its results give 39%; the page uses the result. Its social-media graphic is not reproduced.
Licence: CC0 1.0 (public domain) · Adapted from www.cdc.gov
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