5 Household Items You Should Clean First After Having a Cold
The importance of cleaning surfaces after a cold
When recovering from a cold, it is essential to practice proper hygiene to prevent the spread of germs and reduce the risk of reinfection. While washing your hands and disposing of tissues is a given, there are some often-overlooked household items that can harbor lingering viruses and bacteria. Cleaning these items first can significantly reduce the chances of cross-contamination and ensure a healthier living environment for you and your family.
The five household items to prioritize in your post-cold cleaning routine:
- Kitchen Countertops: Kitchen surfaces, especially countertops, are frequently touched and can harbor many germs. Disinfect countertops thoroughly with an appropriate cleaner to eliminate any lingering viruses.
- Remote Controls: Remote controls are handled regularly and rarely cleaned. Wipe down all remote controls with an alcohol-based wipe or a damp cloth and disinfectant to remove germs.
- Doorknobs and Light Switches: These high-touch surfaces can be easily overlooked during routine cleaning. Use a disinfectant to wipe down all doorknobs and light switches throughout your home.
- Bedding and Linens: During a cold, our bedding and linens can become contaminated with nasal secretions or droplets from coughing. Wash all sheets, pillowcases, and blankets in hot water with a detergent, preferably with an added disinfectant to kill any remaining germs.
- Toothbrushes: Toothbrushes can be a breeding ground for bacteria and viruses. After a cold, it is advisable to replace your toothbrush or soak it in an antimicrobial mouthwash for a few hours to reduce the risk of reinfection.
Remember to follow proper cleaning and hygiene practices even after recovering from a cold. Regularly cleaning these frequently touched household items should become a part of your routine cleaning tasks to maintain a clean and healthy living environment for everyone in your home.
Stay healthy and happy! Make sure to clean these five household items first after having a cold to keep your home germ-free and your family safe!
We’ve all been there: recovering from a cold and becoming familiar with sneezing, coughing, throat-scratching, and other not-so-pleasant experiences. Just as we take steps to recover from colds, we must also take steps to minimize the chances of passing the virus to others. One step in the right direction is to clean certain household items immediately following illness. Here, we identify five such items and discuss why they must be cleaned quickly.
First, bedding should be top priority. Sheets, blankets, and pillows should be machine-washed in hot water and high heat in the dryer. This method of cleaning will help eliminate the virus from the bedding.
Second, towels should also be machine-washed and dried in hot water and high heat. Towels, particularly hand towels, are known for harboring germs that can spread easily from person to person.
Third, toothbrush holders should be given special attention. Because toothbrushes can harbor all types of germs, toothbrush holders should be cleaned regularly. An effective cleaning method is to put the holders in the dishwasher.
Fourth, remote controls should be cleaned with disinfecting wipes. Remote controls are known as bacteria “hot spots” due to the fact that they come in contact with all sorts of germy hands.
Fifth, cell phones should be cleaned—preferably with a microfiber cloth soaked in disinfecting solution. Although cell phones are in contact with dirty hands all the time, they should be given special attention when one is recovering from a cold.
In conclusion, it is important to thoroughly clean certain household items when recovering from a cold. These items include bedding, towels, toothbrush holders, remote controls, and cell phones. Following these steps will help prevent the spread of germs and keep yourself and others healthy.