You don't want to be able to smell bleach in the fermenter before the beer goes in. When you bottle, be sure to sanitize all of this stuff too. It's easier to mix in the kettle and makes better tasting beer. If you can't get this, use the lightest unhopped liquid extract, like Alexander's or Munton and Fison. They should be packaged well, if you can smell them through the package, it's not well sealed.
Hop plugs are excellent and easy to use and store well in the freezer.
You will have an amber tea at this point. Bring the water to a boil. Turn off the burner and carefully stir in the extract. Also, it may be helpful to pour dry malt extract into a bowl and add it to the kettle from there. Bring the kettle gently back to a boil and watch for boil overs - the stuff will want to boil over when it comes to a boil.