Cold and flu season brings more than just sniffles, it also brings a higher chance of germs spreading around your home. Everyday items like doorknobs, phones, and light switches can carry viruses and bacteria without you even noticing.
But a few quick cleaning habits can go a long way in keeping your space healthier and safer for everyone. You don’t need to spend hours scrubbing, just focus on the areas that matter most. With the right routine, you can reduce the risk of illness and protect your family.
Why Cleaning Matters More During Cold and Flu Season
Germs Spread Faster Indoors During the Season
When the weather cools down, people tend to spend more time indoors with windows closed, which reduces ventilation. This makes it easier for germs to spread through the air and on surfaces. Cold and flu viruses can travel through sneezes, coughs, and even shared objects.
High-traffic areas in your home, like kitchens and living rooms, become hotspots. Nevertheless, regular cleaning helps minimize the buildup of germs in these areas. With more people indoors, your home needs extra attention to stay clean and safe.
Viruses Survive Longer on Surfaces
Cold and flu viruses can live on surfaces for hours, sometimes even days, depending on the material. This means a simple touch like grabbing a doorknob or using a remote can spread illness quickly.
Surfaces that look clean can still harbor invisible germs. But regular disinfecting helps break the chain of infection. Wiping down high-touch areas daily reduces the risk for everyone in your home. It’s a small habit that brings big protection.
Protects Vulnerable Family Members
Children, seniors, and those with weakened immune systems are more likely to get sick and face complications. Keeping your home cleaner during flu season helps shield you from unnecessary exposure. Germs can spread easily from one person to another in shared spaces.
By cleaning consistently, you help create a safer space for the most vulnerable. Even something as simple as sanitizing light switches and faucets can make a difference. Your cleaning routine becomes a way to care for your loved ones.
Daily Quick-Cleaning Tips to Keep Germs Away
Disinfect High-Touch Surfaces
High-touch areas like doorknobs, light switches, cabinet handles, and remote controls collect germs quickly. Wipe them down daily using disinfectant wipes or a spray with at least 70% alcohol. These are the places everyone in the home touches without thinking, making them key spots for spreading viruses.
You don’t need to scrub, just a quick wipe is enough to reduce the risk. Focus on areas that get the most contact, especially during busy mornings or evenings. A few extra minutes each day can make a big difference in staying healthy.
Clean Phones and Electronics
Phones, tablets, and keyboards are among the dirtiest items in your home. We use them constantly, often while eating, sneezing, or touching other surfaces. Germs easily build up and transfer from hands to face. Use a microfiber cloth and a disinfectant safe for electronics to clean them once a day.
Avoid spraying directly; spray the cloth instead. Consistent cleaning helps reduce the chance of spreading bacteria through your hands and devices.
Sanitize Kitchen and Bathroom Sinks
Sinks collect all kinds of germs from hands, food, and even cleaning tools. Run hot water and scrub the basins with a disinfectant daily, especially after cooking or brushing teeth. Don’t forget to deep clean faucet handles, soap dispensers, and the drain area.
These places often get missed but hold a lot of bacteria. Keeping your sinks clean helps stop germs from spreading to dishes, toothbrushes, and other items.
Spray Shared Items with Disinfectant
Items like TV remotes, game controllers, and cabinet knobs get used by everyone in the house. A quick spray with a disinfectant and a wipe-down keeps them clean and safe. Make it a part of your daily routine to hit these shared items before bed or after guests leave.
Let the disinfectant sit for the recommended time before wiping for best results. These small steps help cut down the spread of illness through shared touchpoints.
Smart Habits That Support a Cleaner, Safer Home
Wash Hands Regularly and Properly
Handwashing is one of the most effective ways to stop the spread of germs in your home. Encourage everyone to wash their hands before eating, after using the bathroom, and after coming home from outside.
Use warm water and soap, and scrub for at least 20 seconds. Teach kids to do the same and make it a family habit. Keeping hands clean means fewer germs get transferred to surfaces, food, or your face. This simple habit plays a huge role in keeping everyone healthier during cold and flu season.
Keep Hand Sanitizer in Key Spots
Placing hand sanitizer at entryways, on kitchen counters, or near the TV makes it easy to remember and use. Choose sanitizers with at least 60% alcohol for them to be effective. It’s especially useful for quick cleanups when soap and water aren’t available.
Guests, children, and busy family members can use it on the go. Having sanitizer in visible spots encourages regular use without any reminders. It’s a fast way to kill germs in high-traffic areas.
