Try as you might, it’s nearly impossible to keep germs from invading your home during cold and flu season. If you or a loved one should fall ill, the first priority is getting better. Drink lots of fluids and give your body the rest it needs. Once symptoms alleviate, you’ll want to do a thorough job cleaning to rid your home of the germs, virus, and bacteria that can make others sick.

Read on for the most important things to clean to stop the spread of germs and get back to a healthy home.

The Bathroom

The bathroom is often ground zero when it comes to germs. Once the illness has passed, give the bathroom a deep clean. Disinfect the toilet, all faucet handles, the tub and shower, and all other hard surfaces.

The Kitchen

The kitchen is often the second hardest hit room when a bout of illness rolls through and leaves behind germ-laden cups, dishes, and utensils. Wash all dishes in very hot water or in the sanitize setting on your dishwasher, and use the heated dry cycle. Sanitize the countertops and sinks, wipe down refrigerator handles, cabinet pulls and knobs, and all the electronic keypads on your appliances.

Door Handles

Frequent and thorough washing of hands makes all the difference in helping to curb the spread of germs. But not everyone remembers to do that. To be on the safe side, grab some disinfecting wipes and wipe down every doorknob and handle in the house inside and out.

Towels and Bedding

Anything your body touches during a cold, flu, or other illness should be sanitized by washing in hot water. This includes your towels, sheets, blankets, and comforters. Add bleach or borax to the laundry to really boost your washing machine’s germ-busting power.

Clothing

This may seem like a no-brainer, but sanitize any clothing you wore while you were sick. Make a separate load and wash it in hot water and use the sanitize setting on your dryer to finish it off.

Hard Surfaces

Hard surfaces that are frequently touched need to be cleaned both during and after an illness. This includes dining tables and chairs, kitchen counters, stair railings, light switches, and anything else you touch on a regular basis.

Remotes, Phones, and Other Electronics

TV, phones, and tablets can help curb boredom while you’re confined to your bed or the sofa. They also become germ magnets. Wipe down cellphones, tablets, computer keyboards, gaming systems, and any other frequently touched electronic devices with disinfectant wipes.

Toys

If you have kids, thoroughly sanitize any hard or plastic toys to stop the further spread of germs. Disinfectant wipes work great for larger items, but little toys like Lego bricks and other small plastic and rubber toys can be put in a mesh bag and run through your dishwasher in the top rack. Toss machine-washable plush toys into the washing machine and wash in hot water.

Toothbrushes

Replace your disposable toothbrush with a new one as soon as you’re better. Soak other types of toothbrushes in a mixture of water and hydrogen peroxide for an hour, and then rinse them thoroughly with water.

Garbage Cans

After you’ve emptied the garbage cans, spray them down with disinfectant.

At C&D, we can do quite a bit to help keep your family as healthy as possible during cold and flu season and all year round. From seasonal furnace cleanings and inspections to a variety of indoor air quality solutions, C&D Cooling & Heating is your trusted source for all things home comfort. Contact us today for more information.