Have you or a family member been stricken with the flu? How can you disinfect your house to prevent the spread of the virus?
The flu is a highly contagious respiratory illness caused by a virus. It can cause severe symptoms, including fever, coughing, and body aches. The flu is particularly dangerous for young children, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems.
If you have the flu, it’s important to take steps to prevent the virus from spreading. One of the best ways to do this is to disinfect your home.
Here are some tips for disinfecting your house after the flu:
Tips Before Disinfecting
- Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before cleaning.
- Gather all of the supplies you’ll need, including gloves, rags or paper towel, a disinfectant solution, chlorine bleach, microfiber cloth, and a trash can.
- Open windows and doors to ventilate the area while you’re cleaning.
- Start with the room where the sick person spends the most time.
Strip Your Bed of All Linens
The flu can be a serious illness, and it’s important to take steps to disinfect your home if someone in your household has been sick. One of the most important things you can do is strip all the bedding from any sick person’s beds. This includes sheets, blankets, pillowcases, and duvets.
All of these items should be machine washed on the hot cycle and then dried on high heat. If you have delicate linens that can be machine washed, you should seal them in a plastic bag and take them to a professional launderer.
Once all the bedding has been washed, you should vacuum the mattresses and box springs to remove any dust or dirt that may have been left behind. You may also want to sprinkle baking soda on the mattresses and leave it for several hours before vacuuming it up.
Disinfect Hard Surface
After you’ve stripped the beds, you’ll need to disinfect all hard surfaces in the room, such as nightstands, dressers, and other furniture. You should also disinfect door knobs, light switches, and other surfaces the sick person may have touched.
The best way to disinfect these surfaces is with a mixture of one cup of household bleach per gallon of water. You can also use commercial disinfecting wipes or sprays. Be sure to follow the instructions on the label for proper use and dilution.
Clean All Soft Surfaces
In addition to hard surfaces, you’ll also need to clean any soft surfaces in the room, such as carpets, rugs, and upholstered furniture. You can vacuum these porous surfaces with a regular vacuum cleaner. If you have a carpet steam cleaner, you can use that to clean the carpets and kill any remaining viruses.
Don’t Forget About Toys
Toys can harbor the flu virus for 24 hours or more, so it’s important to clean them as soon as possible. The best way to do this is to soak them in a solution of bleach and water for 30 minutes. You can also use a commercial disinfectant spray, but make sure to follow the instructions carefully. Once you’ve disinfected the toys, rinse them off with clean water and dry them completely before giving them back to your child.
Disinfect Frequently Touched Areas
In addition to the above steps, you should also pay special attention to any areas of your home that are frequently touched, such as door handles, light switches, countertops, and faucets. You should also disinfect common area surfaces like remote controls, keyboards, and phones.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends using a household cleaner that contains at least 60% alcohol. You can also use diluted bleach solutions or EPA-registered disinfectants. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for safe and effective use.
Clean Window Coverings
Window coverings are one of the places where germs can easily accumulate, so it’s important to disinfect them on a regular basis. The best way to do this is to vacuum them with a HEPA filter vacuum cleaner.
If you don’t have a HEPA vacuum, you can also use a damp disposable cloth to wipe them down. Be sure to clean both sides of the window coverings, and pay special attention to any areas with folds or creases. Once you’ve finished cleaning, be sure to wash your hands thoroughly.
Wash And Sanitize All Clothes
Clothing that has been worn by someone who is sick should be washed as soon as possible. It’s important to use hot water and a strong detergent to remove any traces of the virus. You can also add a cup of bleach to the wash cycle to disinfect the clothing.
After washing, you should dry all clothing on high heat. If you have any delicate items that can’t be machine washed, you should take them to a professional dry cleaner.
Deep Cleaning Services
If you feel uncomfortable cleaning your home yourself, you can always hire a professional cleaning service. Deep cleaning services are designed to clean and disinfect homes that have been affected by illness. The professionals will use high-powered vacuums and cleaners to remove all traces of the virus from your home.
