Home disinfection in Singapore

Home disinfection in Singapore is a cleaning service that applies disinfectant to surfaces, usually after illness at home, before a new baby arrives or when moving into a new place. It is different from routine cleaning, and claims vary widely. Before booking, ask which product is used, which surfaces are treated, how the home should be prepared and when it is safe to return.

Cleaning, sanitising and disinfecting

These words are often used loosely. Cleaning removes dirt and grime. Disinfecting uses a product intended to kill germs on surfaces. Many companies combine both, because disinfectants work better on surfaces that have been cleaned first.

Ask the company to name the product and explain how it is used. A clear explanation is a better sign than broad claims about killing all germs.

When households book disinfection

Common reasons include recovering from an illness at home, preparing a room for a newborn or an elderly relative, moving into a home after previous occupants, or after a pest problem has been dealt with. Some households combine disinfection with a deep clean or a move-in clean.

For a thorough clean of the whole home, the deep and spring cleaning guide explains how room-by-room cleans are scoped. If you are moving in, the move-out cleaning guide covers handover and move-in cleans.

Methods and safety

Companies use different methods. Wiping applies disinfectant directly to high-touch surfaces, such as door handles, switches, taps and counters. Spraying or misting covers larger areas. Fogging disperses fine droplets into a room and usually requires everyone to leave.

Each method has safety considerations. Ask what protective measures the cleaners use, whether anyone should leave the home, how long to ventilate afterwards and whether any surfaces, such as food preparation areas, need rinsing. Tell the company about anyone at home with asthma, allergies or other sensitivities, and about pets and fish tanks.

Steam can also be used to treat some surfaces with heat. The steam cleaning guide explains its uses and limits.

Commercial premises and licences

If you are arranging disinfection for an office, shop or other non-domestic premises, cleaning businesses that clean such premises generally need an NEA cleaning business licence. NEA's cleaning business licence page explains the requirements. Domestic cleaning is listed among the excluded activities, so for a home, do not rely on a licence as a sign of quality. The office cleaning guide covers commercial cleaning.

How disinfection is priced

Companies price disinfection in several ways: by floor area, by flat size, as a fixed package or as an add-on to another cleaning service. Fogging, larger homes and combined deep cleaning cost more.

HomezyPro adds a table of published rates further down this page only when at least three companies in the directory publish a comparable rate, each with its source and capture date. When no table appears, open each company's profile for its own published prices. Because companies price in different units, compare carefully and check each source for the area covered and what is included.

• Is the price by area, by flat size or a fixed package?
• Which method is used, and which surfaces are treated?
• Is cleaning before disinfection included?
• How long must the home be vacated or ventilated?
• Is GST included?

Preparing your home

Put away food, cutlery, toothbrushes, toys and personal items, or cover them as the company advises. Clear surfaces so they can be treated, and switch off fans if the company asks. Arrange for children, elderly family members and pets to be elsewhere if the method requires it.

After the visit, ventilate the home as advised, wipe food preparation surfaces if recommended and let treated surfaces dry. Keep the company's product details in case anyone has a reaction.

Comparing companies

Ask each company the same questions and compare the answers side by side: the product, the method, the surfaces treated, whether cleaning comes first, the re-entry time and the total price for your home. A lower price may cover only high-touch surfaces, while a higher one may include a full clean of every room. Make sure you are comparing the same scope.

Ask for the product details in writing before the visit, so you can read the label and any safety information yourself. If a company cannot tell you which product it uses or how long it needs to stay on surfaces, consider another company.

What disinfection cannot do

Disinfection treats surfaces at the time it is applied. It does not prevent new germs from arriving, and it does not replace regular cleaning, handwashing and ventilation. Be cautious of claims that a single treatment protects a home for a long period, and ask the company what its service does and does not do.

If mould is the concern, the cause, such as a leak or poor ventilation, needs fixing first. The leak repair guide explains how leaks are investigated.

Disinfection questions

What is the difference between cleaning and disinfection?

Cleaning removes dirt and grime from surfaces. Disinfection uses a product intended to kill germs on surfaces. Many companies clean first, because disinfectants work better on clean surfaces.

Do I need to leave the home during disinfection?

It depends on the method and product. Fogging usually requires everyone to leave, while wiping may not. Ask the company and follow its advice on re-entry and ventilation.

Is home disinfection safe for children and pets?

Ask the company which product it uses and how long to wait before children and pets return. Put away toys and pet bowls, and ventilate the home as advised.

How long does disinfection last?

It treats surfaces at the time of application and does not prevent new germs from arriving. Regular cleaning, handwashing and ventilation remain important.