How to Prep Your Home for Cold and Flu Season
Cold and flu season is primed for attack, but you can reduce your chances of falling prey by prepping your home for its onslaught. While you can’t disinfect your entire home, you can pay attention to key areas. As the leading home inspection company in Buffalo and Western New York, we’ve seen plenty of places germs like to hide. And we compiled plenty of ways to keep them at bay.
Cleaning Tips
Viruses are spread through people, not dirty homes, but those people can touch various surfaces throughout your house where germs can live for extended periods. Regular disinfecting should be a weekly part of your cold and flu season ritual, with a focus on the areas germs are most likely to thrive. These include:
- Remote controls
- Bedside tables
- Doorknobs
- Children’s toys
- Sinks and faucets
- Bathroom counters
- Telephones
- Desktops and work areas
For the record, microbiologist Charles Gerba says the average home desktop has 400 times more germs than the average toilet seat.
How you disinfect is just as important as what you disinfect. Opt for cleaners with the word “sanitize” or “disinfect” on the label, which means the EPA has tested and approved the product for its germ-killing abilities.
Sponges should be replaced every few days, or at least sanitized by popping them in the microwave or dishwasher. Also pay attention to mops, dishrags and dusters, which are known for spreading germs around unless you sanitize them between uses.
Cleaning high-germ zones is best done with a fresh paper towel you can simply throw away after use.
Home Improvement Tips
In addition to diligent cleaning and disinfecting, you can banish germs from your home with a few strategic upgrades.
Humidifiers
It may be tougher for viruses to thrive and reproduce in a humid environment, and you can create one with portable humidifiers or a system installed for your entire home. Just make sure you regularly clean and maintain the systems, as humidifiers can be breeding grounds for bacteria.
Ultraviolet Purification
While home ultraviolet systems only make a small impact on viruses, they can make a big difference for keeping mold and fungi out of your cooling and heating system.
Air Filtration
Air cleaners can reduce the spread of viruses by catching those traveling on larger particles, such as mold spores, pollen and bacteria. Large and small units are available for home use, but the must be running continuously during cold and flu season, or any season, to be effective.
One more tip for fortifying your Western New York home against cold and flu season is to make sure the people in it do their part. Regular hand washing is essential, especially after every sneeze or cough.