8 Things To Clean When You’re Sick

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8 Things to Clean When You’re Sick

 
We all know that people who are sick can spread germs and illnesses to others, but something we frequently forget is that it’s possible to reinfect ourselves when we’ve been unwell. Have you ever thought you were getting better, just to turn around and feel ill all over again a few days later?

Unless you take the proper precautions, there’s a chance you could be catching your own sickness again, or spreading it to others in your home. To help keep that risk at a minimum, we’ve put together a list of the 8 things you should clean when you’re sick

Bedding

 
Since your head and face come into constant contact with your pillow while you sleep, you should wash or at least change your pillowcase daily while you are sick to avoid reinfection. There’s no need to change the rest of your sheets every day, but once your symptoms subside completely, you should also change the whole set of linens.
 

Toothbrushes

 
Your toothbrush is one of the biggest culprits in harboring germs inside your household, and even more so when you’re sick. Each night, you should soak your toothbrush in either mouthwash or 3% hydrogen peroxide for about 15 minutes. When you are no longer sick, you should change your toothbrush entirely.
 

Faucets, Sinks, and Toilets

 
Faucets, sinks, and toilets are another place that germs tend to congregate, and illnesses can often be spread or recaught from these surfaces if not cleaned properly. These should be wiped down daily with a disinfectant until all symptoms are gone. 

Once you’ve recovered from your illness, it may be smart to hire a house cleaning company. The standard cleaning or deep cleaning are going to be the best options.
 

Hand and Body Towels

 
Many people don’t realize the amount of germs that can be spread through towels, but we’re here to tell you that it’s important to change your towels whenever you are sick, especially hand towels. If you’re able to do so, it’s also a good idea to use a different body towel each day. Otherwise, change them as frequently as you can. 
 

Remotes, Phones, and Other Electronics

 
Electronics are some of the most frequently touched items in your home and can therefore spread your infection to others or cause you to become sick again. Gather up anything you use daily, such as your phone, television remotes, video game controllers, or your laptop, and give them a good wipe with a slightly damp microfiber cloth, then dry with a second cloth so that the liquid doesn’t have a chance to damage anything.

For an even better clean, add a few drops of isopropyl alcohol to the water, but be sure it is 70% alcohol or lower. Higher percentages of alcohol could eat away at the finishes on your items.
 

Light Switches and Door Handles

 
As yet another frequently touched area of your home, light switches and door handles harbor way more nasty germs than you would care to know. When anyone in your house is sick, it’s important to wipe them down with disinfectants daily and try to avoid touching them as much as possible.
 

Tables

 
One more place that frequently catches germs but can easily be overlooked when you’re ill is your table. You not only ouch tables frequently, but you set other items you’ve touched on them, you cough over them, and you come back to them often. It’s important to wipe them down with a disinfectant each day.
 

Separate Your laundry

 
If you’ve been ill, you should wash the clothes you’ve worn while sick separately from others, whether that’s your own clothes or clothes from others in your home. There’s a chance of the germs from your clothes spreading to the rest of your laundry in both the basket and the washer, so it’s important not to mix them. Once your symptoms are gone, give them a final wash before adding them back to your closet.

While you may decide not to follow these directions for a common cold, for any more serious illnesses (e.g., the flu) it’s important to take these precautions to keep yourself and others in your home safe and healthy once you’re feeling better. 

 

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