Cold and Flu season is here, and it’s almost guaranteed someone in your household will end up getting sick. With the cold, flu, and Covid-19 still at risk of spreading, keeping yourself and your family healthy post-sickness is essential with a good round of cleaning and disinfecting. Read on to learn how to properly disinfect and clean your home to kill germs and prevent the spread of illness to others in your home.

Disinfect High-Touch Areas – One of the most important aspects of house cleaning during and after someone is sick is regularly disinfecting high-touch surfaces. This includes doorknobs, tables and countertops, chairs, light switches, phones, remotes, and touch screens, and more. Using a disinfecting wipe, wipe down the surfaces as often as possible and at least daily, as recommended by the CDC.

Wash All Bedding – Wash all the sheets, comforters, and blankets in the hottest setting allowed for the material to clean and sanitize all bedding. You can choose to clean just the bedding of the person who was sick in your home or clean all bedding for good measure. Washing on the hottest setting can kill any germs that might be lingering.

Washing the laundry, stuffed animals, or any linens of the sick person right away is essential to ensure germs are not easily spread. Wash clothing according to the labels in the hottest water allowed.

Consider cleaning your mattress, too, if you feel it’s necessary, with a steam cleaner or by sprinkling baking soda on the mattress and letting it sit for at least 4 hours.

Clean the Bathroom – The bathroom may be where someone who is sick spends a lot of time, and deep cleaning is your best bet to prevent the spread of germs. Clean the toilet, wipe handles and countertops, and clean the shower and bathtub. Remove any linens in the bathroom and wash those in hot water setting to sanitize and kill most germs. Depending on where your toothbrushes are located, you may want to replace or disinfect those too.

Refresh the Air in Your Home – While it may be cold outside, cycling fresh air can help reduce the risk of airborne infection. Open windows and doors to ensure fresh air can provide great ventilation. If you have an air purifier that can help remove dust, dirt, and allergens from the air.

Clean the Kitchen – In the kitchen, you will want to disinfect all hard surfaces, including counters, cabinets, appliances, garbage cans, and tables. Use a food-safe disinfectant in any food prep areas, as disinfectants are made with harsh chemicals that can be dangerous if ingested. Any kitchen towels, sponges, or linens should be thrown in the wash in the highest setting.

The Living Room – While normally a sick person will stay in their room, it’s possible they may have spent a lot of time in the living room or may make trips out to grab something they need. Keep the common areas of your home clean and disinfected by ensuring you go through with a disinfectant that they may have touched.

When your household begins to get sick, the sooner you start cleaning, the more protected you will be. Cleaning may be a daunting task, but it’s vital to help prevent the spread of germs.

After your home has gone through a round of the cold or flu, Ultim8 Cleaning Services can help you deep clean your home to kill germs and refresh your space. Our professional house cleaning service will work with your to fit into your schedule. Contact us to book today!