10 Foolproof Ways to Safeguard Your Home During Cold and Flu Season
The last thing you probably want to hear this spring is the dreaded hacking cough of someone with a nasty cold or flu. But did you know cold and flu season actually lasts until late May? As exciting as the warming months ahead can be, no one has time to be stuck in bed with a virus.
Our proactive plan below will keep your home as germ-free as possible so you can step into spring healthy and worry-free. These 10 tips serve as a first line of defense to stay healthy through cold and flu season and beyond.
1. Scrub Those Hands
Proper handwashing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds is one of the absolute best things you can do to avoid catching or spreading germs. Keep your hands clean after using the bathroom, before cooking or eating, and anytime you cough, sneeze, or touch a high-traffic shared surface. It may sound like a basic tip, but it really is key to stopping the spread of illness in and out of your home.
Of course, sinks aren’t always available when you need them the most (we know how dirty your hands can feel after pumping gas), so, for on-the-go sanitation, stash MicroGold® Waterless Hand Soap in your purse, car, or office. This alcohol-free solution kills 99.9% of germs while staying gentle on your skin–a lifesaver when you can't access soap and water!
2. Learn How to Cough and Sneeze Like a Pro
Remember learning how to properly cough and sneeze in elementary school? Still, many of us don’t properly cover our faces to stop the spread of germs. Good hygiene goes beyond handwashing, so cover all coughs and sneezes with a tissue or elbow (not your bare hands), and then immediately toss that tissue and wash up.
It's also best to avoid touching your face, mouth, or nose when possible to limit transmission. This may sound like an easy task, but the average person touches their face 23 times per hour. Set a good example for kids by not sharing drinks, utensils, or personal items if someone is under the weather. Stay home and rest up if you feel a bug coming on, so you don't spread it around the workplace or school.
3. Spray Away Germs in Your Bathroom
It’s no surprise our bathrooms are full of viruses. But these viruses don’t just stay in areas like the toilet–due to the aerosol effect of flushing, they can actually migrate to showers, faucets, and toothbrush holders. To keep your high-touch surfaces safely disinfected, try MicroGold®'s Multi-Action Disinfectant Antimicrobial Spray. This EPA-registered spray zaps 99.9% of bacteria, fungi and viruses from surfaces and prevents bacteria growth for up to 48 hours.
MicroGold®'s Multi-Action Disinfectant Antimicrobial Spray is effective against
- SARS CoV-2
- SARS CoV
- MERS-CoV
- Influenza A, H1N1
- Human Rotavirus
- Norovirus
- Staphylococcus
- Pseudomonas Aeruginosa
- Listeria
- Trichophyton Interdigitale
- Escherichia Coli
- VRE
- Salmonella Enterica
For ultimate wellness, target frequently touched areas like doorknobs, light switches, remote controls, phones, faucets, toilet handles and any other germ hotspots. The patented technology leaves behind a protective shield that stops bacteria from growing for up to 48 hours.
Note: this spray is best suited for hard, non-porous surfaces, such as those in your bathroom and kitchen.
Speaking of bathrooms, don't forget to wash shower curtains, bath mats, kitchen towels weekly in hot, soapy water.
4. Clean Your Kitchen Floors and Surfaces
Heavily trafficked living areas like your kitchen require ample sweeping and vacuuming as well, so set a weekly schedule for your carpets and floors. You should aim to vacuum at least twice a week and mop once a week.
Sparkling clean kitchen counters mean fewer places for germs to hide. Remove dirt, grease, and build-up from counters, floors, and walls with MicroGold®'s All-Purpose Cleaner, which is also EPA-approved to kill viruses and bacteria.
Deep cleaning chores might not be glamorous, but your immune system will thank you for creating a tidier, healthier home.
5. Filter Your Air
Surfaces aren't the only places germs linger–dirty indoor air can recirculate all kinds of nasties. Poor indoor air quality can arise from inadequate ventilation, high levels of airborne pollutants like dust or chemicals, or high humidity which can promote mold growth.
One way to improve ventilation is to open windows when weather permits. You can also invest in quality HVAC filters and change them regularly to ensure they perform to the best of their abilities. For those wanting smaller, more portable methods of purification, investing in air purifiers with HEPA filters can help improve indoor air quality by removing particulate matter, volatile organic compounds, allergens, and other airborne contaminants from the air.
