According to the New York Times, this Flu season is the worst in nearly a decade. Unfortunately, 37 pediatric deaths were reported to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In this blog we bring you a few tips to keep your home healthy and prevent the spreading of illness.
Disinfect Commonly Touched Surfaces
One way you can prevent the spreading of illness in your home is by disinfecting the most commonly touched surfaces in your home. It is important to know that disinfectants do not act immediately on germs. It takes between 5 and 10 minutes for disinfectants to kill 99.999% of viruses, fungi, and bacteria. These are some of the most commonly touched surfaces to disinfect in your home:
Cabinet and drawer knobs
Appliance handles
Sink fixtures
Countertops
Light switches and plates
Chair back and sides
Table and desk surfaces
Door knobs
Sink, toilet, and shower handles
Dryers, straighteners, and shavers
Banisters
TV remotes
Video game controllers
Computer keyboards, mice, and trackpads
Phone cords and chargers
Washable toys
Wash Linens
The Flu virus can survive for hours in porous surfaces like towels, washcloths, blankets, and linens. Wash your bedding, towels, and clothes with household detergent in hot water and tumble dry on a hot setting.
Wash Your Hands
Our hands are in contact with many surfaces that can be contaminated with different pathogens. As we touch our faces, we can contract different diseases through our eyes and noses. Hence, washing our hands is one practical way to prevent contracting and spreading the Flu. To wash your hands the proper way, follow this protocol stablished by the CDC:
Wet your hands with clean, running water.
Lather your hands by rubbing them together with soap.
Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds.
Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.
Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.
Use Hand Sanitizers
Hand sanitizers can kill up to 99.99% of germs. However, keep in mind that their sanitizing action is not immediate! Again, it takes up to 10 minutes for hand sanitizers to kill germs.
Don’t Forget Your Car
Just like in your home, you can disinfect the most commonly touched surfaces in your car. Focus on the following items:
Key fobs
Door handles
Seat-belt buckles
Steering wheels
Install HEPA Air Filters
According the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters can remove almost 98% of virus particles. They recommend the use of portable air purifiers with both UV lamps and HEPA filters to prevent the transmission of the Flu.
Pay Attention to Your House Humidity
According to MIT, higher humidity levels can kill or disable viruses. In the winter, humidity levels can plummet as low as 10% in your house. However, by keeping your house humidity level between 40 and 60%, using a portable humidifier, the Flu virus survival in the air can be decreased by up to 30%.
Follow the Recommendations of the CDC
For more information on Flu prevention visit www.cdc.gov.