When someone has a cold or the flu in the house, a thorough clean will help protect your family and refresh your home. Try my simple, inexpensive and effective homemade options.
Has the winter cold and flu bug hit your house? When we have someone sick in the house, I try to avoid exposing it to other family members. There are particular things I clean after cold or flu, to disinfect during and once the sneezing, coughing and or vomiting is over.
It’s important to prevent the spreading of germs for everybody in the home by frequently washing your hands with soap and water and keeping areas and surfaces within the home clean. You can purchase antibacterial cleaners from the supermarket. However, if you don’t have them on hand, are in no mood to go out or want to eliminate the use of chemicals, try these very simple, inexpensive and effective homemade options which I have shared below.
1. AIR OUT THE HOUSE, LET THE FRESH AIR IN
2. LINENS
Wash these linens in warm water in the washing machine along with your regular washing detergent. To help disinfect the linens, add 1 cup of vinegar with 2-3 drops of tea tree oil to the fabric softener dispenser in your washing machine. Tea Tree Oil is a natural solution to disinfect laundry with significant antibacterial, anti-fungal, and antiseptic properties. Vinegar also acts as a natural disinfectant, killing germs, bacteria or mould present in the linens and removes soap residue. I like to use vinegar instead of fabric softener. Wash the following linens:
- sheets
- pillows
- quilts/doona covers
- towels
- hand towels
However, I do tend to give the person who’s sick a fresh towel and pillow case every day.
3. frequently touched places
4. STUFFED TEDDIES
5. BATHROOM
Germs can linger on most areas of the bathroom. Use an antibacterial wipe or cloth with antibacterial cleaner to clean the following surfaces:
- taps
- sink
- vanity surfaces
- light switch
- door handle
- toilet
Simply add a few drops of your favourite oil to the inside of the cardboard toilet roll to freshen up the entire bathroom!
6. toothbrush
I haven’t researched it completely, so I am unsure if germs left behind on your toothbrush after being sick will cause you to get sick again, however, I disinfect toothbrushes purely for my own peace of mind. Let the toothbrush soak in an antibacterial solution for a few hours – try any of the following methods:
- a cup of vinegar;
- a cup of mouthwash, or
- 10 drops of tea tree oil with a cup of water.
This will kill most bacteria and germs on the toothbrush.
7. electronic devices
8. loungeroom cushions and throws
For those who like to lay on the couch while unwell, you may need to consider cleaning cushions or throws that have used by somebody unwell, to wash away any remaining germs. Add Laundry Cleanser to the wash to help kill bacteria and dry in the sunshine.
If you find yourself with a blocked nose try adding 2-5 drops of winter rescue essential oil to water in a diffuser to ease the stuffiness.
9. RUBBISH BINS
Spary your rubbish bins with vinegar to disinfect as they have been filled with germ-filled tissues.
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21 comments
This is awesome, just what I need to read, 2 kids sick at the moment and I was wondering if I needed to clean anything to stop the germs from going everywhere. Ta.
It will help stop other family members picking up germs and will freshen up the house too.
Great tips….touch wood I have avoided the flu so far this year and the kids have only had a mild cold each! Even so about to go and open some windows and let the fresh air in!
So lucky to avoid it! I love the fresh air, instantly makes a room feel so much better. Youngest just came back from camp last night, she was a little sniffly so hopefully it doesn’t get too bad.
I never even thought about cleaning toothbrushes after being sick, I’m going to do right now.
it’s the little things like this that germs like to sit on too 🙂
Pretty sure that the person who is sick develops antibodies for whatever illness they had, so not necessary to clean their toothbrush to stop them re-infecting themselves. However if the toothbrush sits in a cup with those belonging to other family members then it might prevent the germs spreading from one brush to another.
Great tips, I love the smell of eucalyptus spray this through the house often.
it is a beautifully fresh smell, it reminds me of my childhood days running around my old primary school
Just pop your toothbrushes in the dishwasher cutlery basket and clean them along with your everyday washing up! – and do it regularly (eg: once a week) to help keep them bacteria-free 🙂
I never considered this method, thanks for the tip Louise 🙂
Love your cushions, where are they from?
they are from last season at Pillow Talk, beautifully bright colours aren’t they!
I think it is really important to keep the use of commercial disinfectants to an absolute minimum. Bacteria and viruses can readily build up resistance to these products, necessitating the use of stronger and stronger chemicals over time. This is why the risk of infection with “superbugs” has become such an issue in our hospitals. The overuse of antibiotics has had the same effect. However, germs,like us, cannot survive and multiply without moisture so keeping all surfaces [including toothbrushes] as clean and dry as possible is just as effective as using chemicals – and safer in my opinion.
I didn’t realise they build up resistance to chemicals that’s really interesting to know thank you for sharing your insights and great tips Chris 🙂
PS Plenty of fresh air and sunlight is as effective as most chemicals too!
Thanks for this! I’m sick with tonsillitis 🙁 need to change the sheets but the other set are dirty too. Going to wash now and spray around with glen 20…
Good old Glen 20! I swear by it.
Hope you feel better soon Lyndsey.
I live in Alabama in the USA and right now the Bradford pear trees are blooming. We cannot open our windows because of all the pollen.
oh no! how long will that last for?