Tackling with the RNAses a tricky and painful issue with lots of discomforts. Lab work benches, pipettes and other tools you need during RNA extraction are cleaned usually by 70% Isopropyl Alcohol, though it has no direct effect on RNAses but is very helpful in reducing that load which is a potential RNAse source as bacteria, dirt, hairs, dead skin epithelia, saliva droplets etc. Some people recommend 6% bleach or Cholorox or 0.1N NaOH for surfaces, which are  potent RNAse killers too. Use of reducing agents during RNA extraction protocol another main thing like the usage of 2-MEA along with the Lysis buffer of your extraction kit or protocol. Open and use always DEPC treated water vials or bottles aseptically for all working preparations, which you cannot ignore at all. DEPC is a potential carcinogen so if you can find use safer alternative DMPC. Before using your DEPC treated water check its clear or turbid or having particles and if Ok then blank your Nanodrop or any spectrophotometer with this water and then run the same water as a sample in Nanodrop and check the absorbance level, if its quite high throw that water. I highly recommend to purchase DEPC treated water from companies only. Remember RNAse re nature as the solution cools after autoclaving so treatment of your water with DEPC overnight and then autoclave it is not very helpful unless you are sure well that the water you used for DEPC treatment is quite clean and its just a personal satisfaction point. Main ubiquitous RNAse is RNAse A which is heat resistant even at 80 C or boiling. So protective measures are the main things rather focusing on killing of your RNAse. The eppendorf tubes if not RNAse free so used only after autoclaving and when you use 2-MEA added lysis buffers so RNAse will no doubt get denature. On a more safer side whenever you make your cDNA from that RNA use also RNAse inhibitors in the reaction. Also you need to work with a good speed during your RNA extraction, delay is a huge loss for your RNA. And keep the final RNA collection eppendorf tubes on ice constantly from the start of your extraction so you will not get further RNA loss hopefully. Use only powdered free Nitrile gloves for handling, extraction and readings. Also the glass wares and metal wares you want to use in RNA extraction just wrap them in foil and sterilize in dry oven at 250 C for 2-4 hours for ensuring the absence of all kinds of biological activities.

By applying these all tips I always managed to get very good RNA.....

I don't think just washing your equipment in DEPC water will get rid of RNases.  DEPC water itself is RNAse-free, but doesn't cause inhibition of new RNases.  In order to DEPC treat an item, you need to incubate it in deionized water with 0.1% DEPC added.  Let the equipment incubate in a this DEPC water bath for at least and hour (but can go overnight). Then remove the items from the water, place in autoclavable bags or boxes, and autoclave (which will inactivate the DEPC).  

We do quite a bit of RNA work in our lab and this is generally unnecessary.  We use barrier/filter pipett tips, which come sterile & RNAse free.  New eppendorf tubes directly from the bag should also be RNAses free (the bag should be labeled as such). 

Tackling with the RNAses a tricky and painful issue with lots of discomforts. Lab work benches, pipettes and other tools you need during RNA extraction are cleaned usually by 70% Isopropyl Alcohol, though it has no direct effect on RNAses but is very helpful in reducing that load which is a potential RNAse source as bacteria, dirt, hairs, dead skin epithelia, saliva droplets etc. Some people recommend 6% bleach or Cholorox or 0.1N NaOH for surfaces, which are  potent RNAse killers too. Use of reducing agents during RNA extraction protocol another main thing like the usage of 2-MEA along with the Lysis buffer of your extraction kit or protocol. Open and use always DEPC treated water vials or bottles aseptically for all working preparations, which you cannot ignore at all. DEPC is a potential carcinogen so if you can find use safer alternative DMPC. Before using your DEPC treated water check its clear or turbid or having particles and if Ok then blank your Nanodrop or any spectrophotometer with this water and then run the same water as a sample in Nanodrop and check the absorbance level, if its quite high throw that water. I highly recommend to purchase DEPC treated water from companies only. Remember RNAse re nature as the solution cools after autoclaving so treatment of your water with DEPC overnight and then autoclave it is not very helpful unless you are sure well that the water you used for DEPC treatment is quite clean and its just a personal satisfaction point. Main ubiquitous RNAse is RNAse A which is heat resistant even at 80 C or boiling. So protective measures are the main things rather focusing on killing of your RNAse. The eppendorf tubes if not RNAse free so used only after autoclaving and when you use 2-MEA added lysis buffers so RNAse will no doubt get denature. On a more safer side whenever you make your cDNA from that RNA use also RNAse inhibitors in the reaction. Also you need to work with a good speed during your RNA extraction, delay is a huge loss for your RNA. And keep the final RNA collection eppendorf tubes on ice constantly from the start of your extraction so you will not get further RNA loss hopefully. Use only powdered free Nitrile gloves for handling, extraction and readings. Also the glass wares and metal wares you want to use in RNA extraction just wrap them in foil and sterilize in dry oven at 250 C for 2-4 hours for ensuring the absence of all kinds of biological activities.

By applying these all tips I always managed to get very good RNA.....

Jawwad makes some excellent points. I'd like to emphasize using RNase inhibitors in your reactions where possible.  We have had good success with the commercial ones: "Ribolock RNase Inhibitor" and "RNAsin RNase Inhibitor."  Many in vitro transcription kits have buffers or enzymes already containing these inhibitors. 

As an alternative to Jawwad's protocol of cleaning benches with bleach, we use the commercial "RNAse Zap".  It comes in spray bottle, and before any RNA work we wipe down benches and pipettes.  

We typically make our own DEPC water, and have no had problems with it in the past.

• The above answers are excellent so I will just make a couple more points
• Keep DEPC in a cool desiccated environment
• This includes sealing the lid is the DEPC bottle with parafilm to exclude moisture
• what is more order small aliquots and change ideally every 3-6 months and if necessary discard and replace: this is because DEPC is deliquesent, absorbing water, hydrolysing and breaking down
• When making DEPC stir 1ml with 1 litre of water in the fine hood; incubate at 37C for 1 hour then autoclave 
• To render equipment RNAse Free incubate over night with DEPC water stirred overnight but not autoclaved; followed by washing with autoclave DEPC water
• To render glassware RNAse free incubate in 3% hydrogen peroxide for 10 min followed by autoclaved DEPC water for 10 min with 1 x change 

Always place DEPC and things which are DEPC treated overnight covered with brown paper as DEPC is light sensitive.

• or shield from the light in a fume hood with the light off
• DEPC is hazardous and light sensitive so should be manipulated in the fume hood but with the light off that is sufficient to render it stable as it kills RNASes during the night
• If you were tyio perform this action on the open bench, yes, cover with foil (or indeed brwon paper) but that is not necessary in the fume hood where iot should be manipulated any way for reasons of hazard