7 Things You Can Do To Protect Your Home During Flu Season

On top of COVID-19, flu season is upon us! As we prep for another season of sniffles and sneezes, there are steps you can take to mitigate your family’s risk of picking up a virus. As always, make sure to get your flu shot, keep things clean, and follow the recommendations of the CDC and other medical organizations!

Here are 7 ways to keep your home safe during flu season:

1. Wash your hands!

This is the big one, which is why it gets an exclamation point! Washing your hands is the surest way to keep flu and other illnesses away. And we don’t just mean a quick rinse and dry: For the best hand-washing experience, wash your hands with soap and warm water for at least twenty seconds (long enough to sing “Happy Birthday” twice!).

2. Deep clean your porch and patio to remove mold.

During flu season, people with allergies find their sneezes and sniffles even more exacerbated than usual by mold and mildew. Getting a power wash is a great preventative measure, especially for North Florida homes. This is because we’re in the middle of our rainy season as well, and buildup like mold, mildew, and bacteria can wreak havoc on our sinuses. Add flu to the mix, and you’ve got a recipe for disaster! While a pressure wash won’t guarantee your home stays free of flu, it’s a good way to keep the allergy-suffering members of your family a little more comfortable.

3. Stock up on tissues, hand sanitizer, and wet wipes (without hoarding!).

Make sure you have an adequate stash of cold-conquering supplies, like cold medicine, cough drops, and tissues. Flu season is also a good time to stock up on healthy snacks and pre-made foods like canned soup, vitamin-packed broth, and other foods you’ll want if you get sick. Just be sure not to hoard things you don’t need: The goal of stocking up is to keep your family safe and happy!

4. Routinely clean high-touch surfaces, like door knobs, countertops, and remotes.

Think about how many things you touch during your commute to your office. Then, think about how many other people come in contact with those same surfaces. Gross, right? It’s a good idea to routinely clean high-touch surfaces, especially the ones you don’t think about often — like your cell phone, your keyboard, or your mouse. You’d be surprised how germs can build up on these items!

5. Pack a “clean kit” in your kids’ school bags.

For kids, it’s a good idea to teach cleanliness habits from an early age. For school-aged kids who are headed back to the classrooms, packing a “clean kit” is a great way to start. A Clean Kit can fit in a pencil pouch or Tupperware container, and holds everything your kiddos need to stay germ-free at school. A Clean Kit might include a travel hand sanitizer, a pair of gloves, an extra mask or two, and a pack of wet wipes to wipe down their desk, lunch table, and bus seat. Teach your kids how to use the items in their Clean Kits and make sure they stay topped up!

6. Check in with elderly or disabled neighbors and family members.

This is important during flu season, and particularly as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. Setting up a communications schedule for elderly or disabled neighbors and family members is the best way to ensure you’re there when you’re needed. If you have the time, offer to go grocery shopping for your at-risk loved ones so they don’t have to spend time around their germy neighbors themselves. It’s also just nice to catch up when it feels like everyone has to stay home!

7. If you feel sick, stay home.

We left this one for last because it’s critically important. If you don’t feel well, don’t go out. This is the best way to keep your friends and family safe from germs, whether they be the flu or a more sinister virus. If you’ve got a fever, get plenty of rest, drink tons of water, and listen to the advice of your doctor.

By working together, we can keep our homes and families safe this flu season! For a leg up on keeping clean, give Diamond Power Washing & Maintenance a call at (904) 747-4DPW (4379). We offer pressure washing, soft washing, patio cleanings, and other deep-cleaning surfaces that will leave your home sparkling and germ-free.