Not only are we smack dab in the middle of winter, but we’re also in the middle of cold and flu season. It usually starts in September once the kids go to school and bring every bug home. And once it’s home it runs through every family member. There’s no cure for the common cold. – flu shots, diet, exercise and rest can help – but there are also a few things you can do around the house to give your family a fighting chance, without going full-blown germaphobe.
Take on those touch points
Add wiping down touch points around your house to your daily routine. Use disposable disinfectant wipes on light switches, door knobs, remotes, keyboards, phones, video game controllers, appliances and pretty much every surface that has high touch traffic. This will help stop the spread of nasties. It’s great to do once a day during cold and flu season, and a few times a day when someone is sick.
A breath of fresh air
It’s a good idea to get your air ducts cleaned every autumn and clean or change your furnace filter. How often you change your filter depends on many different factors, such as the size of your house, number of pets you have or if there are allergies in the house. The general rule of thumb is if it’s dirty, change it, so be sure to check your filter once a month. Some furnaces don’t have disposable filters, so be sure to check and clean it regularly as well (you can simply vacuum most – however refer to the manufacturer’s cleaning instructions). Portable air filters can also help keep your air cleaner – HEPA filters can filter out dust, mold, bacteria, viruses and more.
Boxes and bottles
Make sure you have tissue boxes and bottles of hand sanitizer placed strategically throughout the house. Having tissues within arm’s reach will help keep sneezes out of the air. And while there is no substitution for proper hand cleaning, hand sanitizer is a great second option if there isn’t instant access to a sink or you sneeze into your hand by accident (put a small bottle in your coat pocket or purse as well, for when you’re on the go). It’s also a good idea to have a trash can within close proximity to anyone with the sniffles, so you can dispose of tissues – a small bedroom or bathroom style works best. Be sure to empty these regularly.
Fighting colds and flu is all about preventative measures – these are just a few simple things that can help keep colds at bay, or stop them from spreading if they do hit your house. And don’t forget the most important weapon in your arsenal – regular, proper handwashing!
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