It’s flu season and there’s no way of getting around it, it’s everywhere, including my house this week! So what do you do when the flu “bugs” comes to your house? How do you prevent it from spreading to others in your family? Today I’m going to share a list of 10 must clean items when the flu comes knocking on your door {or to prevent it from coming at all}. So grab your favorite batch of sanitizing wipes (or make your own) and let’s get started!
Before you get started, make sure to read the fine print on your sanitizing wipes to see how long the surface has to stay wet before it’s completely sanitized. My wipes say 10 minutes.
Now that you have your wipes in hand here’s what you need to clean:
#1 Door handles — make sure to do both sides of the door!
#2 Light switches and switch plates — make sure to clean them in every room of the house. This is a great job for kids in the house.
#3 Sink faucets — wipe down the handles but also the faucet. Often times when kids brush their teeth, or drink water from the sink, they will get their mouth on the end of the faucet.
#4 Toilets — wipe down all the places that get touched, like the lid and the handle. If you have someone in your house that has been throwing up, or had diarrhea, lift up the lid and make sure to wipe off any “splatters”.
#5 Toys — wipe down or wash any of your kids favorite toys. When my daughter is sick I wash her stuffed animals in the washing machine with hot water and vinegar. For hard toys wipe them down with a sanitizing wipe or run them through a cycle in the dishwasher.
#6 Car seats — kids spend a lot of time in their car seats so don’t forget to clean it too! Wipe down all the buckles, and if the cloth cover on your car seat comes off, run in through the washing machine.
#7 Gidgets and Gadgets — most people think to wipe down the remote control but what about the computer or the iPad? When my daughter is sick we watch a lot of movies and play games on the iPad/computer, so those things are important to clean too!
Here are a few more things that, can’t be wiped down with a sanitizing wipe, but should be washed when someone in your house is sick:
#8 Hand towels and wash cloths — switch these out at the end of every day just to make sure bacteria isn’t spreading by hiding out in their fibers.
#9 Bedding — wash bedding regularly if someone in your house is sick for a long time. If the bug only lasts for a few days, then clean all the bedding when they start feeling better.
The number 1 most important thing to wash consistently, to prevent sickness, and to get rid of sickness, is…
Your hands! Whether you’re the one that’s sick, or you’re helping out the sick person, washing your hands is so important to prevent the spread of germs!!! According to the CDC you should wash your hands for 20 seconds to kill all the germs. Telling kids to “sing ‘Happy Birthday’ twice, [will help them] reach the suggested 20 seconds.” (source)
I hope these tips will help keep all the germs and “bugs” out of your house this sick season! My daughter picked up something nasty at Disneyland but I’m glad it didn’t hit her until we got home!!!
Good ideas! We also run our toothbrushes through the dishwasher or replace them, especially when we have the gastro “flu”.
Yes, that’s a GREAT idea Tracie!!
Great tips, Anna! I’m in the midst of everyone around me getting sick and so Mommy has to stay well. Everytime I attend a “patient” I wash my hands right after. I should probably do some of this other stuff you’d suggested now, too!
Becky B.
http://www.organizingmadefun.com
Organizing Made Fun
I hate flu season!! Thanks for the great tips and reminders!! Have a great day!
Toothbrushes should always be replaced after a few days of antibiotics if someone has strep throat. Unlike a common cold to which we develop antibodies, the person’s toothbrush can reinfect them with strep and back it comes again once the medications are done.
I also replace hand towels with paper towels for the duration of an illness to avoid spreading germs to others.
Don’t forget your phone, fridge handle and microwave buttons…
I’m so sorry your girlie got sick!
But it prompted the sharing of this awesome advice!
Thank you!
XOXO
Don’t forget to throw away your toothbrush!
This comes in handy, especially cos I AM down with the flu. Thanks for sharing this I’m pinning it to my pinterest board so I don’t forget!
I’m a maniac about wiping down surfaces in our house when someone is sick … germs beware!
Thanks for the tips. Yours truly was tested for the flu today. 🙁
Okay, I will keep all of these tips in mind! Thanks, Laura
If you have someone who is immune compromised such as a transplant patient or someone on chemo this is daily protocall. In order to truly be effecticve when using hand sanitizer, put enough hand sanitizer such as Purell on your hands that it will stay wet for the full 20 seconds – two happy birthday song or two verses of the This Is the Way We Wash Our Hands song just like when washing with soap and water. Stay we, ya’ll.
While I agree that cleaning the carseat is a great idea, you should make sure to include to wash the cover to the Manufacturer’s instructions – not just say “throw it in the washing machine”. That can ruin the seat cover, voiding the warranty and making it unsafe.
You should definitely change your pillowcase every day if sick in bed and sanitize your toothbrush (throw out after being ill).
& the Telephone, Fridge, Microwave. Also personal care items ie. Hairbrush & Comb, Eyeglasses. Also, make sure that everyone has a toothbrush cover (throw these in the cutlery section of your dishwasher 1x a month, too) due to proximity to the infected toothbrush & the sickie gets a new toothbrush when the illness clears.