Flu season is among us and with an increase in the number of people in the area for the winter, preventing the flu and other viruses can be difficult this time of year. The muscle aches, fever, chills and fatigue that accompany the virus affect five to 20 percent of the U.S. population each year and hospitalize hundreds of thousands, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
Many of us are armed with an array of physical preventatives — from flu-shots to Emergency-C packets, neti-pots to home remedies — but what are we doing to stop the illness from spreading in our own homes, amongst our families and community members?
MaidPro expert cleaners, offer these tips to help you clean for health year-round and to stop the flu virus from invading your home:
1. Wash your hands regularly in warm soapy water. For quick clean-up, use antibacterial hand sanitizer. Make an effort not to touch your mouth or nose without first washing your hands.
2. Wear rubber gloves when cleaning household items to protect yourself. By wearing gloves, you will be less likely to touch your eyes, nose or mouth, which are havens for the flu virus.
3. Spray disinfecting spray on a cloth, wipe toys, doorknobs, appliance handles, keyboards, remote controls, light switches, phones and facial tissue box covers. Viruses can live up to 48 hours on hard surfaces.
4. Wash items like towels and bedding in hot water with soap if someone has been sick in the home. Be sure not to share these items until they are thoroughly cleaned.
5. Change vacuum bags monthly or more frequently.
6. Boil toothbrushes for one minute in water and vinegar, run through a dishwasher cycle or purchase new brushes.
7. Use antibacterial wipes on your keyboard, phone and pens to protect yourself from spreading germs at work.
8. Wash telephones, cabinet handles, doorknobs, light switches and refrigerator door handles using a slightly dampened cloth with a solution of mild detergent and warm water.
9. Wash mop heads in a solution of ¼ cup bleach and one gallon water, dry thoroughly, then store. Not only will mop heads pick up germs and dirt, but they also can also grow mold and mildew if they don’t dry out completely.
10. Disinfect the bathroom and kitchen, especially the faucet and toilet handles, daily. The kitchen and bathroom are the most used rooms in the home and possibly the most contaminated.
MaidPro is a residential cleaning service that uses a tried and true approach to clean each home for health, combining environmentally preferable cleaning supplies and state-of-the-art equipment to maintain the healthiest living environment possible.
If you’re worried about the flu virus showing up uninvited, give MaidPro a call to schedule a cleaning.
Maid Pro
239-596-5200
www.maidpro.com