For cancer patients, keeping a tidy home is more than a source of pride. A clean house may help stop the spread of germs, viruses and bacteria that put cancer patients with suppressed immune systems at risk of serious illness. Keeping a clean home is even more important during the COVID-19 pandemic. While research indicates that the spread of COVID-19 occurs predominantly via respiratory droplets—underscoring the need for masks and social distancing—the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that the virus may remain on a variety of surfaces for hours, even days. The CDC says cleaning and disinfecting high-touch surfaces “is a best practice measure” for preventing COVID-19 and other viruses that may cause serious illness in people with underlying health conditions, including cancer.

Rather than choosing cleaning products based on a pleasant scent or because it’s what you’ve always used, consumers, especially those with a compromised immune system, should educate themselves about which products do and do not kill viruses, experts say. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has published a list of products that meet the agency’s criteria for use against the virus that causes COVID-19. The list includes sprays, concentrates and wipes. Or you can make your own disinfectant at home with a CDC-recommended recipe of one-third cup of bleach per gallon of room-temperature water.