They will also sanitize all surfaces, including carpets, furniture, and upholstery. Deep cleaning services can be costly, but they are worth it if you want to ensure that your home is completely safe from the flu virus.
How To Prevent The Flu
Since flu season is upon us, it’s important to take steps to prevent the spread of the virus. There are many things you can do to reduce your risk of getting sick, such as:
✅ Get a Flu Shot
One of the best ways to protect yourself from the flu is to get a flu shot. The flu shot is a vaccine that helps to prevent the flu, a serious and sometimes deadly respiratory illness. The flu shot is typically given once a year and is recommended for everyone aged six months and older. You can still get the flu even if you are healthy and have no underlying medical conditions.
✅ Wash Your Hands Regularly
Washing your hands is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of germs. Flu viruses are spread through respiratory secretions and can easily become trapped in your hands. When you touch your eyes, nose, or mouth, you provide an entry point for the virus to enter your body.
However, you can reduce your risk of infection by washing your hands frequently with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, hand sanitizer can also be effective in killing flu viruses.
Remember to clean under your nails, and between your fingers, and always wash your hands after coughing or sneezing. By taking these simple precautions, you can help to protect yourself and others from the flu.
✅ Avoid Close Contact With Sick People
Another way to reduce your flu risk is to avoid close contact with sick people. If you are sick, staying home from work or school is important until you feel better. This will help to prevent the spread of the virus to others.
You should also avoid sharing cups, utensils, or towels with sick people. If you are sick, it’s also important to wear a face mask around other people. This will help to protect them from becoming infected with the virus.
✅ Beef up your immune system
One of the best ways to prevent the flu is to boost your immune system. There are many things you can do to boost your immune system, such as:
- Eating a healthy diet
- Getting enough sleep
- Exercising regularly
- Reducing stress
By taking steps to boost your immune system, you can reduce your risk of becoming sick.
✅ Don’t Touch Your Nose And Eyes
The flu virus primarily spreads through contact with respiratory secretions, such as saliva, mucus, or blood. When these secretions come into contact with mucous membranes, such as the nose lining or eyes, they can cause infection.
Touching your nose or eyes after coming into contact with infected secretions can help to spread the virus. In order to reduce your risk of becoming infected, it’s important to avoid touching your nose or eyes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can flu germs be spread through the air?
A: Flu viruses can be spread through the air, but this is not the primary transmission mode. The virus is typically spread through contact with respiratory secretions, such as saliva, mucus, or blood.
Q: How to make a bleach solution for disinfecting?
A: To make a bleach solution, mix one tablespoon of bleach with one gallon of water. This solution can disinfect surfaces such as countertops, floors, and doorknobs.
Q: Can I use warm water to disinfect?
A: Yes, you can use warm water to disinfect surfaces. However, it is important to remember that heat does not kill germs. Therefore, it is necessary to use a detergent or disinfectant in addition to warm water.
Q: What other bacteria can be spread through contact with respiratory secretions?
A: In addition to the flu virus, respiratory secretions can also contain other bacteria, such as streptococcus and staphylococcus. These bacteria can cause other respiratory illnesses, such as bronchitis and pneumonia. Therefore, washing your hands regularly and avoiding sharing cups, utensils, or towels with sick people is important.
Q: Why is it important to wear a face mask when sick?
A: When you are sick, it is important to wear a face mask to protect others from becoming infected with the virus. By wearing a face mask, you can help prevent the virus’s spread.
Q: What is the best way of disinfecting surfaces?
A: There are many effective ways to disinfect surfaces, such as:
- Wiping surfaces with a bleach solution
- Wiping surfaces with a vinegar solution
- Wiping surfaces with a rubbing alcohol solution
- Spraying surfaces with a Lysol® or Clorox® Disinfectant Spray
Final Words
A home that has been infected with the flu virus can be a very dangerous place. Flu viruses are highly contagious and can cause serious illness, even death. If you have the flu, it’s important to take steps to prevent the spread of the virus. Furthermore, disinfecting your home and boosting your immune system can help to reduce your risk of becoming sick. By taking these precautions, you can help to protect yourself and others from the flu.
