5 Home Cleaning Tips To Keep The Colds Away

It’s the Cold & Flu Season once again! Welcome to the world of sniffles, coughs, sore throat, and chills spreading at lightning speed through schools, homes, and offices. It’s getting harder to remember what it was like a couple of years ago – today, every sneeze is regarded with suspicion, thanks to Covid-19. What we tend to forget in the overwhelming response to the pandemic is that those pesky cold viruses and allergens are still around. They haven’t gone anywhere. They’re still lurking in your carpets and rugs, ready to strike if you haven’t washed your hands when you get home after school or work. Here are 5 home cleaning tips to keep the colds away as much as possible! 

Before you attack it, it’s good to know all about the enemy – the common cold. If you have symptoms such as a running or stuffy nose, chest congestion, slightly raised body temperature, headache and body ache, and a general feeling of not being well, it could be an attack of any one of the 200+ types of viruses that cause the common cold. 

Infants and young children, those having a weak immune system, senior citizens, smokers, and those exposed to crowds are vulnerable to attacks, while the general population is at risk at certain times of the year, such as fall and winter. Summer colds, spring allergies, and hay fever can spread at other times of year. Colds may sometimes lead to secondary infections such as sinusitis, ear infection, or pharyngitis. 

There is no “cure” for the cold, and as the medical joke goes, “It’s curable in seven days with medication. And in one week without!” Antibiotics don’t work, and you’re creating antibiotic-resistant superbugs. There are several myths about colds, the most common being that you catch them by exposure to cold drinks, food, or weather. The reality is that you can only make the patient comfortable and wait it out with the following:

• Hydration
• Rest
• Relieve body pain, headaches, and sore throat
• Try home remedies such as sipping hot lemon juice with honey, warm chicken soup, herbal teas, warm fruit juices
• OTC cough and cold medication but not for young children
• Steam inhalation

Vitamin C, zinc supplements, and echinacea have mixed results, but talk to your doctor before taking them. 

If you’re  indicate a cold or an allergy, here are some pointers:

Viruses cause colds; allergies are immune responses to certain allergens. Allergies never give you a fever, or general aches and pains. Instead, you may have itchy eyes and throat, sneezing, coughing, which are all similar symptoms. However, you can treat allergies with antihistamines, nasal sprays and avoid. 

It goes without saying that a clean, hygienic home can prevent you and your family from catching a cold. Wear a mask and gloves when cleaning to avoid catching an infection while you work. There’s no alternative to . It lowers your daily workload and ensures that there are no breeding or resting places for germs. 

4. Toys: If your kids have caught a cold, you’ll have to wash them thoroughly in warm soapy water with a cupful of bleach. Check if soft toys can go in the washing machine. Dry the toys out thoroughly and ration them out a few at a time so that kids don’t touch all of them at the same time. Keep books and other stationery in a sunny window when they’re not being used.

5. Clean Your Cleaning Equipment:Don’t forget your cleaning equipment when you’re done cleaning! By now, it’s probably contaminated and bristling with bacteria, just waiting to be transferred to a welcoming place. Use disposable materials as much as possible, but ensure they are disposed of carefully. Sanitize all rags, towels, and cleaning cloths. Remove stains with a stain remover or bleach. Wash them on high heat setting in the washing machine and dry them outside in the sunlight. Store them in individual air-tight bags for the next round of cleaning. 

Take a shower or wash your hands before you touch anything after cleaning. 

These 5 tips can help to keep your living space germ-free. You will have to develop a cleaning routine that you can stick to throughout the flu season. If you’re too busy or unable to cope, call in a reliable, professional cleaner for the best results.