Conquering the Cold and Flu Season: Top Tips for Sanitizing Your Home Efficiently
- kmhaddic
- Jan 7
- 2 min read
Cold and flu season brings more than just sniffles and coughs. It also means germs spread quickly in the places we use most every day. Keeping your home clean during this time is essential to reduce the risk of illness. Knowing what to clean during flu season and how to do it effectively can make a big difference in protecting your family. This guide focuses on tackling germ hotspots with practical tips for sanitizing bathrooms, kitchens, and commonly touched items.
The Bathroom Blitz: Grout Scrubbing, Mold Prevention, and Disinfecting High-Touch Surfaces
Bathrooms are one of the germiest rooms in the house. Warm, moist environments encourage mold growth and bacteria buildup, especially in grout lines and around sinks and toilets. During cold and flu season, it’s crucial to focus on and sanitize these areas.
Grout scrubbing: Use a stiff brush and a mixture of baking soda and vinegar or a commercial grout cleaner to remove mold and mildew. Scrub grout lines weekly to prevent buildup.
Mold prevention: Keep the bathroom well-ventilated by using exhaust fans or opening windows. After showers, wipe down wet surfaces to reduce moisture.
Disinfect high-touch surfaces: Door handles, faucet handles, light switches, and toilet flush levers should be wiped daily with disinfectant wipes or sprays. These surfaces harbor many germs that spread illness.
Regular attention to these spots helps reduce the risk of spreading cold and flu viruses in your home.
Kitchen Sanitation Station: Degreasing, Organizing Pantries, and Sanitizing Appliances
The kitchen is another hotspot for germs, especially during flu season. Food preparation surfaces, appliances, and pantry areas can harbor bacteria and viruses if not cleaned properly.
Degreasing surfaces: Use a kitchen-safe degreaser or a mixture of dish soap and warm water to clean countertops, stove tops, and cabinet handles. Grease traps dirt and germs, so removing it is key.
Organizing pantries: Cluttered pantries make it harder to clean and can attract pests. Regularly check for expired items and wipe down shelves with a mild disinfectant.
Sanitizing appliances: Don’t forget to clean high-touch parts of appliances like refrigerator handles, microwave buttons, and coffee machine controls. Use disinfectant wipes or sprays safe for electronics.
Keeping the kitchen clean during cold and flu season helps prevent cross-contamination and keeps your food preparation areas safe.
Don’t Forget the Dirtiest Items: Remotes, Doorknobs, and Light Switches
Some of the most frequently touched items in your home are also the dirtiest. These objects often get overlooked, but can carry viruses and bacteria that spread colds and flu.
Remote controls: These are handled constantly but rarely cleaned. Use disinfectant wipes to clean remotes weekly, paying attention to buttons and crevices.
Doorknobs: Wipe down doorknobs daily with disinfectant. Consider using antibacterial covers if someone in the household is sick.
Light switches: These are touched multiple times a day. Clean them regularly with disinfectant wipes to reduce germ buildup.
By focusing on these small but important items, you can reduce the chances of germs spreading from person to person.
