Bleach, the chemical compound sodium hypochlorite, is a disinfectant. There’s a difference between cleaning and disinfecting, says Katie Sullivan, director of issue communications at the American Cleaning Institute, an industry trade group. “Cleaning is the physical removal of dirt, germs, and debris by scrubbing, washing, and rinsing,” she says. Disinfecting involves killing any remaining germs on a surface after it’s been cleaned.

When routinely cleaning your home, soap and warm water is almost always adequate, says Rebecca Fuoco, director of science communications at the Green Science Policy Institute, a nonprofit that advocates for safer chemical use. “The bottom line is that you often don’t need to disinfect your home,” she says. “You just need to clean your home.”

There are a few instances in which bleach is worth using. Fuoco says disinfecting with bleach is warranted for sanitizing surfaces contaminated with bodily fluids, feces, or vomit from someone who was sick.