Flu-Proof Your Home

It's that time of year again. Everyone around you is sick with some type of illness - the flu, a cold, a stomach virus, strep throat. It's the last thing you want or need, but how do you avoid these nasty bugs?

The truth is, one of the most common ways to catch the flu, colds and other viruses is by rubbing your nose or eyes after touching an area that was touched or sneezed on by another infected person. This is why frequent hand-washing is so important.

Aside from hand-washing, what can you do to protect yourself? A simple way to prohibit the spread of germs is to try to keep commonly touched surfaces clean and bacteria-free.

You've probably never given much thought to the fact that certain areas of your home are handled quite frequently - surfaces like doorknobs, countertops and light switches - or the fact that viruses and bacteria can linger on these surfaces for hours or even days.

Disinfect surfaces

Cleaning with soap and water removes dirt and some germs, but it doesn't provide the extra level of protection that cleaning with a disinfectant does. Disinfectants - such as bleach or Lysol® - can destroy illness-causing bacteria that lurk on household surfaces.

• Read and carefully follow labels and safety precautions on all cleaning products.
• After applying disinfectant, let it stand for a few minutes so it has time to kill germs.
• Wipe surfaces with paper towels, then throw them away.
• If someone in your family is sick, wear rubber gloves to clean up bodily fluids like vomit or feces.
• Store all cleaning products out of the reach of children.
• Even if you use rubber gloves, when you finish cleaning and disinfecting surfaces, always wash your hands.

Clean common areas

To provide protection from bacteria and viruses, disinfect the heavily-used areas of your home on a regular basis. These include:

• The telephone receiver and mouthpiece.
• Handles to all faucets.
• Handles to the oven and dishwasher.
• Handles to refrigerator and freezer doors.
• Toilet flushing handles.
• Doorknobs to all rooms and closets.
• Kitchen and bathroom countertops and cabinets.
• Diaper pails and changing tables.
• Areas used by pets, especially litter boxes.
• All light switches.
• Any other high-traffic areas.

Kitchens and bathrooms have high concentrations of germs and require extra attention when cleaning. In the kitchen, the infectious bacteria from raw meat (such as chicken) can be left on your counter or on the handle of your refrigerator. Without regular cleaning of kitchen surfaces, this bacteria can easily be spread to someone who touches it. In the bathroom, cleaning on a daily basis reduces odors and prevents the spread of diarrheal illnesses.

If there is a baby in the house, your disinfecting routine should also include the changing table and diaper pail area. Finally, since babies tend to put everything in their mouths, you can help keep baby healthy by regularly washing playthings in warm soap and water.

The best combination

Combine these two preventative methods and you will greatly reduce your risk of becoming ill this cold and flu season:

• Wash your hands frequently.
• Regularly apply disinfectant to kill germs on commonly touched surfaces in your home.

Sources:

National Center for Infectious Diseases, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Reckitt Benckiser, Inc.

This article was reviewed and updated June 2007.