The benefits of staying away from the viruses during the cold season are beyond obvious. A healthy body means a healthy mind. When you’re feeling good, you’re looking good and you’re productive at work and at home. Staying healthy this winter will give you the possibility to enjoy the holidays at fullest. It’s a good idea to book one-off cleaning performed by professionals occasionally, so you can be sure your home is clean and disinfect this winter. Nevertheless, you still need to build some healthy habits on your own. Follow these easy to implement tips to stop the flu on your doorstep.
1. Carry anti-bacterial hand cleaner everywhere you go
Places like subway, public bathrooms and door handles are rich in disease-causing germs. Avoid touching your face when you’re out there. The bacterias can easily be transferred to your mouth or to your eyes. Carry a hand sanitizer with you so you can use it in these places when you don’t have access to water and soap to wash your hands. Remember, that this is a temporary decision. Sanitizers are not as effective as a good hand wash. Even after using it, you still need to be careful what you’re touching. Wash your hands immediately after you gain access to fresh water and soap.
2. Wash your hands frequently
Your hands are where most of the bacteria live. Wash your hands frequently with warm water and soap, you can even use detergents with alcohol to kill the germs. Clean your hands especially before, during and after preparing food, before and after eating, before and after taking care of someone sick and after using the toilet.
3. Clean contact points
Clean the contacts points in your home like door handles, switches, remote controls, kitchen sink, toilet, faucets, cabinet handles, refrigerator door. We often forgot to clean these spots as they’re small and we tend to focus on the bigger surfaces. But these are the places which are most important to be cleaned and disinfected often and qualitative, as these are the places we have contact with a lot and we’re touching them with hands.
4. Clean inside the refrigerator and throw out the bad food
Spilled food and long-forgotten leftovers will breed germs in the refrigerator. The worst part is that these bacterias are in constant contact with your fresh food. If your food smells bad toss it out, even if it’s not expired yet. Better be safe than sorry. Avoid leaving leftover food for more than 1 night in your fridge. It’s best not to use chemicals cleaners here. Remove the items from the refrigerator shelves and remove the shelves themselves after that. Clean them with hot water and dishwashing soap. Wipe them up with a microfiber cloth and put them back into the refrigerator.
5. Wash the cleaning supplies
The most common thing we all forget to clean are the cleanings supplies. Sounds silly, but the things you’re using to do your daily chores also need a good clean. The mop, the broom, cloths, sponges, they’re all spreading bacterias if you don’t clean them after a single use. By cleaning your supplies frequently and replacing them when they are worn out, they will be disinfected when you need to use them.
6. Little but often cleaning is better than comprehensive deep clean
Develop good cleaning habits and try to clean often to avoid transmitting germs. Mop up immediately when you spill something. Wash the dishes or put them in the dishwasher after every meal. Take out the trash as quickly as possible. By building these cleaning habits you’ll avoid the spreading of germs easily.
7. Beware the sponges
The sponges can be excellent to clean dishes and absorb liquids quickly, but the little holes in them can also easily absorb bacteria. You can clean your sponge by putting it in the microwave for a minute or in a dishwasher for a full cleaning cycle. Replace it frequently. Toss it out immediately if it has a funny smell or looks dirty even after washing it out. Avoid cleaning up spills from meat juices or rotten food. Use paper towels for this kind of spills.
8. Eliminate mould
Mould is caused by excess moisture. The most common places where mould can appear are window frames, doors, bathrooms. Basically any place with constant access to water. The infected areas can generate spores which can cause exacerbated illnesses. After you identify the cause of the mould, you’ll need to clean it. You can get rid of the mould on your own. However, we strongly suggest you to call experts to do the job, so you can be sure the whole area is cleaned professionally and there is no danger of spreading infections.
9. Get rid of insects
House flies, roaches, spiders and other common insects may carry viruses with themselves in our homes. The pesticides you’re supposed to use to get rid of them can also weaken your immune system. The best solution is to avoid leaving leftover food exposed, where it can attract flies and spread infection. Repair anything that creates a possible entrance for them like windows, doors, vents and pipes
10. Clean pet messes
Pets make our lives complete, but they can also make them messy and dirty. Take your pet regularly to veterinary to check them up and treat them for worms and fleas regularly. Be sure to wash their bowls with hot water and soap frequently and pay attention to the toys as well. Toss them out when they’re too dirty or destroyed. Never forget to wash your hands after a good play with your friend.
Implement these cleaning tips in your home to prevent catching the flu or cold this winter season. Your healthy family will appreciate the efforts.
Tags: cleaning habits, cleaning tips, one off cleaning, prevent flu and cold
