It’s officially flu season here in Edmonton and we’re all (unfortunately) feelin’ it. Although, at the end of the day, you can’t completely eradicate your chances of getting a flu without isolating yourself from the outside world entirely, there are preventative measures that you can (and should) take.
One of the best ways to reduce your chances of getting the flu is to properly clean and disinfect your home and belongings. Many surfaces and belongings in your home can actually become significantly dirtier than you’d expect. For example, cell phones are actually ten times dirtier than the average toilet seat. Gross, right!?
Don’t be scared and definitely don’t panic. Yes, things in your home may be dirtier than you think, but today, we’re here to remind you that this problem has a simple solution – cleaning and sanitizing!
In today’s blog, we’re doing a roundup of 6 things you can clean this flu season to help you avoid falling ill. Plus, if you think cleaning these things is a great idea but you don’t have the time to do it, you can always leave it up to our miraculous maids.
Let’s dive in right away.
1. Frequently used/trafficked hard surfaces
Try this: next time you’re at home, look around each room and notice all of the horizontal surfaces that may or may not have been cleaned recently. There are… a lot. We can almost guarantee it.
Yes, some surfaces like kitchen counters are cleaned regularly in most households. But what about the coffee tables? The shelves? The desks? The chairs? When was the last time you disinfected these highly trafficked surfaces? Whenever it was, flu season means it’s a great time to do it again.
Because these surfaces are being touched regularly but not disinfected regularly, they can often collect a lot of germs. When you’re specifically looking to avoid germs, it’s a good idea to take a lysol wipe or hot water and vinegar mix and wipe them down.
During flu season, we recommend wiping down these surfaces once a day or every couple of days. Outside of that, a weekly wipe down should be just fine.
2. Electronic devices/controllers
So remember when we mentioned that cell phones are about 10x more dirty than toilet seats? I mean… how could you forget? (We apologize if you’ll never look at your phone without thinking of the germs again.)
Well, there are many other electronic devices and remotes that are touched just as regularly and also make the perfect home for a lot of germs. Tablets, remote controls, game controllers, computer mice, etc. are all things that many different people touch throughout the day, often without washing their hands.
During flu season, it’s best to disinfect your cell phone, table, remote control, game controllers, computer mouse, and any other high use electronics once a day, if possible. The more frequently used it is, the more often you want to clean it to avoid getting sick.
3. Bed linens and bathroom towels
We’re sure everyone is aware of the classic post-sickness bed sheet and towel wash which is very important. But what about before you’re sick or during?
Cleaning bed sheets and bathroom towels should be something every household does often. But, when it’s flu season, it’s not a bad idea to pick up the frequency even more. Throw those bathroom towels in the wash at least once a week (if not more) and make sure your bed sheets hit the laundry the same amount.
If there’s sickness goin’ through your household, make sure to clean everyone’s sheets whether they are healthy or sick.
This can make a world of a difference. Think about it this way – at night, you spend 6-8 hours breathing into and around your bed sheets. In the morning and evening, you wash and dry your face with bathroom towels. Sick germs will happily stick around on these surfaces in between and can definitely increase the chances of you getting the flu.
TL;DR: Wash your bed linens and towels to help avoid the flu!
4. Door handles and light switches
You’ve probably heard this one before but another reminder can’t hurt – it’s an important one! In the season of sniffly noses, coughing and sneezing on hands, and (typically) not enough hand washing, this one is crucial.
Door handles and light switches get touched constantly by many different people in households. Even if you are a very thorough hand-washer, you may not be able to guarantee everyone in your household is, too.
Make sure to disinfect door handles and light switches as often as possible (daily is ideal) during cold and flu season to reduce the chances of infection in your household. Plus, while you’re at it, it doesn’t hurt to remind everyone in your home to be washing their hands frequently!
P.S. If you have a friend or family member who has been under the weather, a house cleaning gift card could be the perfect pick-me-up for them. Give them a chance to catch up on other aspects of their life and let the Miraculous Maids take care of getting their home back in tip-top shape for them.
5. Handles in your kitchen
By this point, you’re probably seeing the pattern here: make sure to clean and disinfect high-touch areas throughout your home as frequently as possible. Makes sense, right? Germs love to travel from surface to surface on your hands. (Hence the emphasis on hand washing, too.)
But, some high-touch surfaces in your kitchen can easily be forgotten. Yes, we’re sure you are more diligent with countertops and your sink during flu season, but what about handles? Although they’re easy to forget, they’re super important.
Here’s why: the kitchen is probably one of the areas in your home where the most hand-to-mouth contact is made. As you’re snacking on your favorite chips or crunching into a crisp apple, you are bringing your hand (which we’ve established can be dirty) to your mouth (where you can easily contract a flu or cold).
Essentially, make sure to sanitize fridge handles, microwave handles, cabinet and drawer handles, your tap, and any other high-touch areas that may have slipped your mind previously.
P.S. Don’t forget that we will happily do this all for you! Just call 780-702-5387 today to book.
6. Kitchen rags, towels, and sponges
Fork to food to mouth to sink to kitchen rag. Are you picking up what we’re laying down? Yes, a kitchen rag is meant to clean, but, to do so, it touches something dirty that has been in your mouth and will go back in your mouth.
So, therefore, it’s a good idea to wash kitchen rags, towels, and sponges more frequently during flu season to reduce your chances of coming down with the sickness. Make sure to throw your kitchen linens in the wash at least once a week, if not every three or four days.
Yay for avoiding sickness and helping people in your household avoid it, too!
Please note: the Miraculous Maids team takes illness seriously and will not enter any clients’ home to clean if they are under the weather. Similarly, we ask that any client experiencing sickness within their household lets us know and adjusts their appointment time to when they are recovered. If you have any questions regarding our sick policy, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
