At this time of year, people everywhere get sick with nasty colds or the flu. When you are sick, you stay at home and your germs are spread around your house. Your home becomes a living laboratory for germs, bugs and viruses. When you are feeling better, it is important that one of the first things you do is thoroughly clean your home, getting rid of any nasty infectious waste, airing it out, and making sure everything is fresh and clean. Follow these simple steps to efficiently deal with the aftermath of illness.
1. Change your bedding
When you are sick, chances are you’ll spend most of your day in bed or wrapped up in your duvet on the sofa. Bedding becomes a breeding ground for germs, and it also soaks up all the extra sweat and grime that your body exudes from your pores. When you first become sick, it is a good idea to add an extra sheet to the bed (if you have the energy) to stop sweat soaking through to the mattress. As soon as you start feeling better, you should wash all the bedding on a high temperature to kill off any lingering germs.
2. Wash clothes and towels
Your clothes and towels also absorb germs and sweat. Wash anything that you have been wearing. If you have lived in your PJs for the week, put them straight into the washing machine. If you have stored clothes in a laundry basket, clean and disinfect inside this once the clothes are in the wash.
3. Disinfect frequently touched surfaces
Germs get everywhere. To limit their spread as much as possible it is extremely important to clean surfaces that everyone touches regularly. Pay attention to doorknobs, railings, computer keyboards, TV remotes, and the handle of the kettle. It is also a good idea to replace your toothbrush immediately after an illness.
4.Air out the house
Opening the windows for just half an hour can make a huge difference, blowing out all the stale lingering airborne germs and replacing them with fresh clean air.
Top Tips:
Vinegar is a natural product that is very effective in combatting the spread of germs through illness. It is inexpensive, and a solution of 1/3 vinegar to 2/3 water in a spray bottle can be used to disinfect kitchen and bathroom surfaces. If you find the smell a little overpowering, add the juice from half a lemon to balance the aroma.
Tea tree oil is another fantastic natural product that cleans without chemical additives, and it is naturally antibacterial and antifungal. Soaking cotton wool balls in a few drops of tea tree oil, then placing them inside your hoover bag will allow you to disinfect as you vacuum. A spray bottle filled with 2 teaspoons of tea tree oil to 2 cups of water can be used as an antibacterial air freshener.
After a serious bout of illness, it is wise to call in professional cleaners. A cleaning team will thoroughly disinfect every part of your home, leaving it fresh and sparkling clean. This allows you to rest and make sure you are fully recovered too!