10 Tips to a germ-free home (advice from a real mom)
Germs. You just can’t get away from them, especially when you have kids. But there are ways of mitigating the spread of germs and stay healthy all year long. Here’s ten tips that will hopefully help you.
The other day, three-year-old son had a running nose. So he did the most logical thing to fix it. He wiped his nose on the carpet. Gross. As a mom of four boys, I can’t prevent germs from coming in our home, but I can do my best to prevent the spread of them. Check out these 10 tips.
#1 – Store toothbrushes and toothpaste in separate containers
The tips of our toothpaste and toothbrushes are covered in germs. So it only makes sense not to share toothpaste. Give each of your kids their own tube of toothpaste and store each toothbrush in its own container. You can also buy a toothbrush cover.
#2 – Disinfect countertops before and after each meal
Did you know that sponges and dish cloths are two of the top five dirtiest spots in your kitchen? I used to wipe my counters down with a dish cloth from the sink. Then I realized there’s a reason why those things smell like rotten food. They hold so many germs! So, now, I spray my counters with an all-purpose cleaner like Lysol or 409 and then wipe them down with a paper towel.
#3 – Keep hand sanitizer and tissues handy
Using hand sanitizer with alcohol can be just as effective as traditional hand washing with soap. So, in a house full of kids, it’s much easier and convenient to keep a bottle handy in several areas of the home. While you’re at it, keep a box of tissues next to the hand sanitizer. Then your kids know exactly where to go to blow their nose and wash their hands. To learn more about hand washing, click here.
#4 – Teach your kids not to touch their faces
Kids are nose pickers. It’s a fact. But it’s a lot harder to spread germs if they don’t come in contact with the eyes, nose or mouth. Every time your child touches their face, kindly remind them not to do that.
#5 – Wipe door handles and light switches everyday
Everyday? Yep. Everyday. It seems like a daunting task, but you can make it part of your bedtime routine. Grap a Lysol wipe and as you turn off all the lights and lock the doors in the house, wipe them down at the same time. It takes like two minutes tops.
#6 – Sanitize toys, carseat, laptop and bedding often
These items are germ collectors as well. However, I could go crazy trying to clean everything in my home that has germs on it. It’s impossible. But toys, carseat, laptop and bedding are four things that kids touch everyday. Try sanitizing your laptop and washing bedding once per week and sanitizing toys and washing your car seat cover every three months.
Car seats are big germ collectors.
#7 – Buy separate water bottles for each kid
My kids usually grab whatever cup they can find and drink out of it. Talk about germ city. Instead, let each of your kids pick out their own water bottle. That is their cup that they can use all day long and then you’ll have less dishes and less GERMS spread throughout your hom.
#8 – Practice shirt cough and kleenex sneeze with kids
Even when you cough into your hand or elbow, the germs are still exposed. Tell them to cough in their shirt or a kleenex instead.
#9 – Install a furnace humidifier
Inadequate humidification during cold weather is one of the major causes of respiratory infections. The dry air causes colds. So, you can install a furnace humidifier that controls the amount of moisture in the air in your home. My sister-in-law installed one in her home and she said her seven kids are sick a lot less often. It helps a ton! You can get them on Amazon for 200 bucks!
#10 – Quarantine those who get sick
As soon as one of your kids start coming down with something, especially the flu, keep them away from the rest of the family. It sounds heartless, but it’s a must. Especially if you have a baby in the home, you don’t want them getting the flu or RSV.
What other ideas do you have for preventing the spread of germs in your home? Leave your comments below. For more information about preventing the spread of germs visit the Centers for Disease Control.
Related link: Top 10 tips to potty training like a pro
