Initial Cleanup:
Wear rubber boots, rubber gloves, face mask and goggles during cleanup of affected area if possible. Remove and discard items that cannot be washed and disinfected (such as, mattresses, carpeting, carpet padding, rugs, upholstered furniture, cosmetics, stuffed animals, baby toys, pillows, foam-rubber items, books, wall coverings, and most paper products). For contaminated clothing: First, Wash with Hot Water & Detergent. Doing this will help release what is trapped within the fibers, and help to remove most of the contaminants. Then, after the hot wash, follow with a Cold water wash with Detergent & 1/2 cup of Regular Disinfecting Bleach on the longest cycle possible for your machine. Anything beyond the typical cleaning requires a professional. Please contact a Water Damage & Mold Remediation company such as ServPro. Here is their contact information: https://www.servpro.com/
Sanitizing Dishes:
The correct procedure for sanitizing dishes with Regular Disinfecting Bleach is first to wash and rinse dishes, glassware, and utensils. After washing, soak for at least 2 minutes in a solution of 2 teaspoons of bleach per 1 gallon of water, drain, and air dry (no need to rinse after). Bleach is perfectly safe to use. Once bleach dries it is rendered completely harmless and breaks down into salt and oxygen.
Make sure you use a new bottle of Regular Concentrated Disinfecting Bleach OR one that has been opened within the last 9 months. Bleach has a relatively short lifespan (1 year from the manufacture date). It loses its disinfecting properties and overall effectiveness over a period of time. This is why it is best if used within 9 months from opening. It will become cloudy, and milky looking in texture once it starts, or has gone bad. Splash-less, Scented, Bleach Crystals, and Color Safe bleach do NOT disinfect.