6. Make Time For Self-Care
All the cleaning in the world won't help if you don't support your body's natural defenses too. That’s why you should always try to prioritize quality sleep, hydration, and a balanced diet with lots of fruits and veggies. Regular exercise can also help you stay strong and manage day-to-day stresses that can exacerbate illness. A well-nourished body will be more resilient fighting off cold and flu season germs.
7. Don't Just Clean Your Home–Clean What You Bring Home
Phones, keys, handbags, backpacks and other portable items encounter countless germy hotspots when you're out and about, especially during cold and flu season. Take care to clean these often overlooked (and under-cleaned) items by:
- Designating a specific area, such as a mudroom or entryway, where you can leave these items when you come home. This helps contain any germs or dirt.
- Hanging coats on hooks or coat racks in the designated area, rather than placing them on furniture or other surfaces in your home.
- Place purses, backpacks, and other bags on a shelf or table in the designated area, rather than setting them on floors or furniture.
- Clean and disinfect your phone regularly with a disinfecting wipe or alcohol-based solution. Be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions for your specific device.
- Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after handling these items and before touching other surfaces in your home.
- Consider using a UV-C light sanitizer box or bag for your phone, keys, and other small items that can fit inside. These devices can help kill bacteria and viruses on the surfaces of these items.
- Regularly clean and disinfect the hooks, shelves, or surfaces where you place these items in your designated area.
- Encourage family members and guests to follow these same practices when entering your home, to help minimize the spread of germs.
8. Stay Consistent With Laundry
Cold and flu viruses can live in fabric from hours to days. So, you’ll want to create a strict washing routine during cold and flu season.
- Wash your sheets, pillowcases and towels once a week in hot water with detergent.
- Turn clothes inside out to remove sweat, grime and odors trapped in fabric. Add sanitizing laundry products to eliminate stubborn bacteria.
And don't forget to clean your washing machine periodically as well. You can do so by running an empty hot water cycle with a washer cleaning product to remove built-up residues, odor-causing germs and hard water deposits. Clean, fresh laundry means fewer germs being spread.
9. Ask for (and Accept!) Help
If illness does strike at home, don't try to manage it all yourself. Instead, split up some chores and responsibilities with healthy family members, or hire a professional cleaning service to come to disinfect. You can also embrace grocery delivery to limit exposure during cold and flu season to keep others from getting sick.
Most importantly, let go of the pride and accept help offers from friends, neighbors, or your community. Whether it's meal deliveries, child care assistance, or rides to doctor’s appointments, accepting a little extra support can go a long way when recovering.
10. Use Reliable Products
Just because you’ve purchased a cleaner or disinfectant doesn’t mean the product is the safest or most effective option. With MicroGold®’s innovative solutions, you can rest assured your home is properly disinfected and protected against viral pathogens.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, many of us didn't realize our cleaning routines weren't fully eliminating germs. MicroGold® set out to develop advanced technologies to change that. By incorporating MicroGold® into your home's cleaning and disinfecting practices, you can accomplish the mission of creating a safer, healthier living environment for your family, especially during cold and flu season.
MicroGold® All-Purpose Cleaner
Tackle tough messes on counters, sinks, tiles, glass, and more with the MicroGold® All-Purpose Cleaner. This bleach-free formula cuts through grime and grease without harsh chemicals. In just 30 seconds, it disinfects by killing 99.9% of viruses like cold, flu, and COVID-19 on hard non-porous surfaces. Great for daily cleaning and sanitization.
MicroGold® Multi-Action Disinfectant Spray
Prevents bacteria growth for up to 48 hours with the MicroGold® Multi-Action Disinfectant Spray. The EPA-registered product utilizes patented technology to create a long-lasting protective shield. Within 60 seconds it kills 99.9% of germs on stainless steel, granite, plastic, glass and more, which is essential for disinfecting high-touch surfaces during cold and flu season.
MicroGold® Waterless Hand Soap
Cleanse hands without water using the power of MicroGold® Waterless Hand Soap. This non-drying formula kills 99.99% of germs in just 15 seconds while staying gentle on your skin. Throw this travel-sized soap in your purse, backpack or car for a quick way to clean hands anytime, anywhere.
Prioritize Your Health Year Round with MicroGold®
There you have it–super actionable tips for staying well and flu-free in your home this winter. With diligent sanitizing, healthy habits and some innovative MicroGold® products, you'll be better prepared to fight colds and the flu this season. Stay germ-free, my friends!
Sources:
CDC - How And When To Wash Your Hands
Time - The Germiest Place in Your Bathroom Isn’t Your Toilet
CDC - Facial Cleanliness
Mayo Clinic - Exercise and Stress