Flu season is here, and we all should be prepared for it. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there were more than 40 million cases during the 2018-2019 flu season. While the CDC doesn’t typically forecast how bad a new flu season is going to be, it consistently encourages people to get a flu shot to protect themselves.
Aside from a flu shot, it will also be good if we can make our home flu-proof as well. Here are some ways we could do just that.
Impose a strict “wash your hands often” policy.
We touch practically everything, from gadgets to doorknobs or anything with a surface. Some may just opt for alcohol-based sanitizers, but there is no substitute for washing your hands using warm water and soap. Get everyone in your household to wash their hands after using their smartphone, the bathroom, and of course, before and after eating, among other things.
Cover every cough and sneeze.
Most experts believe that the flu virus can be spread through the droplets that people expel when coughing or sneezing. So if you or anyone in your household coughs or sneezes, make sure that everyone uses a tissue to cover the mouth and nose. That tissue should be thrown away immediately, and the hands washed thoroughly.
Use a home air purifier.
Whether or not the flu virus can be spread through the air is still up for debate, although recent research says the mere act of breathing—without coughing or sneezing—is already enough for a person with the flu to contaminate the air.
Considering that last bit, we shouldn’t take any chances, and purchase a home air purifier immediately. With a portable air purifier equipped with a HEPA filter, you can keep the air clean in rooms where you spend most of your time. Aside from reducing airborne germs, an air purifier is also good for filtering dust, mold spores, pollen, smoke particles, and pet dander out of your indoor air.
Take your shoes off before entering the house.
The shoes you use outside your home can easily pick up countless contaminants, flu viruses included, from the dirt, mud, and debris you walk on. To avoid bringing the flu into your home, always take off your shoes before going inside. If you want to be more thorough, use hot, soapy water to wash the soles of your shoes regularly.
Clean everyday surfaces zealously.
Your work desk is a hub of activity that attracts a lot of germs, bacteria, and viruses. So are your tabletops and countertops. With your hands constantly making contact with such surfaces, it’s a foregone conclusion that those contaminants are going to make that trip.
That’s why you need to wipe down and disinfect those surfaces as often as you can to prevent the flu virus and other contaminants from transferring to your hands or any part of your body.
Go for daily kitchen decontamination.
Germs, bacteria, and viruses thrive on cutting boards, dishcloths, stovetops, sponges, and sinks. You can keep them from becoming breeding grounds by decontaminating the kitchen regularly. Use your dishwasher to sanitize cutting boards, knives. Wipe down all kitchen surfaces. Use your microwave oven to disinfect your sponge. Your kitchen should have fresh towels and dishcloths every day.
Sanitize your cleaning tools.
It goes without saying that keeping your entire house clean on a regular basis can help you make your home flu-proof. However, you need to make sure that your cleaning tools such as mops and dust rags are clean too. If not, you’re just helping spread the flu virus and other germs all over your home.
Always use hot, soapy water to wash your mops and rags. Bleach is also great for sanitizing them. And for this flu season, you might want to disposable cleaning cloths to be doubly sure.
These are just some of the many ways you can make your home flu-proof. While there is no 100% guarantee that the flu virus won’t find its way to your home (even the flu shot is only 47% effective against the 2019 strain of the virus according to the CDC), doing all of the above at least gives you and your loved ones a much better chance of preventing it from doing so.
