Yes, bleach can effectively kill COVID-19 on surfaces. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends it for disinfecting potentially contaminated areas: “There are chemical disinfectants that can kill Covid-19 on surfaces. These include bleach or chlorine-based disinfectants, solvents, 75% ethanol, peracetic acid and chloroform.”
Nonsense—never apply bleach to your skin or body. Bleach, chlorine-based products, 75% ethanol, or peracetic acid are strictly for surfaces and offer no protection against COVID-19 if applied to skin or inhaled. Do not use bleach to wash fruits and vegetables either; importantly, the virus cannot be transmitted through the digestive tract.
For potentially contaminated laundry, wash at a temperature of at least 60°C for a minimum of 30 minutes. White vinegar is ineffective because it lacks sufficient alcohol content to kill the virus.
