02/12/2017
Hello cold and flu season! We all know that this time of the year can be brutal with colds and other viruses. We would like to recommend a few things that some people may not think about.
Where is the one place in the house or business that everyone uses? You're right...the bathroom. Along with using an antibacterial cleaner on the counter, faucets and toilet, do you also wipe the door handle and light switch? Make sure to get both sides of the doorknob too. There are plenty of people (who will not admit it) that do not wash their hands after using the bathroom. Now imagine this...they have to turn off the light and open the door. You cannot go wiping everything down every time somebody uses the bathroom, but you can wipe down the surfaces two to three times a week (and this is when no one is sick!).
If someone in the house has a cold or the flu, wipe the toilet, faucet, light switch and door k***s everyday.
If you aren't one to use chemicals and want a natural solution, use white vinegar and water. Go 50/50 with the vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Either way you go, you are wiping away the germs and bacteria. You may want to use paper towels. If you use a rag, you may be spreading the germs around. If you want to use one rag for the counter and one rag for the door k***s, that's fine. Just don't use the same rag to wipe everything down. Wiping down a toilet without spreading the germs can be tricky. Do not wipe the seat and then the handle with the same rag/paper towel. Wipe those separately. And use another rag/towel to wipe the rest down. Whatever you do, just don't spread the germs around. You want to kill them or wipe them away. I've witnessed too many restaurants employees who have wiped down several tables with the same rag. I've even witnessed a manager wipe down tables and then go into the restroom with that same rag. I hope he did not wipe the bathroom down with it but who knows...I did not follow him into the men's. Yikes!!
One more tip we have to offer is about the hand towel in the bathroom. This should be changed more then once a week. I change mine out twice a week. And if someone is sick and is using that bathroom, change it daily. I cannot stress enough about this because the hand towel gets used on hands and faces. If you want to be even more careful, designate a separate towel for everyone. With kids, this could be a fun because you could get them special printed towels with their favorite character on them. Or they could use a certain color towel. And if you have company over, change the towel out before and after the visit so you do not give your cold germs to them and they do not leave their germs on your hand towel.
Pillows are another thing that should be changed out weekly. If someone is sick, change their pillowcase more frequently.
I hope that this information will help you stay a little healthier this cold and flu season. I am not trying to make you freak out about germs, but there is a very easy way to keep a handle on it at home. Don't go overboard but be mindful of these things.
More tips to come! Stay healthy!
