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It’s that of year again, the weather is changing, family gatherings are at an all time high and cold and flu germs are floating around. As Mom’s we know when one person in the house gets sick the whole family can slowly follow after.
Adding these few extra steps to your cleaning routine can save the whole family this season. So let’s up our sleeves and get ready guns-a-blazin’!
Here are 5 ways to keep germs out of your home to help prevent flu and cold from getting into your home.
1. DISINFECT CELL PHONES, DOOR KNOBS, & TOYS
We have them in our hands all day, we set them down on surfaces with out a second thought. Think about it, when is the last time you disinfected your cell phone, tv remote, or the door knobs in your home?
These are things we touch everyday. I find it super convenient to grab a Clorox Disinfecting Wipe and wipe everything down once a day.
DISINFECTING KIDS TOYS:
As for disinfecting kids toys, there are many options depending on the type of toy it is.
-If it is battery operated, I suggest spraying and wiping it down with a solution.
-If it’s a plush toy, I throw it in the washing machine.
Other plastic toys can be thrown into the dishwasher!
I use the silverware basket to hold things like hot-wheels and other small plastic toys. Set your dishwasher for a gentle cycle and make sure you set it on air dry (heat dry could possibly melt toys).
Doing this every other week can destroy germs hanging out on your kids toys.
Other things to throw into the dishwasher for sanitizing:
- hair bush/combs
- dog toys
- fingernail clippers
- mouth guards/retainers
- dish sponge
- shower scrubby
2.GOOD HYGIENE
I know this one can seem like a no-brainer but adding in extra hand washes through out the day can make a big difference in reducing the transfer of germs and bacteria.
Washing hands before & after eating, coughing or sneezing.
MAKE IT FUN!
Kids are more inclined to wash their hands multiple times a day when it’s fun!
-Sing songs while washing hands! ABC’s, baby shark, yankee doodle
-Try a sticker chart! Kids get really excited to see their accomplishments. Click here to download this printable Wash Your Hands Chart!
CLEAN YOUR TOOTHBRUSHES
Changing out tooth brush every 3-4 months is a great way to make sure your toothbrush is doing doing it’s job the best it can. But what about cleaning your toothbrush within those 3-4 months?
We tend to store our toothbrushes in close proximities to each other’s and germs can jump, skip and hop to the next toothbrush over. Viruses from an infected person’s mouth can live on a toothbrush surface for weeks.
Here’s what you can do:
- Give them a soak in antibacterial mouth wash
- Store them upright and let it air-dry to prevent mold
- Get a UV Toothbrush Sanitizer
3. WASH BEDDING ONCE A WEEK
We spend a decent percentage of our lives in bed so it’s no surprise that our beds and our pillow cases are swimming in sweat, body oils, bacteria, dead skin cells and dust mites. EW.
Are you running to put your sheets in the washing machine yet?
Bedding should be washed with hot water at least once a week. This goes for towels as well.
Washing with a sanitizing laundry detergent solution can help kill bacteria. This is especially true for pillow cases, washing your pillow cases often (this can also help reduce the risk of acne).
DON'T FORGET ABOUT THE PILLOWS
Washing your pillows in the washing machine every six months can reduce the risk of dust mites and disinfect the bacteria living inside your pillow. Pillows harbor sweat, silva, and can even have mold.
Most washing machines can fit 2 pillows at a time. The important part is to make sure they dry all the way to keep them from growing mold and mildew.
4. IMMUNITY VITAMINS
Adding vitamins and minerals to your diet can give your immune system the boost it needs to prevent you from becoming sick.
Vitamin deficiency is what can keep your immune system down, look into adding a daily vitamin containing, vitamin B,C,D,E, folic acid, iron and zinc.
ELDERBERRY SUPPLIMENTS
Elderberry is a berry from the Sambucus tree. It is rich in antioxidants and could give a boost to your immune system this season. It is rich in nutrients such as vitamin C, fiber, and antioxidants.
A study showed that 60 people who had cold/influenza symptoms and took elderberry syrup were cleared of their symptoms within 4 days compared to the control group who took 7-8 days to improve.
Elderberry comes in many forms capsules, liquids, lozenges and gummies.
Click here to read reviews of Elderberry
You should always consult your doctor before taking any supplements.
5. GET AN AIR PURIFIER
Keep the air as clean as possible. Getting an air purifier can benefit your home in so many ways. Here are a few things that air purifiers can do:
- Remove airborne illness and toxins before they are able to settle and infect others
- Eliminate outside fumes and pollutants
- Removes dust allergens and pet odors
- Expels asthma triggers from the air
That’s just to name a few.
When looking to buy an air purifier, before looking at just the price, make sure it has an HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filter.
These filters are superior at removing pollutions from the air, such as, pet dander, pollen and mold.
Something to keep in mind when searching for an air purifier, is that they do require some upkeep, like, replacing the filter every so often. Which is an added expense.
