The COVID-19 coronavirus has caused widespread disruption as people are encouraged to stay home in an effort to contain the spread of the illness. However, self-isolating households may naturally wonder what they can do to keep contagions from spreading within the home as well.

Businesses that have remained open to the public during the current pandemic have ramped up their cleaning and disinfection efforts to try to create a safe environment. People can take similar steps in their own home, either as a preventative measure or as a way to keep others safe if someone in the household falls ill.

It's important to understand the difference between disinfecting and simply cleaning. Disinfecting will kill germs and viruses on a surface, while cleaning simply removes dirt and other contaminants. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends regularly cleaning any frequently used surfaces and using a disinfectant afterward.

Diluted bleach solutions work well for disinfecting. You can also make your own bleach solution by diluting one-third of a cup of bleach with one gallon of water, or four teaspoons of bleach with a quart of water. Alcohol-based solutions should be at least 70 percent alcohol.

Take the necessary precautions when working with bleach. The area where you are working should be properly ventilated, and you shouldn't combine bleach with anything other than water. Make sure the cleaner is not past its expiration date, and allow it to sit on a surface for at least one minute before wiping it away.

Focus on disinfecting frequently used surfaces. Christina Hoffman, writing for the home improvement site HouseLogic, says these include light switches, toilets, doorknobs, sinks, faucets, and remote controls.

You don't necessarily have to attack every surface in your home with disinfectant. The Yukon Government Department of Health and Human Services recommends cleaning your home on the schedule you normally use and adding a disinfectant step. Make a note of which surfaces are frequently touched by members of the household and wipe them down with disinfectant while cleaning.

You'll also want to make sure any disinfecting materials won't cause damage. For example, Hoffman says bleach cleaners shouldn't be used on porous floors like hardwood because they can cause staining.

Set up a few habits to encourage more regular disinfecting. Laura Gaskill, writing for the home design site Houzz, recommends putting containers of sanitary wipes by the sink and other frequently used areas so they can be easily wiped down. You can also set up a designated area to put down your phone, key ring, and other items that accompanied you during the day to give them a quick disinfecting when you get home.

More frequent disinfecting is useful when someone in the home is sick. The sick person should ideally be isolated and given a bedroom and bathroom that no other household members will use. If the sick person needs to share a bedroom or bathroom with others, the CDC says these areas should be disinfected after each use by the sick person.

To further prevent the spread of a contagion, the sick person should be served food in their room and their dishes and utensils should be washed using gloves and hot water. The sick person should also be given their own trash can with a liner so its contents can be easily removed.

Use the warmest possible wash and high heat drying to kill viruses on clothing worn by a sick person. You can take further precautions by using disposable gloves to handle laundry, disinfecting laundry hampers, and refraining from shaking out dirty laundry.