My daughter has gotten sick recently, so I am on major germ patrol. Here are the things I am doing to try to keep ahead of the germs:
#1 Frequent hand-washing and hand sanitizer. Don’t forget to change the hand towel often. If you have a child that is contagious, have them use paper towels instead of a cloth towel while they are actively sick. (I also keep hand sanitizer in my purse and in every car and make my kids use it every time we get in the car).
#2 Wash their sheets and pillow cases on the sanitary cycle.
#3 Clean door knobs.
#4 Get new toothbrushes. Don’t forget the toothpaste can pass germs as well. My kids were sharing, but I got them each their own and labeled them.
#5 Clean the bathroom sink more often.
#6 Wipe down or wash their favorite toys.
#7 Pay attention to the dishes your little carrier monkey uses.
The dishes made me start thinking about my kitchen sink. Not only is it cold and flu season, but I’ve read the kitchen sink is one of the dirtiest places in your entire house.
#8 Clean your kitchen sink. I started talking to people about what they do. Bleach is what I heard over and over. Fill the sink up with cool water and add a little bleach and let it sit for a while. Some of the moms I spoke with leave it there for up to a couple of hours. So, as I write this my sink is full of cold water and a little bleach. I was told to use tongs to remove the plug, which sounds like a good idea to me.
Also, sponges contribute to a germy kitchen. Since they are moist, hey are a perfect breeding ground for bacteria. I know people who put them in the dishwasher. Maybe the hot water gets it done, but it seems to me they would still be moist which is the problem. I read you can kill the germs on them if you microwave them on high for 2 minutes.
#9 Wipe down the shopping cart at stores. Most people put fresh fruit or their child in the basket of the shopping cart and most of them when tested were found to have fecal matter on them. Nasty, I know. Here is a segment on it from The Today Show.
Well, as if we didn’t have enough to do…but if it helps ward off the germs, I am all about it.
Am I missing anything? What are some things you do to prevent the spread of germs?
Several months ago my mom forwarded me an article by a doctor with tips on reducing your chances of a cold developing if you think you have caught or may catch a germ.
The one that I tried and it seems to have worked is gargling with Listerine 2 – 3 times a day. Previously, I caught nearly everything my infant and 2 year old had but now if I think I feel something coming on I start gargling frequently and I have bypassed three different colds that the kiddies have developed in the last four months.
Apparently many germs multiply in the back of your throat and lower nasal passage and the antiseptic in Listerine kills the germs before they can multiply enough to produce a full blown cold. The doctor also said you could gargle with a mix of hydrogen peroxide and water but Listerine tastes a lot better!
The way I look at it, even if it wasn’t entirely the Listerine that prevented me from catching those colds, a least I’m helping assure healthy gums and teeth.