Use Individual Towels and Replace Them Often
Sharing towels can easily spread germs from one person to another, especially if someone is already feeling sick. Give each family member their own hand and bath towel and label them if needed.
Replace towels every 2–3 days, or even sooner if they look or smell dirty. In shared bathrooms, using paper towels for drying hands is another hygienic option. Keeping towels clean and separate is a small but powerful way to reduce illness in the home.
Avoid Touching Your Face Unnecessarily
It’s a habit most people don’t realize they have touched their face several times a day. But your hands can carry germs that enter your body through your eyes, nose, or mouth. Train yourself to be more aware and avoid touching your face unless your hands are clean.
This becomes even more important during flu season when viruses are more active. Combining this with regular handwashing can significantly cut your chances of getting sick.
Weekly Cleaning Tasks for Deeper Protection
Wash Bedding and Pillowcases in Hot Water
Your bed can trap sweat, skin cells, and germs, especially if someone has been sick. Washing sheets and pillowcases once a week in hot water helps kill viruses and bacteria. It’s a good idea to use a detergent with antibacterial properties for extra protection.
Don’t forget to clean comforters and blankets regularly too. Fresh bedding not only feels better but also creates a cleaner, healthier space to sleep. It’s one of the easiest ways to support your family’s well-being.
Mop and Vacuum High-Traffic Areas
Floors collect dust, dirt, and germs that get tracked in from shoes or pets. Vacuuming and mopping once a week helps remove these particles and prevents them from spreading. Pay special attention to entryways, kitchens, and living rooms.
Use a disinfecting floor cleaner for mopping to add an extra layer of germ control. Regular floor care also helps maintain air quality, especially if anyone in the home has allergies. Weekly cleaning floors mean cleaner air and fewer chances for germs to spread.
Disinfect Trash Cans and Waste Bins
Trash cans are often overlooked but can become breeding grounds for bacteria. Food waste, tissues, and other discarded items leave behind residue even after the trash is emptied. Spray the inside of the bin with a disinfectant and rinse it out weekly.
Wipe down the lid, handles, and any touchpoints that might carry germs. Using liners can help, but deep cleaning the bin itself is still important. A clean trash can keeps odors down and prevents hidden germs from spreading.
When a Family Member Is Sick – What to Do
Create a Designated “Sick Zone”
If possible, keep the sick person in one room with a separate bathroom to limit the spread of germs. Provide them with their own tissues, towels, dishes, and trash bin. Try to minimize how often others go into the space, especially children or elderly family members.
If a shared bathroom is necessary, clean it after each use. This separation helps contain the virus and keeps the rest of the household safer. Make sure the sick zone is stocked with essentials to reduce unnecessary movement.
Increase Cleaning Frequency in Shared Areas
When someone in the house is ill, you’ll need to clean more often especially shared spaces. Focus on disinfecting doorknobs, light switches, faucets, and remote controls multiple times a day. Wipe down bathroom surfaces after each use and replace hand towels regularly.
Use gloves when cleaning up after the sick person, and wash your hands immediately after. These steps may seem repetitive, but they make a big difference in preventing the spread of illness. The goal is to stop germs from traveling around the home.
Handle Laundry and Trash with Extra Care
Use gloves when handling laundry and trash from a sick family member, and wash hands thoroughly afterward. Don’t shake dirty laundry, this can spread germs into the air. Wash clothes, bedding, and towels using hot water and a good-quality detergent.
If possible, bag up laundry separately from the rest of the household. Disinfect laundry baskets or hampers after use to prevent lingering germs. Also, take out trash daily, especially if it includes tissues or used items from the sick room.
Can Professional Cleaning Services Help During Cold and Flu Season
Professional cleaning services can be a big help during the cold and flu season. Trained cleaners know how to target high-touch areas and use disinfectants that effectively kill viruses and bacteria. They follow proven cleaning methods that go beyond regular household routines by reducing the spread of germs in both homes and offices.
This is especially useful for families with kids, elderly members, or anyone with a weakened immune system. Hiring professionals like Polar Express Clean can also save time and give you peace of mind knowing your space is truly clean. Polar Express Cleaning offers reliable and thorough cleaning services to help keep your home safer and healthier during flu season. With their help, you can enjoy a cleaner environment and lower the risk of illness.
Conclusion
Keeping your home germ-free during cold and flu season doesn’t have to be complicated. A few quick cleaning habits each day can make a big difference in reducing the spread of illness. Focus on high-touch areas, practice good hygiene, and keep your space consistently clean. And when you need extra help, Polar Express Cleaning is here to provide professional support and peace of mind.