GERMPROOFING YOUR HOME FOR WINTER
It’s winter! Time for those cold weather sports, cold noses, hot chocolate….and colds and flu. By paying extra attention to cleanliness at home you can help avoid passing on colds and flu and some other nasty bugs too.
Some of the germiest places in your home are the ones you would least expect. Kitchen sinks are dirtier than most bathrooms. In a recent study half of the germiest places in the house were in the kitchen! That sponge you use to wipe down the kitchen surfaces is crawling with bacteria as are the sink’s basin and faucet handles. To reduce the risk clean your kitchen counters and sink with an antimicrobial product after preparing or rinsing food, especially raw fruits and vegetables, which carry lots of pathogens like salmonella and E. coli. Sanitize your sponges by putting them snugly into the top rack of the dishwasher along with the dirty dishes and be sure to use the drying cycle. Clean the sink at least twice a week with a solution of one tablespoon of chlorine bleach and one quart of warm water. Scrub the basin and then pour the balance down the drain. Don’t forget to include the garbage disposal if you have a double sink.
The bathtub is a germ friendly environment too. The place you go to get clean actually is harboring Staphylococcus bacteria, a common cause of skin infections. It makes perfect sense, that’s where you go to wash germs and viruses off your body. To keep it really clean and safe for your family, once a week apply a disinfecting cleaner to the tub. Scrub it well and then rinse those germs down the drain and towel dry the tub. Wet tubs let germs survive…they’re tough little devils! If someone who uses the tub has a skin infection, scrub if afterward with a solution of two tablespoons bleach in one quart of water. Use care with the bleach solution not to spill on fabrics or carpet.
The phone is another area where germs love to live. Both home, office and cell phones are loaded with germs. So are desks, computer keyboards and the mouse. Wipe these down several times a week with a disinfecting wipe. Wipe daily if someone in the family is sick and sharing these surfaces.
The remote control also is a germ factory. With so many fingers touching it (if you can get it away from your husband!) it is always covered in germs. Wipe this down with a disinfecting wipe weekly or by-weekly, daily if someone is sick.
One place that really collects germs is a place you may never think of, your purse or briefcase. Your makeup case is just as bad as is your guy’s wallet and personal digital assistant. Keep your bag off the kitchen counter, off the floor in public restrooms and wipe the bag and other items down every few days with mild soap or disinfectant and let air dry.
Remember to wipe these surfaces weekly with a disinfecting wipe or solution. Wipe daily if someone has a cold or the flu.
• Door handles
• Faucet handles
• Light switches
• The pen laying near the phone
• The flush handle on the toilet
And one last piece of advice. Wash your hands frequently during cold and flu season. Hand to eye, nose or mouth contact is how most viruses spread. How do you know if you are washing your hands well? Wash as you sing Happy Birthday through TWICE! Use comfortably hot water and soap and rinse well.
A little extra effort can mean a healthier environment in your home and a healthier family too.
