What should I do to clean and disinfect my house from Mpox?

During isolation at home, people with Mpox should clean and disinfect the spaces they occupy regularly to limit household contamination.

• ISOLATING ALONE IN HOME: People with Mpox who are isolating alone at home should regularly clean and disinfect the spaces they occupy, including commonly touched surfaces and items, to limit household contamination. Perform hand hygiene afterwards using an alcohol-based hand rub (ABHR) that contains at least 60% alcohol, or soap and water if ABHR is unavailable.
• ISOLATING WITH OTHERS IN HOME: People with Mpox who are isolating in a home with others who don’t have Mpox should follow the isolation and infection control guidance, and any shared spaces, appliances, or items should be disinfected immediately following use.

People who have recovered from Mpox and whose isolation period has ended should conduct a thorough disinfection of all the spaces within the home that they had been in contact with. Follow the steps below to minimize risk of infection to others in your home after recovery.

• If cleaning and disinfection is done by someone other than the person with Mpox, that person should wear, at a minimum, disposable medical gloves and a respirator or well-fitting mask.
• Standard clothing that fully covers the skin should be worn, and then immediately laundered according to recommendations below.
• Hand hygiene should be performed using an ABHR, or soap and water if ABHR is unavailable.
• Focus on disinfecting items and surfaces that were in direct contact with the skin of the person with Mpox, or often in the presence of the person with Mpox, during isolation. If unsure, disinfect.
• Do not dry dust or sweep as this may spread infectious particles.
  • Wet cleaning methods are preferred such as disinfectant wipes, sprays, and mopping.
  • Vacuuming is acceptable using a vacuum with a high-efficiency air filter. If not available, ensure the person vacuuming wears a well-fitting mask or respirator.
• Clean and disinfect household in the following order:
  1. General waste containment
     1. Collect and contain in a sealed bag any soiled waste such as bandages, paper towels, food packaging, and other general trash items.
  2. Laundry
     1. Gather contaminated clothing and linens before anything else in the room is cleaned. Do not shake the linens as this could spread infectious particles.
  3. Hard surfaces and household items
  4. Upholstered furniture and other soft furnishing
  5. Carpet and flooring
  6. Waste disposal