Keep the Germs at Bay: How To Clean The House After Someone Gets Sick

By Martin B

Let’s talk about cleaning when you’re feeling “meh.” We’ve all been there, right? When you’re battling a bug or playing nurse to a sick family member, the last thing you want to think about is scrubbing the floors!

But here’s the deal: when germs decide to party in your house, it’s time to put on your cleaning superhero cape. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says cleaning and disinfecting are your best friends in the battle against illness.

So, step one: grab a household cleaner with soap or detergent (nothing fancy, just your regular stuff), and give those surfaces a good once-over. This easy peasy step can seriously slash your chances of getting sick.

Image source: Towfiqu barbhuiya / Unsplash

But hold up! If someone in your crib is already sick, it’s time to level up. The CDC says it’s all about sanitizing or disinfecting. Get yourself an EPA-registered disinfectant or whip up a bleach solution (make sure to follow the label instructions, folks). And don’t rush it – let that disinfectant work its magic for the time it says on the label.

Now, let’s get into the nitty-gritty of what to clean, brought to you by the cleaning guru, Bob Vila:

Bathroom: Wipe down the toilet, faucets, and all things hard and shiny.
Kitchen: Scrub the dishes, cups, and any spots touched by the sick one. Don’t forget the handles on drawers, the fridge, and the buttons on your gadgets.
Door handles: Yep, give those a good rub-down. Germs love to hang out there.
Fabrics: Toss anything the sickie touched in the laundry, and crank up the heat – hot water, baby!
General surfaces: Hit the light switches, tables, remotes, and anything around the sick zone.
Electronics: Phones, tablets—clean ’em up!
Trash cans: Show those cans some love and disinfect them too.

And here’s a bonus round: toss out the family toothbrushes and any throwaway cleaning gear you’ve used for a short stint.
Oh, and when you’re cleaning different rooms, don’t mix up your cloths, sponges, or cleaning tools. We don’t want germs to have a housewarming party in another room!

So, when should you put on your cleaning superhero cape? ASAP! Take out the trash every day, wipe down stuff frequently, and get your laundry game on point. The CDC warns that the flu virus can hang around on surfaces for up to 48 hours. And guess what? Norovirus can stick around for weeks—yikes! To keep your crew safe, start the cleaning party as soon as the first person in your gang starts feeling under the weather. Let’s keep those germs in check!