Flu Season Tips for Your Home

When someone in your home is sick, he or she can leave cold and flu germs and viruses that stay on surfaces for days, continuing a cycle of illness unless, of course, you get rid of the germs in your home. 

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Germs live on surfaces and spread to humans through skin contact, so anything we touch frequently can be a threat. In fact, the flu virus can actually live on surfaces for up to 48 hours. How often you need to disinfect in your home really depends on the area or surface and how frequently it comes into contact with bacteria.  Being consistent about cleaning key items can help you contain viruses and bacteria.​

 

DISINFECTING BY ROOM

Take a second to think about how many things you touch, and then consider the fact that you eat, scratch your eye etc. with that same hand.  You increase your chances of transporting something if the point of contact is dirty.  Therefore, follow these instructions to help ensure that your home is as free of germs as possible.

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Begin with clean bucket filled with a gallon or two of HOT tap water.  Add a capful of Lemon Fresh Lysol liquid disinfectant per gallon of hot water.

Soak a clean microfiber rag in the mixture.  Wring out the rag and wipe down all “points of contact” items in every room, one room at a time.  Rotate and use all areas of the rag to avoid spreading germs.  Dip the rag into Lysol mixture, swish it around and wring it out after each complete rotation.  Be certain to clean ALL points of contact as follows:

• Door Knobs

• Light Switch Plates

• Cabinet and Drawer Handles

• Toilet Handles, Lids and Seats

• Soap Pumps

• Faucets on Sinks, Showers, and Tubs

• Knobs on Stove and Oven

• Refrigerator, Oven Door Handles

• Shower Door and Sliding Door Handles

• Remote Controllers

• Keyboards and Mice

• Telephone Handsets and Keypads

• Mobile Phones

• Keys and Fobs

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When all points of contact have been cleaned, spray Lysol Disinfectant into the center of each room to eliminate airborne germs.

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DO "GREEN" CLEANERS REALLY DISINFECT AS THEY SHOULD?

  Green cleaners are better for the environment and are proven to work effectively, however, they do come with some trade-offs:

• They are more expensive and require more elbow grease to achieve the same results as the chemical-based cleaners. 

• Method and Seventh Generation are leading makers of green cleaning products. Both companies test their products against conventional brands.

• The only conventional cleansers that green products cannot match are those that contain chlorine, such as bleach.

• Another option for the environmentally-conscious is the old standby of vinegar and baking soda. Try using vinegar and old newsprint to clean glass and sprinkle baking soda on a damp cloth to clean other surfaces.

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PROPERLY WASHING YOUR HANDS IS VERY IMPORTANT 

Follow these steps every time you've made contact with an uncleaned point of contact or the sick person:

1. Wet your hands with running warm water.

2. Apply liquid or bar soap to a hand and lather well, rubbing your hands together, and getting between fingers for 25 seconds (singing the alphabet song will time your session perfectly.)

3. Rinse well.

4. Dry your hands with a clean towel, then use the towel to turn off the faucet.

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