Flu season is upon us. Where it’s at work or at school, it seems like everyone is sick. If you want to keep your family healthy during this flu season, it’s time to get serious about home cleaning. Presidential Cleaning has you covered! In this post, we’ll discuss which products are best at killing flu germs as well as the best cleaning techniques for your home.
What Type of Cleaner Should You Use?
Not every cleaning product is created equal when it comes to protecting your family from the flu. Let’s look at the most common types of household cleaners and how effective they are at killing the flu virus.
Standard Cleaning Agents
Standard cleaning agents include kitchen cleaners, bathroom cleaners, etc. These are specifically formulated to remove surface dirt and grime, such as grease in the kitchen and soap scum or mildew in the bathroom. While helpful for everyday cleaning, these cleaners do not kill microbes or viruses on home surfaces.
Sanitizers
When we think of sanitizers, we usually picture hand sanitizer. But you can also have cleaning sanitizers for the home. Home sanitizers are great for spot cleaning or quickly sanitizing a specific area as they are able to kill about 99.9% of bacteria on surfaces, but does not kill viruses like the flu.
Disinfectants
Typically made from a stronger, more concentrated formula as sanitizers, disinfectants kill bacteria, microbes, and viruses on surfaces throughout the home. This means disinfectants are the best cleaning products to protect your family from the cold and flu viruses. Only products that are clearly labeled as disinfectants can be utilized in this way.
DO NOT Use Vinegar and Bleach
Combining vinegar and bleach may seem like it would create a powerful cleaning agent, but it actually creates a potentially lethal chlorine gas. Do not combine vinegar and bleach when disinfecting your home.
Best Cleaning Techniques to Protect Your Household from the Flu
Follow these techniques and tips when cleaning your home so you can protect your family during flu season.
1. Wash your hands regularly.
Washing your hands with warm water and soap on a regular basis is one of the best ways to slowing the spread of the flu. We touch countless things during the day which is how the flu spreads so easily. Keep your hands washed to keep those germs from spreading and infecting surfaces around your home.
2. Clean with disinfectant.
As previously established, disinfectant cleaners are the most effective cleaners to use during the flu season. Make sure to read the instructions on the packaging for maximum effectiveness–many disinfectant cleaners require you to leave the product on a surface for several minutes before it dries completely or you wipe it away.
3. Use disposable cleaning products.
Green cleaning practices are great for everyday tidying, but disposable products can help reduce the spread of germs during cold and flu season. If you are particularly wary of catching the flu this year, opt for disposable cleaning gloves and use paper towels so you can keep your home as germ-free as possible.
4. Clean high-use and high-traffic areas.
Handles, knobs, remotes, light switches, cell phones, computer keyboards… these are just a few of the objects we touch constantly throughout the day. When flu season hits, clean these spots with disinfectant every day to slow the spread of flu germs. If there are any other areas within your home that see frequent contact, disinfect those spots, too. Don’t forget the toilet handles!
5. Wash towels and bedding regularly.
Towels and bedding can harbor germs and viruses just like hard surfaces can, so be sure to disinfect these as well. To disinfect these items, you can use bleach if the item allows it. Otherwise, you can use a solution of laundry detergent, white vinegar, and baking soda to kill off any germs still lingering in your sheets or towels.
6. Disinfect your toothbrush.
Boil your toothbrushes in a solution of vinegar and water for about a minute to disinfect and sanitize them. Alternatively, you can purchase new brushes to use during and after flu season. If you do become sick, keep your toothbrush away from others and discard it once you’re well.
7. Clean your workstation.
More Americans than ever are working from home. If you’re one of those remote workers, remember to keep your workstation clean. That means disinfecting your desk, computer mouse, keyboard, monitor, and any other materials you use during your regular workday.
Call In The Professionals
Protecting your family from the flu and other viruses can be a daunting task. Let Presidential Cleaning help! We have the skills and equipment necessary to get your home germ-free. We use respected ZOONO® products to sanitize and disinfect your home so you can breathe easier. Trust Presidential Cleaning as your go-to cleaning service in Marion, Ohio.