SAVANNAH, Ga. () — Officials issue drinking water advisories to keep residents from potentially getting sick, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

But do you know what you should and shouldn’t do during a boil water advisory?

The most important, and obvious, thing to do is use commercially bottled water or boil your tap water.

Even if you have a home filter or a pitcher to filter your water, you should still boil tap water, the CDC said. To kill potential germs, bring water to a full rolling boil for 1 minute.

After boiling, let the water cool completely before use.

During a Boil Water Advisory, the CDC said to use boiled tap water or bottled water for the following:

Drinking and cooking

Boil your water or use commercially bottled water to cook or prepare food. You should not drink tap water that hasn’t been boiled until officials declare it safe for consumption.

This applies to feeding your baby formula as well.

Officials also suggest using bottled water or boiled water for ice.

Animals also should not be given tap water during a Boil Water Advisory.

“Pets can get sick from some of the same germs as people or spread germs to people,” CDC officials said.

Bathing, showering and brushing your teeth

Be careful not to swallow any water when bathing or showering.

CDC officials suggest giving babies and young children a sponge bath to reduce the chance of them swallowing water.

Brush your teeth using boiled water or commercially bottled water.

Washing dishes

If possible, officials suggest using disposable plates, cups and utensils during a boil water advisory.

Sanitize all baby bottles.

Dishwashers are generally safe to use if they have a sanitizing cycle or reach a final rinse temperature of at least 150°F (66°C). Check the manual or contact the manufacturer to find out what temperature your dishwater reaches.

To wash dishes by hand, the CDC recommends you wash and rinse the dishes as you normally would using hot water, then in a separate basin or sink, add a teaspoon of unscented household liquid bleach for each gallon of warm water.

You should then soak the rinsed dishes in the bleached water for at least one minute and let the dishes air dry completely before using them again.

Cleaning

Clean washable toys and surfaces with commercially bottled water, boiled water or water that has been disinfected with bleach.

The CDC said it is still safe to use tap water to wash clothes as usual and watering plants. Officials said to follow advice from your local officials, but you can often times use tap water and soap to wash your hands during an advisory.